Blog 10: Reflection

I am really going to miss this course! When I signed up for this class, I had no idea the impact that it would have on me as a student. This has been the most challenging course I have ever taken, but also my favorite at the same time. I really enjoyed the structure of the class—half lecture and half discussion—and I wish more of my classes were like that. It helped me be to stay engaged in class and also built up note-taking and communication skills. Throughout this course, I have become a better writer, critical thinker, and faster reader. These gained skills can all be applied to future courses that I take, which is really helpful. I have already used many of the skills in my current courses, which has helped my successes. I have also become more passionate about Latin America. I was surprised to discover that I knew very little about Latin America (and the United States).This course has informed me of Latin American history and so now I want to continue to stay on top of current events going on. In the future, I hope that I will someday get to visit a Latin American country and continue to take a course about Latin American history or current events. I also liked how this course was a cross-over of many different ideas and topics—most lectures overlapped nicely with the class discussions. Overall, this is a course that I will never forget and I am so thankful for everything that I have gained from it.

Blog 9 Reaction: Israel's Blog

I totally agree with you Israel! I feel like this class has challenged much of my knowledge from high school. I have been able to look at history with a more critical eye by looking at various different perspectives. In high school, the history was taught from the American perspective. In this course, I have gotten to understand the Latin American perspective. Having both of these viewpoints, I have been able to understand the importance that perspectives have on history. The question of who writes history has been engrained in me this year.

Blog 9: Cuban Revolution Misconceptions

1.4 million people live on the island of Cuba, yet many Americans know little to nothing about Cuban history and their Revolution. Prior to 1959 Cuba, U.S. political, military, and economic influence dominated the island. Between a complete U.S. military takeover of the island in 1898-1902 to the Platt Amendment left after U.S. forces withdrew (which gave the U.S. control of Cuban foreign and economic policies), Cuba remained hostage to the United States national interests leading up to Cuban Revolution. Fear, oppression, and violence are three main ideas that Americans associate with Cuba and their Revolution, however, in reality, these are simply not true. Anti-Communist and Capitalist discourse taught in the U.S public school system fosters several misconceptions regarding the Cuban Revolution. There are two misconceptions that I would like to address: 1. The belief that Cubans fled for their lives to escape an oppressive government, 2. Cuba installed missiles to take an offensive role towards the United States

Although some Cubans fled the country to Miami, a majority of those who did were high-class Cubans who felt their wealth would be threatened by the Revolution. The formerly privileged classes, who often had high levels of educations, skills, and business contacts, decided to flee the country as they felt their privileges disappearing in the Revolution.The luxurious lifestyle, including private schools, maids, and fancy restaurants, would no longer be available under the new equal society. A majority of Cubans supported the revolution and the vision of equality that it stood for. Cubans were not fleeing the country for their life, as the United States likes to perceive a large number of emigrants that entered Miami, but because their wealth and luxurious lifestyles threatened by the redistribution of the country’s wealth and resources.

The Cuban Missile Crisis was less of U.S. national security threat and rather a defensive tool against future U.S. aggression. From the U.S perspective, the installation of Soviet missiles on Cuban soil was a threat to U.S. safety and to the balance of power. From the Cuban perspective, the missiles were a defensive, not offensive, a method to protect the nation against another U.S. invasion (Bay of Pigs) and to uphold Cuban sovereignty.The Cuban fear of another U.S. invasion was legitimate, as plans for another invasion were in the works.The Cuban Missile Crisis is seen to be one of the best-managed foreign policy crisis in history; however, the Soviets agreed to withdraw the missiles, not because of Kennedy, but because of the United States agreed to Soviet demands (relinquish plans to invade Cuba and remove the U.S. missiles in Turkey). The Soviet decision to withdraw the missiles was made without Cuba—which made Cubans feel as their sovereignty were, once again, hostage to great power politics.

Blog 8 Reaction: Kendall's Blog

Kendall, I totally agree with you as I enjoyed the book as well. I am a sucker for rooting for the underdogs too! haha I thought it was interesting to see how the movement started off small (and with the workers) and turned into something large. I also felt that the book was more interesting to read as its structure kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. I never read the book "The Help" but your connection, between racial prejudice and socialism, was cool to read.

Blog 8: Chicago Reflection and Video

I really enjoyed the trip to Chicago. Our sequence was lucky to have the opportunity to take a trip to Chicago as many sequences do not have dedicated trips outside of the classroom. It was interesting to apply the content we learned in class to what the museum showcased. The place where we ate lunch at was delicious and I would definitely like to go back someday. My favorite museum was the Mexican art museum because they had more on display and they were much more parallels to what we learned in class. For example, La Catrina was discussed in class and also by the tour guide. I was able to see some of the indigenous art that we analyzed on display at the Mexican art museum. By far, my favorite piece of art was the large mural at the end of the Mexican art museum tour because there were so many elements in it. I could stare at it for hours and still find new details which I thought was pretty cool. Also, it was so beautiful and symbolic that all the different elements overlapped over the heart of the map.

I took video with my 360 cameras throughout the trip. I had to stitch all the images and videos together and then edit them into one. I used Final Cut Pro on my MacBook Pro and created my own background music in Logic Pro. The 360 effect views better on phones as it uses the gyroscope and allows for more natural movement. Enjoy for those who missed

Blog 7 Reaction: Johnny's Blog

Johnny,

I really enjoyed reading your post. Your summary of Che Guevara life was helpful to my understanding of who and how he developed into the person he is remembered as. You bring up a good point about the Che Guevara store, it basically against everything he stood for. The commercialization of his ideas for profit is a perfect example of how capitalism twisted his ideas. I believe that he would not want this store to sell merch of him.

I totally agree with your perspective but I would like to play the role of the critical thinker. On the other end, by selling his merch his life/legacy continues to live on. His ideas will never die. He will always be remembered as a hero in history by putting him on merch. It gets to a point where his ideas and himself, as a person, becomes trendy. Buying the shirts allows people to take a stance and show their support for him.

Blog 7: Corruption

In class on Monday, I asked the question about why Latin America has had a problem with corruption. This created a short in-class discussion in which we talked about how there is corruption everywhere. In Latin America, it is more visible/discussed throughout history and in the news. I wanted to expand this discussion further in this weeks blog post.

The Webster dictionary defines corruption as dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people (such as government officials or police officers). This definition of the word can help explain why countries like the United States are not associated with corruption like Latin America is. Lobbyists promote their own agenda to Congress which seems unfair and fraudulent but it is legal. Although lobbying is legal, I still believe lobbying is corrupt based on my own understanding of the world. It is not fair/equal/democratic for money to weigh heavier than a individuals voice. It makes me wonder how to classify something as being corrupt? Society is like a balance beam as choices that benefit one's personal gain, impact/take away from the overall group. This kind of thinking closely relates to communist ideas, however, communists experiments so often end in corruption and oppression. The answer I have been given to why this occurs is that humans are selfish in nature (survival of the fittest) and put their needs first. I believe this answer is overly simplified and there just has to be more.

Thinking deeper into the idea of corruption through history and present day captivates and challenges my prior knowledge of the world. I am interested to hear others thoughts and interpretations of corruption.