Dixmont, Maine is a rural town. Dixmont has beautiful landscapes, views, and wildlife, and what better place to view these amazing creations than from your quiet, peaceful tree stand. That is why I have chosen my tree stand. Tree stands are devices that are placed in trees for a better view and to enable people to stay hidden from wary wildlife. My tree stand is located in a remote area in the woods looking over trails and an old tote road. Tree stands are a good representation of Dixmont because the town is located is in the country and has many hills, and not much of traffic.
Tree stands are significant and used often in the little town of Dixmont. Whether people hunt or not, many of them have friends, relatives, or acquaintances that do hunt and own a tree stand. Tree stands also can be an escape route for people who are dealing with hard issues or are depressed. It gives people the opportunity to think, relax, and enjoy the beautiful gifts that God has given us. Furthermore, many other towns are loud, with traffic, and unfriendly neighbors who live close to you. Dixmont isn’t. It is quiet, peaceful, relaxing. We have space between our neighbors, many fields, homes, and hills that we can see while driving that make residents glad they live in Dixmont. Tree stands are an excellent way of portraying that peace and happiness.
My tree stand is significant because its location intercepts the deer paths between their food and their bedding areas. It is near where I first gutted out my deer. I’ll have memories of this for the rest of my life, and photos that captured my facial expressions while gutting it out. This stand is also where my family have seen and shot deer. The area around the stand has been carefully scouted. This stand is a double stand meaning that dad and I can both fit in the tree stand. It has camouflage material covering the outside so we are unnoticed by deer and other wildlife.
For my local project I plan to interview at least two people. First, I will interview my dad because he scouted the area; he knows the trees, and the deer patterns. He also takes me on many of my hunting experiences. Second, I want to interview my neighbor, Greg Maher because he is a retired game warden. He respects, and enjoys nature and has his own tree stand. I feel he can give me some excellent descriptions about the importance of forests, hunting, and tree stands. In addition, I want to have a model of the stand and the area around it. I also plan to take pictures of the area, my stand, any nearby deer, turkey sign, and of gutting my first deer out near the stand. Furthermore, if possible I want to have my spring turkey hunt filmed to show the adrenalin rush and the excitement of the moment. These reasons and more have made me come to the conclusion that a/my tree stand is a good choice to represent Dixmont.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Other Americans' Way of Life
According to Joseph Campbell, there are four major functions of myths. These four major functions of myths shaped the way people across the globe react to situations and other people. Mystical function helps the individual to realize the wonder of the universe. Scientific function reveals the names and purposes of objects/organisms and shows the shape of the universe. Sociological function demonstrates the roles of men, women, leaders, and common people. Teaching function shows how to live a human life under circumstances, how to be a “great” person under stress, fear, power, etc. These four functions of myths and stories have been around for thousands of years affecting people from Indians, Europeans, to the American citizens of today.
Indians have been taught how to live and react to objects and individuals through stories about the great spirits and the beginning of creation. For example, in many traditional oral stories there are stories about trickery and slyness. For the Indians the symbolic animal was a coyote and for Christians it was a serpent. Furthermore, the mystical function for Indians is best related in the belief in a sacred power: “the idea that everything in the universe was interconnected and possessed a spiritual force or energy that could affect the lives of ‘the people’ and all living things. Gaining power and the aid of powerful beings was absolutely vital: for success in hunting, plentiful crops, good health, thriving children and victory in battle” (The Earth Shall Weep 24). This culture and way of life makes the Indians feel connected with other members in their tribe. For example, if you have an adversary in the same tribe you don’t react by killing them because their spirit, like your own, is sacred. Also, the tribe is like a family; they hunt, trap, eat, and communicate together. Having the idea and belief that all objects and animals are sacred also ensures that there won’t be an overabundant amount of wildlife killed. After killing animals Indians pray to the spirits, thanking the spirit for giving it life for them.
The idea that the Earth would stay the same and that the Indian people have purpose comes from the second myth which is scientific function. According to the Indians all objects and animals have sacred spirits. Indians or the “first people” are considered the “spiritual masters (or keepers or owners) who controlled the game on which hunters depended for food. Killing a deer or a partridge did not in itself reduce the stock of game, because the animals really did not die. The animals simply went back to its original home. But if game was killed in the wrong way or without proper ritual or if the meat was treated disrespectfully, wasted or not shared generously among the whole group, then the animal masters would become angry and withhold food in the future” (The Earth Shall Weep 25). Furthermore, Indians walked the same path and reenacted Wounded Knee to release the spirits of the dead. This idea that the spirits and ancestors that had already passed were walking with them implies that the Earth and the location that this “battle” took place has not changed much. The Indians’ idea of life is a circular line meaning that there is no end. “For Indians the “past” means preeminently, closer to the originating source of things” (The Primal Religions 236).
The third function of myths, which is the sociological function, gives the Indians a sense of order and hierarchy in the tribe. The elders in each tribe are greatly respected; they have a lot of wisdom and experiences that can be passed down through oral stories and dances. Men and women also had very different roles in their tribes. For example, men were responsible for hunting and for catching the food. Men were good hunters and knew the land around them well. Women were responsible for cooking, cleaning, agricultural crops, and taking care of the children.
The teaching function is the fourth myth. The teaching function shows how to live one’s life under hard circumstances. Rituals and ceremonies were common in Indians lives. “Rituals were usually the gift of a benign deity who had brought it to ‘the people’ in the beginning, or it was acquired by a cultural hero on a journey to some other dimension or level of reality. By following the prescribed instructions, ‘the people’ were able to secure the favor and assistance of powerful spiritual forces. Their rituals not only regulated their own relationship with the sacred and with other living beings but also ensured that the whole natural order was properly maintained” (The Earth Shall Weep 25). The Indians’ way of life and culture were based on religion and the sacred power of everyone and everything around them. If there was a lack of food or the people were going through hard times it was because someone had made the spirits mad, by killing an animal the wrong way, being selfish or other ways.
During the early 1500’s, Indians were exposed to the Europeans. These people were very different from the Indians although they both had an important religion. Indians and Europeans alike both had ways to “please” or talk to the “spirits.” For the Indians it was through rituals and dances, for the Europeans it was through attending church and prayer. Furthermore, their ideas about time were also different. For the Indians it was circular time meaning that there was no end and that people could “walk” with the spirits from generations that had come before them. This shaped their lives. Because there was no end they were not working on improving themselves or others around them. They were concerned with maintaining the perfect land and by being the fair owners of all the wildlife that the spirits had given them. For Europeans their “timeline” was linear meaning there was a beginning and an end. They felt that they were sinful and needed to repent to God. Throughout time Europeans improved to try to get better through inventions and practices of faith. This difference in perception of time can be seen in the way that both these cultures live their lives. For example, to the Europeans, they were hundreds of years ahead of the Indians because of their inventions and ideas about science and the truth. The Europeans were born into a sinful life and wanted to improve it. For the Indians they felt that they were already in the perfect “garden of Eden” and wanted to simply maintain it.
The conflict between the Europeans and the Indians was inevitable. As technology increased and ships got better, more and more people would want to expand, explore, and claim new lands. If Columbus had not landed in America someone else eventually would have. The United States does this today. Although they were settled in the country they still wanted to explore “unknown worlds” such as space. They spend millions of dollars to travel to the moon and other planets, placing “their mark” the flag of the United States on them. In addition, people are greedy and want the best for themselves. People often take the “candy from the baby.” If it’s easy and they want it they take it. The Indians were not prepared or equip with inventions to defend themselves. They also did not have the cure for the deadly diseases that the Europeans brought from overseas. America was unsettled (with the exception of the Indians) and lumber, gold and other valuable items that would increase the economy. Violence was also inevitable. The Europeans wanted the land and the valuable resources. The Indians had lived on and maintained the land for a long time. They were not going to give their land, homes, and families up with out a fight.
Some might believe that violence was not inevitable. They feel that the two opposing sides could have communicated better and accepted the other’s land and ideas, and then they could have lived together. The Indians did not want war. They gave the Europeans gifts and showed them some of their way of life. They traded with each other which allowed the Europeans to gain valuables and they taught the Indians how to talk and dress like the Europeans. Although this idea is accepted by some it’s wrong, violence was inevitable. The Europeans wanted the land and the valuables that were on the land. People want the best for themselves and when it came to the Europeans they had the weapons/diseases to wipe out almost an entire race to get the money and power they wanted.
From studying the religion and culture of the Europeans and the Indians I have realized that many Americans including myself have adopted some of the religion and ideas of the Europeans. We have learned about the common Indian belief although we don’t practice it as our own in the United States. We have adopted the “invaders” way of life. The Europeans (invaders) were our descendants. We accept and live by what they taught us and what was passed down to us as children, even though other religions and ideas such as that of the Indians surround us. Today, we realize that other people have different beliefs. Like the Europeans we try to change them to what we believe is the right way and the truth. Furthermore, by having stories and myths passed down through generations not only connects people together but it also provides guidelines to live by. The myths help teach you how to live and how to react in various situations.
Indians have been taught how to live and react to objects and individuals through stories about the great spirits and the beginning of creation. For example, in many traditional oral stories there are stories about trickery and slyness. For the Indians the symbolic animal was a coyote and for Christians it was a serpent. Furthermore, the mystical function for Indians is best related in the belief in a sacred power: “the idea that everything in the universe was interconnected and possessed a spiritual force or energy that could affect the lives of ‘the people’ and all living things. Gaining power and the aid of powerful beings was absolutely vital: for success in hunting, plentiful crops, good health, thriving children and victory in battle” (The Earth Shall Weep 24). This culture and way of life makes the Indians feel connected with other members in their tribe. For example, if you have an adversary in the same tribe you don’t react by killing them because their spirit, like your own, is sacred. Also, the tribe is like a family; they hunt, trap, eat, and communicate together. Having the idea and belief that all objects and animals are sacred also ensures that there won’t be an overabundant amount of wildlife killed. After killing animals Indians pray to the spirits, thanking the spirit for giving it life for them.
The idea that the Earth would stay the same and that the Indian people have purpose comes from the second myth which is scientific function. According to the Indians all objects and animals have sacred spirits. Indians or the “first people” are considered the “spiritual masters (or keepers or owners) who controlled the game on which hunters depended for food. Killing a deer or a partridge did not in itself reduce the stock of game, because the animals really did not die. The animals simply went back to its original home. But if game was killed in the wrong way or without proper ritual or if the meat was treated disrespectfully, wasted or not shared generously among the whole group, then the animal masters would become angry and withhold food in the future” (The Earth Shall Weep 25). Furthermore, Indians walked the same path and reenacted Wounded Knee to release the spirits of the dead. This idea that the spirits and ancestors that had already passed were walking with them implies that the Earth and the location that this “battle” took place has not changed much. The Indians’ idea of life is a circular line meaning that there is no end. “For Indians the “past” means preeminently, closer to the originating source of things” (The Primal Religions 236).
The third function of myths, which is the sociological function, gives the Indians a sense of order and hierarchy in the tribe. The elders in each tribe are greatly respected; they have a lot of wisdom and experiences that can be passed down through oral stories and dances. Men and women also had very different roles in their tribes. For example, men were responsible for hunting and for catching the food. Men were good hunters and knew the land around them well. Women were responsible for cooking, cleaning, agricultural crops, and taking care of the children.
The teaching function is the fourth myth. The teaching function shows how to live one’s life under hard circumstances. Rituals and ceremonies were common in Indians lives. “Rituals were usually the gift of a benign deity who had brought it to ‘the people’ in the beginning, or it was acquired by a cultural hero on a journey to some other dimension or level of reality. By following the prescribed instructions, ‘the people’ were able to secure the favor and assistance of powerful spiritual forces. Their rituals not only regulated their own relationship with the sacred and with other living beings but also ensured that the whole natural order was properly maintained” (The Earth Shall Weep 25). The Indians’ way of life and culture were based on religion and the sacred power of everyone and everything around them. If there was a lack of food or the people were going through hard times it was because someone had made the spirits mad, by killing an animal the wrong way, being selfish or other ways.
During the early 1500’s, Indians were exposed to the Europeans. These people were very different from the Indians although they both had an important religion. Indians and Europeans alike both had ways to “please” or talk to the “spirits.” For the Indians it was through rituals and dances, for the Europeans it was through attending church and prayer. Furthermore, their ideas about time were also different. For the Indians it was circular time meaning that there was no end and that people could “walk” with the spirits from generations that had come before them. This shaped their lives. Because there was no end they were not working on improving themselves or others around them. They were concerned with maintaining the perfect land and by being the fair owners of all the wildlife that the spirits had given them. For Europeans their “timeline” was linear meaning there was a beginning and an end. They felt that they were sinful and needed to repent to God. Throughout time Europeans improved to try to get better through inventions and practices of faith. This difference in perception of time can be seen in the way that both these cultures live their lives. For example, to the Europeans, they were hundreds of years ahead of the Indians because of their inventions and ideas about science and the truth. The Europeans were born into a sinful life and wanted to improve it. For the Indians they felt that they were already in the perfect “garden of Eden” and wanted to simply maintain it.
The conflict between the Europeans and the Indians was inevitable. As technology increased and ships got better, more and more people would want to expand, explore, and claim new lands. If Columbus had not landed in America someone else eventually would have. The United States does this today. Although they were settled in the country they still wanted to explore “unknown worlds” such as space. They spend millions of dollars to travel to the moon and other planets, placing “their mark” the flag of the United States on them. In addition, people are greedy and want the best for themselves. People often take the “candy from the baby.” If it’s easy and they want it they take it. The Indians were not prepared or equip with inventions to defend themselves. They also did not have the cure for the deadly diseases that the Europeans brought from overseas. America was unsettled (with the exception of the Indians) and lumber, gold and other valuable items that would increase the economy. Violence was also inevitable. The Europeans wanted the land and the valuable resources. The Indians had lived on and maintained the land for a long time. They were not going to give their land, homes, and families up with out a fight.
Some might believe that violence was not inevitable. They feel that the two opposing sides could have communicated better and accepted the other’s land and ideas, and then they could have lived together. The Indians did not want war. They gave the Europeans gifts and showed them some of their way of life. They traded with each other which allowed the Europeans to gain valuables and they taught the Indians how to talk and dress like the Europeans. Although this idea is accepted by some it’s wrong, violence was inevitable. The Europeans wanted the land and the valuables that were on the land. People want the best for themselves and when it came to the Europeans they had the weapons/diseases to wipe out almost an entire race to get the money and power they wanted.
From studying the religion and culture of the Europeans and the Indians I have realized that many Americans including myself have adopted some of the religion and ideas of the Europeans. We have learned about the common Indian belief although we don’t practice it as our own in the United States. We have adopted the “invaders” way of life. The Europeans (invaders) were our descendants. We accept and live by what they taught us and what was passed down to us as children, even though other religions and ideas such as that of the Indians surround us. Today, we realize that other people have different beliefs. Like the Europeans we try to change them to what we believe is the right way and the truth. Furthermore, by having stories and myths passed down through generations not only connects people together but it also provides guidelines to live by. The myths help teach you how to live and how to react in various situations.
Saturday, February 3, 2007
Would YOU be silent?
I realize that many people have different morals and values than I do although I can't accept that. If you love someone as a family member or a friend you want the best for them right? Of course, so I want to share my beliefs and morals with other people. Not because they are necessarily my beliefs but because they are what God wants. If someone doesn’t love and ask God into their heart even if they do good works on earth how can they go to heaven? They can't. So, for example, if one of my friends is gay or of a different faith how can I stay silent about it? If I feel that they are not going to go to heaven and experience the same joy that I do, why not talk to them? It is difficult to watch my friends and family suffer from a cold or other illness, so how can I watch as my friends live "worldly lives" and have not accepted Christ as their lord and savior when I know in my heart that they are going to suffer forever? I can't accept that and I want to tell more and more people how great God's love is for them. If you had the greatest truth in the world that could change so many lives what would you do with it? ...I can't be quiet when I know the truth... How do I know it's the truth? Look out the window. You see trees, flowers, grass, birds, and so many other creatures. How do you explain them or you? Where did you come from? Could unicellular bacteria develop into such a complex creature as you? - It takes more faith to believe in evolution than a God who designed and created the universe. "With Christ all things are possible." He will never leave you. He's there as a father and a friend... he wants you to love and to accept him into your heart. Whether you believe what I said above or not, if you had a best friend and you knew that he was going to suffer forever would you be quiet and watch him do the things that he does when you knew in your heart that he could be happy and filled with love? Would YOU be silent if you knew the truth?
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