Blog # 17: Divided Cities

The most interesting of the materials we were provided were the maps of wages and nationality. The nationality maps clearly revealed that some groups were more clustered than others. The Italians especially covered large portions of the map, as well as the Russians, and some other groups like the Polish covered small sections.

It seems likely that there would be many public gathering places, but they probably weren't official places, because it also seems that the neighborhoods of people with the same nationality were also some of the lowest wage earners. Perhaps the people with the strongest bonds were those who could not support themselves, so they relied on each other, which is why they had such large clusters living in the same area.

Also, one interesting fact that I noticed was that the small spots of english speaking people either seemed to be the highest wage earners, or brothels. This doesn't make as much sense to me. Perhaps brothels were some of the highest earning jobs for women, or english speaking prostitutes were in high demand. Either way, english speaking people definitely gathered in their neighborhoods, but not in such large groups as other nationalities.

As far as nationalities distinguishing themselves from one another, I would guess that neighborhoods of people who earn the same wages probably have the same or similar jobs, so that could be one distinguishing feature. Also, they obviously have their heritage to celebrate their differences, everything from language to holidays and religion. These can be huge dividers in groups of people. It sems likely that there was no shortage of ways to tell apart the different neighborhoods. The only thing they probably shared was their underpriviledged living situations.

Blog # 16: Spiritual Social Work?

The mission of Jane Addam's social work was to help people. Although some would argue that that is a religious purpose, I find that it was not specifically religiously motivated. She seemed only to want to make a difference in peoples' lives, not to bring them closer to God or to save her eternal soul, or anything like that. So her intent was not religious.

Her motivation seems to be a collection of influences, including her father, whom she idolized. One could argue that it was her father's strong connections in his church inspired her to do as she did, but I think it is more directly inspired by the man himself, and not by his beliefs and his faith in the church.

She doesn't focus on religious beliefs much in her book, even when talking about her father's church. She only mentions that he was quaker, but doesn't really expand on how that directly influenced her at all. She also doesn't discuss religion when talking about the purpose or function of her establishment, so that leads me to believe that her motivations were not of a religious origin.

Blog # 15: Racist Rastafarians?

Learning about the rastafarian movement has taught me how little I knew about this movement, and many things I wouldn't have guessed about it. The most surprising, I think, is the question of whether the rastafaris are racist against whites. In the video we watched, the signs clearly demonstrated white as evil or bad, but does that correspond to skin color? And in the book, there are many places where 'babylonian oppressors' can be directly translated to white men.

In the video, the signs that referred to black as good and white as evil seemed a clear image of racism, but that doesn't seem to come up in any of the beliefs of the rastafarians. It may just be a perception of convenience that we see this as racism, because they are fighting against centuries of racism against themselves. I don't think that these signs specifically indicate any prejudices, although they may be an indicator of an underlying or unofficial belief that they hold.

In the book, they mention several times how the rastafaris are fighting against white oppressors, or the people who enslaved their ancestors. They still feel a very distinct connection to the pain their ancestors suffered, and place the blame for that suffering on the supporters of the government, or the descendents of the enslavers, which may be interpreted as all white people. Also, the book states one definition of Babylon as "the whole complex of institutions which conspire to keep the black man enslaved in the Western world and which attempt to subjugate coloured people throughout the world." (p. 45) I think this, and the fact that one of the main goals of the movement is (or was) to return to Africa, directly excludes and possibly targets all people of a pale skin color. It may not be purposeful or complete racism, but some of their beliefs do seem to encourage that point of view.

Blog # 14: Rastafarian Extremists

I find that the video about a rastafarian community in Jamaica fits the ideas that I got from reading the book. The book discusses how the rastafarians wish to distance themselves from basically any organized society, especially politics and law. It would make sense that they would live in a small, isolated community, where they would be less likely to be disturbed. However, I didn't get the sense from the book of just how far they were willing to go to dedicate their lives to God. To deny themselves luxuries like electricity and running water shows that they truly believe, and are willing to sacrifice. It's not just for fun, but it also reveals the extremity of their religion.

Also, the rastas in this video may be a little more dedicated than the typical image of rastas that we are exposed to. They seem more focused on the Bible and Ethiopia, and less on the problems with Babylon, or local government or education. They clearly have a goal, and, based on the fact that they get up at three in the morning to worship, are very dedicated, and possibly obsessed with achieving it. Past the point of excentricity, and almost to the point of insanity, from my view.

All in all, I found the video very interesting, and I feel that it provided a new look at the rastafarian community, one that can't be gotten from just listening to Marley, and more poignant than only reading the text. It also shows how extremist their views are, which is discussed in the book, but not quite as clear as signs showing black over white, as righteousness over evil.

Blog # 13: Bob Marley: Legend

To me, Bob Marley is an icon, a representation of a style of music and a generation of drug users. Before we began discussing him in class, all I knew about him was from seeing his image on everything from t-shirts to keychains in stores, and listening (casually) to his music. I knew little about his beliefs and the things he supported.

I knew that he believed in harmony, peace, and marijuana. I find that most people only like him because they identify with the latter. Most of the merchandise featuring his face is related to that. When I listen to his music, I mostly identify with his messages of peace and harmony, and I also like it because its relaxing, and easily enjoyable.

Now that I know exactly how deeply his religious beliefs run in his music, I realize just how little I actually know about him. I really enjoy learning just how much depth there is to his art, music and otherwise. He obviously felt very strongly about it, but it seems that he preached his method without being obnoxious or preachy, based on how popular his music is. Unfortunately, his message is possibly a little to understated, because it seems that his main intent has been lost.

Granted, most of the suburban teenagers that pick up his CD because they think his dreads are cool can't really relate to the oppresion of blacks in Jamaica, but so many people listen to his music, and idolize him, and they barely know anything about him. However, I think that if they learned even just a little bit more about him, they would find his music that much more interesting, and they might understand it a little better. I know I do.

Blog # 12: The Kebra Negast and Ethiopia

In the story of Sheba, the queen of Ethiopia, and Solomon, the king of Jerusalem, I think that Ethiopia is represented in a very interesting fashion. What I find the most interesting is that although the queen is seduced by a man who has been with so many women, and converts to his religion, and basically worships the words that come from his mouth, her honor is never questioned. From another perspective, she would have lost her title because of what she had done.

As far as the representation of Ethiopia in general, I think it isn't shown in the best light. They are clearly very loyal to their queen, and they worship the sun god. But she says that they worship the sun god because other people told them that it was the most powerful of the gods. And when she decides to convert her country to christianity, it is because Solomon told her that she should. The story says she was a great leader, but it seems to me that she was a great follower.

And the fact that she looked up to Solomon so much, and let him trick her into sleeping with him, undermines her power even more. Overall, she isn't presented as the most respectable of women, it seems to me. She does have much dignity, and is obviously intelligent, but I think her people don't really care, and they would follow her just as much even if she wasn't. They seem to just blindly follow her, possibly because of her beauty, as the story mentions repeatedly.

It just seems as though Ethiopia was not shown as an independent nation, that they rely not on the intelligence and knowledge of themselves, but their queen, who follows the wisdom and beliefs of a king from a different country.

Blog # 11: Images and Symbols

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43566202@N00/385999660/

The image of symbols that I found represents, to me, the diversity of symbols in religion. Outside of religion, symbols are used everywhere, and for everything. However, it seems that when an image or symbol is used in connection with a religion, it holds more power, and more influence.

The question of religion being only a system of symbols is probably a touchy subject for followers of a religion, because they obviously believe that there is more to it than that. But it seems to me that this image demonstrates how a collection of symbols can represent and correctly identify all of the beliefs and ideas in a religion. They do represent something more to the believers of that religion, but for those who do not follow it, the symbols seem to represent the religion itself. So they have different purposes from different perspectives, but are equally powerful. So however you look at it, symbols are a key component, if not the main focus, of many and most religions. They are a means of connecting people across the globe, and a way of communicating without language. Symbols are useful, and simple, and very functional.