Apologize to the Aboriginals Australians.

Many Australians have looked back at their history and have been appalled at how the British treated the Aboriginal Australians. Recently, they have decided to ask the government to apologize to the Aboriginals for how they were treated in the past, but many Australians are still reluctant. I believe that it truly is important that they apologize, because the way the British treated the Aboriginals was cruel. From the time they arrived in Australia until very recently, in 1970, the British people have completely abused the Aboriginals. The ethnocentricity of the British led them to believe that they were better than the Aboriginals, which is just wrong. They thought that the Aboriginals had to be 'saved by themselves', and there for had to be abolished. In the movie 'Rabbit-Proof Fence', you are able to see how the children were brutally torn away from their parents, and literally shoved, while they were screaming and kicking, into the car. After being taken to Moore River Settlement, they see a girl being whipped just for going to see her Aboriginal boyfriend. Along Molly, Daisy, and Gracie's journey back home, they meet an Aboriginal maid, who will get raped if the children leave. Throughout the movie, you see the Aboriginal people being treated like animals, and I think that the Australian government should at least apologize for their past actions.

Is Molly a Hero or Not?

Molly is a hero, because she is trying to help her sister, cousin, and herself get away from the Moore River Native Settlement for half-castes, which they were captured and brought to. In the settlements, the girls are trained to be more 'white' and British, because the white people believed that Aboriginals were a threat to themselves. You can tell that she is trying to do what's best for her and her sisters, because even though Gracie and Daisy don't want to leave, Molly insists that going back home is what is best, because the people at the settlement treat them badly. The night before Molly and her sister and cousin leave for home, she lies in bed thinking about how cruel these people are to her family. So the next day, Molly, Daisy, and Gracie leave for home, covering their tracks as they go. Molly is a good tracker, and knows how to cover her tracks well, which is why the tracker can't find them. Molly is a hero because she takes a huge responsibility over Daisy and Gracie, and really cares about the well being of them.

How did the ethnocentricity of the British and the First Australians cause conflict between the two groups?

The ethnocentricity of the British and the Aboriginals caused conflict between the two groups because since they both thought they were superior to each other and they didn't understand each others culture, they got angry at each other and started fighting. The Aboriginals lived in the wild, but still had a very advanced and sophisticated lifestyle. They had a legal system, and each tribe had its own language and culture. The Aboriginals believed they were superior to the British because they knew how to live in harmony with the land, and they knew the land better than the British. They didn't understand the British culture; because of the British clothing, the Aboriginals couldn't tell which gender they were. They were frightened by the white skin, and thought the British were ghosts. The British people on the other hand, lived in houses and believed that the Aboriginals were like animals; dirty and savage. The British thought they were better, because they had things like weapons, ships, clothes, farms, and buildings. The British felt that they were more sophisticated than the natives. Although the two groups tried to find common ground at first, the British thought that since they had a more civilized lifestyle, the Aboriginals should change their society and become more like the British. The British then wanted one of the leaders to come live with them for a while to see what British life was like, but when nobody volunteered, they kidnapped one of the leaders, Bennelong. Bennelong enjoyed the British lifestyle, but when he got the chance, he went back to his own way of living. The British got upset and said that Bennelong always was a savage, and nothing could change his ways. Because of the British people's ethnocentricity, they felt that since the Aboriginals were 'animals', it was okay to go out and kill them as if you were going to hunt squirrels. The Aboriginals got very angry, and decided to get revenge, so they stabbed Governor Phillip with a spear. Even though the British tried to change the Aboriginals way of life, it was in vain, because the Aboriginals were content with their own society. All it did was cause dispute between them, and a lot of bloodshed.

Julius Caesar Monologue

I know that virtue to be in you, Brutus,
As well as I do know your outward favour.
Well, honour is the subject of my story.
I cannot tell what you and other men
Think of this life; but, for my single self,
I had as lief not be as live to be
In awe of such a thing as I myself.
I was born free as Caesar; so were you:
We both have fed as well, and we can both
Endure the winter's cold as well as he:
For once, upon a raw and gusty day,
The troubled Tiber chafing with her shores,
Caesar said to me 'Darest thou, Cassius, now
Leap in with me into this angry flood,
And swim to yonder point?' Upon the word,
Accoutred as I was, I plunged in
And bade him follow; so indeed he did.
The torrent roar'd, and we did buffet it
With lusty sinews, throwing it aside
And stemming it with hearts of controversy;
But ere we could arrive the point proposed,
Caesar cried 'Help me, Cassius, or I sink!'
I, as Aeneas, our great ancestor,
Did from the flames of Troy upon his shoulder
The old Anchises bear, so from the waves of Tiber
Did I the tired Caesar. And this man
Is now become a god, and Cassius is
A wretched creature and must bend his body,
If Caesar carelessly but nod on him.

Context: Cassius is speaking to Brutus during the feast of Lupercal; Caesar has come back from defeating Pompey and a celebration is going on. Cassius is trying to get Brutus to join his conspiracy against Caesar.

Significance: Cassius is talking to Brutus, because he wants Brutus to join the conspiracy against Caesar. Cassius thinks that Caesar is getting too powerful, and that could mean an end to the Republic. The reason that Cassius wants Caesar to die is because Caesar doesn't like Cassius, and if he becomes too powerful, then he could be a threat to Cassius. But Cassius also knows that Brutus is a very honourable man, and would do anything for the good of Rome, and to keep the Republic running. Cassius is a very calculating man, and knows that Brutus is very close to Caesar, but if he can convince him that killing Caesar is what's best for Rome, then Brutus will join the conspiracy. The significance of this passage is that it shows Cassius's characterization. From this, you can see that Cassius is characterized as arrogant, cocky, and with a lot of hubris. He compares himself to the founder of Rome just because he rescued his friend from drowning.

How do I learn best?

We did a test today to figure out what our learning profile was, and mine was 'N'. I am a gestalt learner, and so it's better for me when we have visuals. Although I am a gestalt learner, its easier for me to learn when my notes are organized. I think I learn when I'm able to do a hands-on activity, or when I'm able to get a visual of it, like a picture or movie. For projects, I definitely am able to do better on it by seeing an example of what the finished product would look like before I start the project. I learn very well when I have a quiet area with no distraction. I can't focus on what I'm supposed to be doing if I'm not in a quiet area. Also, its easier for me to learn when I'm sitting comfortably. I like that in the Shakespeare unit, while we're watching a performance of a scene, we're able to sit on the floor rather than a chair, because it's more comfortable. I'm able to learn well when I'm in a comfortable position. I need to move around also; not necessarily walk around the room or anything, just kick my feet or play with my hair. I would like my teachers to know that it's much easier for me to understand something if the concepts are presented visually or with a hands-on task, and that when I'm studying or concentrating, I like the area to be quiet. 

How Can da Vinci Be Characterized as a True Renaissance Man?

Leonardo da Vinci can be characterized as a true Renaissance man because the Renaissance was focused on new ideas concerning architecture, art, and science. I think that Leonardo's life expressed the main idea of the Renaissance. He was an architect, artist, scientist, and inventor. In Milan, he helped to make military devices used for wars. He was interested in coming up with a formula for a square with the same area as a circle. He painted the Mona Lisa and Last Supper. Leonardo da Vinci did so many things that influenced the Renaissance, and his ideas flourished. Thats why Leonardo da Vinci truly was a Renaissance man.

Brunelleschi's Dome- How do the actions and decisions of people effect change?

I believe that taking risks most prompted Brunelleschi to succeed in constructing the dome. There were many risks he had to take along the way that he didn't know would work, but simply building the dome was a risk in and of itself. Nobody knew if Brunelleschi's design would work. Even he himself didn't know for sure, but he built the dome anyway. Many people would be afraid to construct something without knowing what the results would be, or whether the dome would topple over or not, but its the true geniuses who take risks with their artwork and architecture.