Blog #12

As a child one of my favorite books to read was the Berenstain Bear books. Brother and Sister bear were always getting in some sort of trouble. The were just like me and I could easily relate to them. Well when looking them up to write a blog about, I learned that the creator of the bears recently died at the age of 82. This series was turned into a cartoon show and these bears were in over 200 books. The Berenstain Bears were a childhood animation that we all loved and enjoyed reading and watching.
Stan Berenstain died Saturday in Pennsylvania. In more than 200 books, the Berenstain Bears, written and illustrated by Stan and Jan Berenstain, helped children for 40 years cope with trips to the dentist, eating junk food and cleaning their messy rooms. The reason for the couple to produce these books was to help children learn to read while entertaining them. Since the books were around for more than 40 years the authors were asked wether they considered making changes. Stan said no for changes in "Bear Country". He said that children in todays world still have messy rooms and are still telling fibs, but now there is violence, however not in Bear Country. There are problems, but they're the kind of typical family problems everyone goes through. When the couple was first beginning they had help from another prominate author, Theodor Geisel, or for some Dr. Seuss.
Now Stan and Jan's sons are contributing to the books and when the books are produced the finished piece of work is attributed to the Berenstains collectively. The tv show is still running and comes out with new shows just like any other. It is aired weekdays at noon on PBS. The next episode will be Trouble with Pets when brother and sister bear get a puppy and learn responsibility the hard way! R.I.P. Stan Berenstain and thank you.

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Here are my comments for Mike's blog and Travis's blog

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Here are my comments for Bonnie's blog and Laura's blog

Blog #11

AFter reading about the American West, two common topics are owning land and Indians. After watching the movie, Spirit today in class I wanted to know more about the Indians involvment of the American West. I mainly researched the movements of the Indians and the leaders of different groups. The leader that I found to be the most interesting was Chief Looking Glass, or Allalimya Takanin. With the short amount of time that the Chief lived he accomplished many great feats for the Indians of the time period.
Chief Looking Glass was born in 1832 in today's Montana. He was the war chief of the Nex Perce and along with Chief Joseph lead a retreat from eastern Oregon into Montana and onto the Canadian border in the year 1877.Although he bitterly resented white encroachments on his ancestral lands, he opposed going to war with the United States over its plans to force his people onto the small reservation assigned to them at Lapwai, Idaho. The first confrontation of the United States and the Nez Perce happened in June 17, 1877 at the Whitebird Canyon. Chief Looking Glass was already living on the reservation at Lapwai. However the United STates general, Oliver Howard, had faith that Looking Glass would soon join the fighting. He sent his troops to the reservation to arrest Looking Glass. Howard's plans backfired, however, for Looking Glass eluded arrest and fled the reservation to join Joseph and his fugitive band just as Howard had feared. the Nez Percé flight bore the mark of Looking Glass's leadership. Going against what Joseph suggested, Looking Glass suggested to flee Montana and then stop at the Big Hole. Here he believed that he would keep his band free from attack however he was wrong. An army under the command of John Gibbon surprised Looking Glass on August 9, 1877. Many of the Nez Perce suffered heavy causualities. After this Looking Glass lost much of his prestige as a military leader. Nearly two months later, when the Nez Percé were finally surrounded by Colonel Nelson Mile's troops in Northern Montana's Bearpaw mountains, Looking Glass opposed surrender. By this time, however, Chief Joseph had decided that surrender was the only realistic option, and on October 5, he rode out to hand over his rifle. That same day, Looking Glass set out to join Sitting Bull's fleet in Canada, but before he could make it to the border, he was killed by a Cheyenne scout
Although he had made one wrong decision and cost the lives of some NEz Perce, Looking GLass did not give up his pride. He remained strong against the opposing forces until his death. He remained loyal to his tribe and was not willing to stop until they remained free and on their resevations. Looking Glass was a noble character for reasons that are uncommon. He main not have won a battle but he remained faithful to himself and tribe.

blog #10

Pocahontas: Disney v. Real life

Two creators at Disney came up with great ideas for movies, one being Romeo and Juliet and the other American Frontier. Out of these suggestions came Pocahontas! John Smith being Romeo Pocahontas Juliet and scenery being the Frontier. Pocahontas was the first historical based movie that Disney tried instead of a fairy tale. Lets see how the real life Pocahontas compares to Disney's version.

In the Disney movie, Pocahontas is portrayed as a young adult, as if John Smith when they met. However, in real life, Pocahontas was a girl aged 12 and John Smith was a man aged 28. Obviously, you can rationalize why Disney would scew the ages of the characters for the younger viewing audiences and parental reasons as well. The movies are made to entertain not to provide a full non-fiction account of what happened. Pocohantas is also shown with a magnificent body with a cute short leather dress, one strap. However, being only 12 in real life, Pocahontas was naked most of her young life. When she would go into Jamestown she would be naked, but perhaps as she got older she did wear a leather dress of the sort. A fact that was seen in the movie as well as in real life, is Pocahontas did have a tattoo, possibly more than one. Physical features of John Smith were also different. In the movie John Smith was a tall clean shaven man who wore tight pants and little armor. In real life John Smith was a short fat man with a full beard, typical of the time period, along with puffy pants.

Aside from physical differences of the characters there were also differences within other areas.
John Smith and the other colonists sailed to the New World in a boat. In the Disney movie, it was a single boat named the Susan, however in real life the colonists sailed over in three boats, the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. During voyages, the governor would be in charge of the ships and what was going on. In the Disney version, Ratcliffe was the governor and took charge of the colonists on the Susan. In real life, the colonists at this time of the voyage did not have a governor. The colonists had a council for the voyage of 1607 which was headed by Captain Newport who was admiral. After they landed, the opened secret orders to set up the governing council which consisted of Smith, Ratcliffe, Wingfield, Newport, Gosnol, Martin, and Kendall. The first job was to elect a president and they elected Wingfield.

After being captured when venturing out at night by himself, John Smith was sentenced to be executed on top of a bluff at dawn in front of a group of colonists who had tried to come save him, or as Disney says. In real life John Smith was taking into Powhatan's house in front of only Powhatan's army because the colonists were not sure where John Smith was being held.

While exploring through the woods John Smith and Pocahontas and immediately fall in love. This is the Romeo and Juliet aspect of the movie. John Smith did not met Pocahontas until she rescued him. After being rescued, Powhatan adopted Smith as his son and gave him the name Nantaquoud. Through this Pocahontas and him became friends, just friends.

Obviously you see how well Pocahontas interacts with the animals in the wildlife. One such animal that has a prominent role, was Percy, Ratcliffe's dog. In real life, Percy was a last name of the colonist who followed Smith as president.

Although the movie is not fact for fact identical to the true story of Pocahontas, it still is a good movie. Disney did put in some clever references to the history, and some of the action is inspired by the history. If you know the history, it adds to the pleasure of the movie. If you think this is history, you will be confused. The story does not stop here, you can follow up on Pocahontas in Pocahontas II!!

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Here are my comments on voltaria's blog and Joshua's blog

Blog #9

Immigration

Between 1880 and 1919 more than 23 million people emigrated to the United States; of these 17 million entered through New York City. The two largest groups during this period were Russian Jews and Italians. Immigration was popular at this time due to the fact that American showed a place where you can be free. Immigrants have come to the United States as political and religious exiles, the impoverished seeking opportunity, the adventuresome in search of a challenge. Immigration posed a difficult challenge for the Jewish, Germans, Irish, Italians, and ect. What better way to depict this difficult struggle but with mice, as seen in An American Tale, and Fievel.
Fievel represents the first generation of immigrants that were born in the Old World yet grow up in America. Young, innocent, unknowing about the hardships of the world, he has to learn the hard way what real life is all about.Sometimes he’s endlessly optimistic, sometimes he gives up way to easily. He comes up with great ideas, but he also makes pretty daft decisions.
Fievel is separated from his family and in his what seems like hopless search he is faced with "cats" and meets new friends of all different cultures.
Although this movie is directed toward young children, a serious message about America's history can be portrayed to a younger viewing group. Not only how immigration was prominent during the 1880s to America but also not giving up. An American Tale, is a classic that will go down in history. Tonight was the first time I have seen this video and I thoroughly enjoyed it.