This just says America to me, not because of the message underneath, but because for some reason it speaks to me. Whoever painted this was saying, "This is who we are. Deal." I beleive that is a characteristic of many Americans. America is a mix of the young and the old, and i see this with the new red motorcycle next to the very old car. Then there is the not-so-nice-looking motel across from the nicer looking one.

Music Project

1. VIRGIN MADRE DE DIOS
This song was written for the Church scene. I don't know latin so I can only guess that it edified spiritually those who were participating in singing or listening. I would say this is really European so what it has to do with America is bringing their culture there. They wanted to convert people. Religious extension was one of the main reasons for coming to America so I would have to say these voices were very important.

2. APACHE INDIAN DRUMS
I read that Native American drums were used to tell stories and to respect the animal who died for that drum to be made (the animal was"living" when the drums are played). This song is completely independent from European influences. It sortof exemplifies what America was in the earliest days before the Europeans came. The artist is a part of American history because he was a part of the beginning. And there would be no history if there was not a beginning.

3. SHAMAN'S CALL (FROM THE EARTH SPIRIT)
In this song there is a mixture of European and Native American styles of music (violin=Euro, drums and flute=NA). Towards the end drums begin to play, which signify to me a struggle. Maybe the struggle is between the Natives and the Europeans. Eventually only the flute is playing, simbolizing the Native American victory to cut themselves away from the European pressure to change their ways of life lto be like theirs. This is important to American history because there was a struggle overall with the push to have the Natives become less "savage." Both people affected each others history in negative and positive ways.

4. BRAVE WOLFE
It was performed around the 1990's. It was written in remembrance of the British General James Wolfe who faught in 1759 in the American Revolution. The beginning of the song is ominous in the tempo yet courageous. It could symbolize a pep talk before the battle. The middle of the song has a quicker tempo, it is upbeat and still courageous. This could be the actual battle. With the violin and the trumpet going back and forth there is the sense of conflict. At the end, there is a struggle near to when Wolfe died on the battlefield. But it is strong all the way to the last second. It is an honor to die for what you believe in.
I think it was really good. I like that type of music. I learned that he was a decorated General and that he defeated France in Canada which is what the song is about.

5. JOHNNY HAS GONE FOR A SOLDIER (aka buttermilk hill)
This was written during the American Revolution. It focuses on the sacrifice that the men and women made during the war. The story is told in resemblance to Siuil Aruin, and Irish song about the hardships in Dublin. I do not like anything folky, so the music I did not like but the story was good. This song shows that not only was it hard for those in the battle but for those at home. The main providers were gone and so began the time of independent women.

6. HARD TIMES COME AGAIN NO MORE
This song was written in 1854. This song was written about the idea that affected so many lives; if you were born poor you were always going to be poor. This song was sung by an African American woman so it must have been difficult for her. The story is told either from personal experiance or from her ancestors' trials and tribulations. I like a song with such a powerful message as equal rights and the style of the music is good. It teaches me that, no matter how hard times got, America got out because of hopeful people who decided to do something to make a change for the better.

7. PADDY'S LAMENT
I am not positive when this was written but I do know that it was written in response to the book. The book was about the hardships faced during the Irish Potato Famine in 1846-1847. And many left Dublin for America. The song screams anti-war. I personally do not like songs like these. Many people disagreed with how the United States would handle their problems and Sinead was one of them.

8. JESUS CHRIST
This song was written in 1940 during WWII. People were still suffering from the affects of the Great Depression even though there was more work for the war effort. I think what Woody might be saying is that he does not like change. He believes that the rich and the government are not acting very Christian like. At one point he says the slave isn't Christian like. Which I do not understand (Mrs. Lawson?). The story is told from a white worker's point of view. Its country so I do not like it. The United States, I think was trying to seperate more the Church and the State and this may have seemed "un-Christian like."

9. DO RE MI
This song was originally written by Woody Guthrie(1912-1967) in 1937. This was during the Great Depression. The song is about the tough times in California, specifically. It is about how to survive one had to work to the bone. It is first person since he lived through it. I think it is a blunt song saying that to work there is hard and not everyone can do it. The Depression was hard and there is no way to sugar coat it.

10. STRANGE FRUIT
Meeropol, an immigrant, wrote it in 1903 as a piece of literature. He was affected by his belief in Communism, the Russian Revolution, fascism, and the Great Depression. Billie sang it during the Civil Rights Movement(1955-1968) at a bar in New York. To get it recorded was hard to do. The song talks about a world so beautiful yet filled with horrible acts, like lynching innocent African Americans. The music and singing is ominous, chilling, or haunting. It carries a powerful message that gave me goosebumps. It is not a song I would listen to for fun, but it is a great song.

11. A CHANGE IS GONNA COME(2008)
This contemporary song is about the remembrance of what African Americans went through but the hope they had to move on and change what was wrong. It is told on a personal level because those who were hurt were his ancestors. I think it is a good song, but to dwell on the past is unhealthy. At the same time, to just forget what happened is worse. The United States was not at its peak during the time of slavery.

12. YOUNGSTOWN
This song was written during the 80's around the time, when Ohio was bankrupt after being the center of steel production. Ohio as a whole was affected by this. The story is told as if he was there when it happened, but I am not sure if he was. He wrote alot about what was going on around him, not necessarily right next to him. I don't like country. But it is a good story. The United States had its ups and downs.

13. THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN'
It was written in 1963 during the Civil Rights Movement. The song is sending a message that if you do not accept the positive change (towards equal rights) you might sink under the currnet. People will try to make your mind up for you and don't let them, but don't say anything. Be a bystander to see what happens? Bob Dylan is for the Civil Rights Movement. I don't like folk music but I like the message.

14. THE HANDS THAT BUILT AMERICA
U2 sang this song in the 90's. The meaning of the song is to show how diverse America really is. We are not just Americans but African Americans, Asian Americans, etc. It is our ancestors who made the United States to be open to other cultures and ideas and appearance. The point of view of U2 is American. They realize that they have many to thank for making the United States so diverse and interesting. I really like this song.

15. WE DIDN'T START THE FIRE
This song depicts an attitude of acceptance towards the idea that war will happen. It is just a way of life that cannot be avoided. No matter who started it or who provoked it, there is no one who can have all the blame of violence. The story is told not in a blaming way or in a condescending way, it is just telling it how it is. This song starts in the 50's and goes up to the 70's and shows all the bad things and all the good things that happened during those times.

Mayflower Discussion Questions

1. The Pilgrims had a strong want for religious freedom that surpassed their fears or doubts. Their extremely religious life gave them something to hope in and work for. Their want limited them also, because there was division between the "Strangers" and the "Saints." This division made their goal of a thriving colony seem harder to reach.

3. we all want to believe that going to America, the New World, was just meant to be. Stories were sugar-coated to make our home seem deserved, not like it was taken away from the Natives, who had every right to want the unwelcomed Pilgrims to leave.

4. In the 1670's, there was more competition between the European powers. As there was fighting for land, Native Americans got caught in the crossfire and were merely toys to get what the competitors wanted. If there was not any competition there would be no problem. There was probably some more land South but that was not what was wanted. English lands were wanted.

5. Squanto was witty, knowledgeable, and an opportunist. Because he was so knowledgeable when it came to the Enlgish language and culture, he got the adventagious job of relaying information back and forth. He was always in the loop. he used this information for himself and started a "psychological war" between the Natives and the English. Although he did not get very far he had begun suspicions and speculations on both sides so that there was a bit of tension.

6. The children of the Pilgrims probably accepted this because they thought it a compliment. The had achieved complete independence from the Natives as to be able to forget what the Natives had done for their people. I believed it was deserved but not as a compliment. They had forgotten why they were there to begin with. History was very imprtant to the Natives, they would have done well the to learn from the Natives.

8. In movies natives americans are seen to be savages who need to be overcome and taught their way is wrong. Philbrick makes it clear that the Natives were smart human beings. They were the ones who helped the English survive. In movies, Natives are also depicted as viscious warriors. This is true.

9. I do not see any heros. Others might see Church as one but he said he would not enslave Natives. Then, to impress Moseley, he captures 14 Natives.

10. During King Philip's War there were many "friendly fires." The "misconceptions of racial identity" definately prolonged the war. By stereotyping all Natives ('a good Indian is a dead Indian'-Moseley), the English lost good allies.

11. Like said before, the Natives were not a "monolith." A Tribe vs. B Tribe, was not something uncommon berfore the English came. What was surprising was the fact that when the Natives were captured they freely gave up information on their family's whereabouts. If I was a Native American during that war, I would have picked sides with the Natives, because the English wronged the Natives more.

12. Neither Native or English could be morally superior to the other. Thier torture practices and killing of women and children cannot be differentiated. It was all the same.

15. Yes he was "undecided." He made sure to get enough information to allow the reader to decide for himself or herself who was morally wrong or right. He avoided no issues. He brought them up and displayed facts for both sides and left the rest to the reader. In a factual telling of this series of events in America, there are no "moral lessons."