February homework #2

All three countries, the U.S.A, New Zealand, and Australia were colonies of European countries. Although this is true NZ and AU were colonized and founded by the British America was founded by the Spanish and colonized by many countries. In all three countries there was a gold rush. In Australia gold was found and "The road over the Blue Mountains from Sydney became choked with men from all walks of life, carrying tents, blankets, and rudimentary mining equipment hastily bought at inflated prices. By June there were over 2000 people digging at Bathurst, and thousands more were on their way." (http://www.patricktaylor.com/australian-gold-rush). But as we know it was not as successful in America. New Zealand although it came later then the first two was "the country's biggest gold strike, the discovery of gold in Otego led to a rapid influx of foreign miners - many of them veterans of other hunts for the precious metal in California, and Victoria, Australia."  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Otago_Gold_Rush)

In all three countries the settlers have problems with the natives. In all three countries new diseases were introduced to the people. Although NZ and America gained independence from Britain, Australia gained citizenship but not independence. All three countries get self governing privileges. NZ government “is based on the Westminster system of responsible government. Executive government in New Zealand is based on the principle that "The Queen reigns, but the government rules, so long as it has the support of the House of Representatives’.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_Government) While America has a democracy and AU has “The Commonwealth of Australia [which] is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states. The terms of this agreement are embodied in the Australian Constitution, which was drawn up at a Constitutional Convention and ratified by the people of the colonies at referendums. The structure of the Australian Government may be examined in light of two distinct concepts, namely federalism and the separation of powers into legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government. Separation of powers is implied from the structure of the Constitution which breaks down the branches of government into separate chapters.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Australia)

February Homework #1

1. I think that all humans have the instinct to want/need to figure out the unknown, for example the creation of the earth. Because when people don't know why or how things are the way they are they feel confused and vulnerable. This shows us that humans are very unstable by needing to know the origins of everything instead of  being content with what they know. It also shows us that the human nature is to always want to know more in order to compete with other humans and to feel superior then everyone else. Creation myths still have an impact on life today, although not as big of an impact as it was in history, many people still argue on how the earth was made. Whether you believe in the aboriginals story or the catholic version or even the scientific version people still stand their ground on which is right. This usually happens between religions.

 2. In both cultures male dominance and love and compassion are very prevalent in their cultures. For example in the aborigine story the mother spirit was afraid of the father conveying the point of male dominance while in the  first Maori story that parental figures were extremely dismal when the children were trying to break away their love. This shows us that in the family the male is most likely the provider and it will not be surprising if their society is much like old history where the mothers job is to take care of the house and the fathers job is to support the family by working. The thing that would be different from history would be the way the husband treats his wife. Knowing, from the stories, that love and compassion is treasured in their cultures we can assume that the male would not beat his wife like in history.
3. Between all three stories male dominance is prevalent, the stories are about the creation of Earth and the things on it and in all three there are father and mother figures. There are many similarities between the two Maori stories like that the many offspring of the parental figures want to separate or kill their parents, they both start in a dark setting and the father and mother are earth and sky respectively. between the first Maori story and the aboriginal story there are many similarities unlike the second Maori story where the only similarity was that they mother is more sympathetic. between the first Maori story and the aboriginal story there is a lot of light and dark imagery, and the creations that the father and mother figures make turn on them. Over years and years of telling a a story things change like between the two Maori stories the second version had the creation of a human while the first one only made animals. Sometimes, just like the game telephone, the story gets unconsciously change.
4. The aspects that go beyond science are the feelings that the things in each story experience and the family roles and their place in society. The way they portray the male in the myths shows what kind of role the have in and out of the home. Also the treasury of love and compassion shows what kind of society they have according to the myths. Some of the things they probably struggle with is women's rights because it goes against their culture to have women be as important as the men in society.
5. I believe in the scientific version of the "creation story" because it is the one that makes the most sense and the only one that can be backed up by solid facts. The way I think is very logical and when someone cannot show me facts to back up what they believe then there is no reason for me to think the same way if I'm just supposed to believe that way without that explanation. This is explained by the big bang and evoltion. I think it helps me understand things easier then to be questioning the way things are i have a solid reason for that, but this can also make me very close minded to other ways of seeing the world. As my family is Catholic so am I but seeing as i am an atheist i don't believe that god made the world since i don't believe he is there.