The Lowdown Hoedown

Gertrude winked at Harry from across the hall.  She was enamored by him and wished he felt the same way about her.  Harry was sporting a coon hat with a long tail.  An end of a leek was protruding from his full lips.  

            The clock struck 8:00 o’clock and the tables were moved from the dance area after the pie eating contest. It was one hour before the dancing began. Gertrude’s sister Hannah took first place again much to some of the fellas’ chagrin.  Gertrude could still taste the sourness from the cherry pies she ingested. Her front tooth was stained from the cherry pie. Cherry pie was her favorite. The berries were not sitting too well with the contestants and you could hear toots as they walked across the floor. The air was made fug by the odorous smells in the barn.  The air smelled of horses and their manure mixed in with the rank smell of damp hay.  Most folks from around these parts took those smells as a way of life and nature’s perfume. The dance hall was actually Bernie’s horse barn.  Bernie moved the horses outside to the corral and swept the main floor to prepare for the night’s hoedown. The smell of manure 

            Fishing rods were lined up on one of the walls of the dancing area. Trapper reeled in the biggest catfish that morning and won the fishing contest. Poor Jethro lost his fishing pole when his fish hook got snagged on a log in the river. 

            A tub was placed in the center of the room that contained water and apples for the apple bobbing competition.  Gertrude nudged her sister Maybelle in the ribs and said, “let’s show up those other gals over there and get the most apples this year.” Maybelle and Gertrude squatted on the floor on two sides of the tub and started bobbing for apples. Maybelle being as competitive as her sister said, “I got to get me as many of those darn apples as I can get.”  The crowd was cheering them on.

            Sally Joe walked through the door, one of Maybelle’s arch enemies.  She was standing with her feet shoulder width apart and her hands on her hips.  She reached for something out of the pocket of her patchwork skirt.  Maybelle tensed up and stood to face her opponent.  Sally Joe pulled a pen out of her pocket with a piece of paper. 

            “Ya know da pen is mightier than the sword. I am going to run you out of town on a rail Maybelle,”said Sally Joe as she pointed her nubby finger at Maybelle.  Sally Joe’s finger got caught in one of the gears of her tractor last year during harvest time. 

            Maybelle was thrown off balance by the force of Sally Joe’s voice.  Sally Joe challenged Maybelle to a game of tic tac toe.  Maybelle was trembling as she drew the first x. She always went for the center; but that was not a sure way to win the game.  Sally Joe was known around these parts to be the best tic tac toe player in the county. A bead of sweat was rolling down Maybelle’s face. Sally Joe drew a circle on one of the corners. Before Maybelle realized what Sally Joe’s strategy was, She had a circle drawn on three corners. Maybelle lost the game and walked with a slouch to one of the corners of the large barn. People were staring at her which made things worse.

            Sally Joe turned towards Gertrude and Gertrude shrunk away from her.  Putting a hand up signaling that she did not want to play a part in trying to get back at Sally Joe. Sally Joe smiled smugly and walked over to Harry.  She put her arm around Harry. He smiled like the cat who swallowed a canary.  He began to pick his teeth with the tine of a fork. 

            “There’s no ifs, ands, or buts Sally Joe, you are the best tic tac toe player in the county,” said Harry proudly. 

            Dusk was falling on this warm summer night.  Children were still playing tag outside.  The children looked up at the sky marveling at the full moon. Two loons swam past the onlookers as they were gazing at the moon.

            Soup was simmering in a large kettle.  Mary Sue put the lid back on the pot after she stirred in some spices. 

            “Do you mind if I have a cup of dat soup?  I haven’t eaten since noon,” said Billy when he opened the lid to smell the savory aroma.

            “Yes, go right ahead,” replied Mary Sue as she handed him a metal cup.

            “Mum told me that there was hail da other day when Uncle Willy set sail to fill their freezer for winter. He was going to bring home a mess of catfish,” exclaimed Billy.

            “When I got the mail da other day, my second cousin Henrietta told me they were hit with a bout of hail two weeks ago.”

            Mary Sue added some soy sauce to the soup.  Her mum told her that soy sauce gives things just the right amount of kick. 

            “Sprinkle some of dat magic sauce on my cup of soup, will ya,” demanded Billy.

            “Did you hear those bears rummaging through our garbage last night?” asked Mary Sue.

            “Yes, I did. I paid old man McCoy $5.00 for this bear repellant stuff and it didn’t work.  I am going to bring dat tube back to McCoy’s store and demand my money back.”

            “I swear on da holy grail dat I covered my garbage cans with bricks and when I woke up the bricks were gone,” said Mary Sue with a look of frustration. 

            While Mary Sue and Billy were having this conversation, Gertrude stared at who she thought was her soul mate from across the room.  She thought to herself, I am so mad at dat con artist Sally Joe.  She has been after my man for months now.  If I had a ton of bricks right now I would set them up so they would fall on her and get rid of her once and for all.  Gertrude dotted her face with a hand-kerchief as her mood became more and more gloomy.

            Jethro began playing the fiddle while Henry played the washtub base.  People started tapping their feet to the music. 

            Gertrude worked up her courage, walked over to Harry, took him by the hand and pulled him onto the dance floor.  A look of surprise crossed everyone’s face. 

            Gertrude said gruffly, “I have been pining for you since I saw you take first place during dat outhouse race last fall.  It’s about time ya started paying attention to me.”

            Harry replied, “It’s about time ya admitted yer feel-ings for me darling.” They ended up dancing the night away. 

            Sally Joe stormed out of the dance hall.  The tires of her big red truck spun dirt and gravel as she drove away.

Remnants of a Shattered Past

Lost in the folds of deception

laced with faulty perceptions,

avoidance of responsibility,

no praise for amazing resiliency.

The use of substances to numb the pain,

slipping quietly into the rain.

Depression is only part of the solution.

Desperation not leading to resolution.

Facing the angst of despair,

caseworkers try to repair,

the damage done by the unaware.

Oppression forced one to pick a side,

while others were along for the ride.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Shame and

Malignant Trauma,

a large part of this unresolved drama.

Who’s willing to step up to the plate

for those who cannot afford to wait?

Historical trauma has taken its toll,

while Indian people were forced into

a subservient role.

Oppression represents financial gain

for those avoiding distain.

Establishment of another poor working class,

many more ceilings made of glass.

The use of substances to numb the pain,

slipping quietly into the rain.

Sharon Brunner

Beyond the Shadows

Even if it burns a bit low at times,

The secret of life is to always

Keep the flame of hope alive.

Barbara Johnson

One of the single most critical elements preventing us from achieving happiness is unresolved trauma. Everybody has it within themselves to become healthier: physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. All of us have a past and our share of challenges. No one has a perfect life; loved ones passed away, parents divorce, loss of jobs, substance abuse issues, and unfair treatment. Change can be exciting, satisfying, and valuable. Conversely, change can also be frightening and complicated. Not taking risks can assist us with avoiding additional suffering, disappointment, and fear of the unknown; however, it also causes us to avoid learning, changing, growing, or really living life to the fullest. Most of us are not usually adept with planning for good things to happen in our lives. We usually plan for setbacks and disasters. With a positive mindset and achievable goals, our goals are more likely to come to fruition. If you have made a decision to heal from unresolved trauma, you need to make sure you are committed to the necessary changes and pursue the tools necessary to see your recovery to the end.

“If you deliberately plan to be less than you are capable of being, then I want to

warn you that you’ll be deeply unhappy the rest of your life.” 

Abraham Maslow

We all have it within ourselves to live a life filled with meaning and satisfaction. This book is about the ability to master your life and unlock your fullest potential. The book you have in front of you will become one of the most important books in your life. Of course, many authors make this claim. After personally practicing many of the things described in this book and reaching a life filled with fulfillment, I can safely proclaim this statement. This is a powerful resource and the first one of its kind that I am aware of. This book is written primarily in first person format because I believe we are all in this together. The people who were interviewed for this book and previous writing projects provided a lot of insight concerning what it has been like to deal with unresolved trauma. The names of these individuals were changed to protect their privacy. Some of the topics will be repeated throughout the book because of the importance of the information. Be prepared to feel empowered when unpacking your trauma baggage and transform your life from merely surviving to thriving. Before you begin your journey of healing from unresolved trauma you are often stuck in the victim role, a role frocked with feelings of helplessness and no hope for a brighter tomorrow.

            An important goal when addressing historical trauma is to move from the victim role to thriving. The terms victim and survivor are often used interchangeably. There are vast differences between the terms. The terms victim, survivor, and thriver feature distinctions as follows:

Victim:

State of helplessness

Angry

Hoping to be rescued

Perception of lacking choices

Self-pity

Complacent

Identities self as a victim

In pain and feeling numb

Experiencing feelings of defeat

Avoidance of feelings

Controlled by traumatic memories

Controlled by depression, anxiety, hatred, bitterness, revenge, and physical complaints

Has not learned from the experience, likely to repeat trauma, and victimization

Feelings of shame and self-dislike

Self-destructive addictions

Survivor:

Beginning to feel stronger

Perception that there are resources and choices

Recognition of personal potential to change and grow

Living one day at a time; coping from day to day; present life is primary focus

Beginning to heal

Living moderately well

Suffering begins to lessen

Neutral about life; not depressed, but not happy

Realization of traumatic experience(s) existing in the past.

Removed ourselves from possible abusive situations

Thriver:

Committed to positive growth

Planning for the future with optimism

Active

Self-determined

Can experience joy

Established healthy self-esteem; and we see ourselves as valuable people

Reaching out to others

Has found meaning and purpose in life

Experience positive growth as a result of the trauma.

Can endure remaining anxiety based symptoms with relative comfort and/or acceptance

Guilty feelings have been resolved

Generally satisfied with life

Perception that we have moved beyond the trauma and have learned valuable lessons.

Happiness is an obligation which we owe to ourselves, others and the universe. Mastery of our own personal happiness takes effort. Happiness is a state of well-being and contentment. We may have found it easier to be sad and find fault with our lives.  We may be used to being unhappy and as a result our unhappiness has become our norm. If we force ourselves to smile on a daily basis, smiling will become a personal habit. Feeling grateful for what we have is the first step to happiness and next is humility, appropriate communication skills and a desire to control our need to obtain all our wants. The recipe for happiness involves equal parts of being grateful plus not allowing things to bring us down. We are in charge of our emotions. We need to seek happiness like our life depends on it because it does. 

Native Americans have demonstrated steadfast resiliency throughout history. As a member of a federally recognized tribe, it is the explanation I chose to use to explain our existence. There are many factors associated with resilience: insight into ourselves and others; open mindedness; courage; personal discipline; integrity; a sense of humor; a high tolerance for distress; and a practical viewpoint that grants life meaning, and hope. Those who coped best with traumatic events were those with the insight into the emotional impact of what they experienced and who were able to express their feelings to another immediately following the event.  Another factor that comes into play is the person’s temperament. Also the early life experience of trauma can contribute to our vulnerability or resistance to stress. The impact of prolonged early trauma from childhood into adulthood is likely to interfere with the development of resilience. Coping with complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) poses an extreme challenge. This disorder, which I believe many Native Americans are inflicted with, is the crisis that can be accompanied with an opportunity to develop new ways of coping and more resilience. 

The core feelings associated with trauma are feeling afraid and alone.  Hence, mobilizing social support systems such as relatives, friends, and members of the community can play a major role in our recovery. Encouraging survivors to tell our story counteracts the feeling of isolation. It also provides an opportunity to make sense of the traumatic experience. The more severe, complex, and chronic the PTSD symptoms are, the more difficult these symptoms are to explain or diagnose. Correctly answering the question “What happened?” may take a while to answer.  And the question may refer to much of our childhoods, allowing no brief answer. Our stories, depending on the complexity of the trauma we suffered, may be difficult to reconstruct. The stages of recovery involve establishing safety, reconstructing our story, mourning and integration. For anyone who has suffered various forms of trauma most of their lives, establishing a sense of safety may not be easy. A sense of safety may not occur at the beginning of the healing journey, it may be the end result.

Most of us were inflicted with some form of serious trauma during our lifetime and research has demonstrated the trauma faced by our ancestors also affects us today; this is referred to as intergenerational stress or historical trauma. In the days before the United States and Canada were settled by Europeans, there were no political boundaries. Many of the tribes consisted of nomadic hunters and gatherers. Weather and the availability of food sources played a role in deciding where the Anishanaabeg (original people) would live.  I will also use the name Indian for this population because it has been determined to be a noble name. What was known as the Indies today was known as Hindustan in 1492. The word “Indian” came from Columbus’ description of the people he found. He was an Italian who did not speak or write Spanish very well, so in his written accounts he called the Indians, “Una gente in Dios,” a people in God.  Again, it is my opinion the given name of Indian is perfectly noble and respectable. 

For hundreds of years Indian people have been subjected to harsh acts of discrimination, which I have to regretfully acknowledge is still occurring today. Keep in mind; phrases such as “Drunken Indians” are still being used. The children at the boarding schools were told their form of spirituality was barbaric, savage, and they were told they were less than human by people who shoved Christianity down their throats while they were sexually, emotionally, and physically abusing them. The batterers told the battered they were undeserving of respect. This book clearly describes what historical trauma is and what can be done to address the damage caused by the ravages of this form of chronic abuse. 

Much was lost and destroyed during the cultural disruption of Native American people throughout the history of Euro-Americans settling in this country. As much as we want to blame the Euro-Americans for all our problems, we need to realize everybody suffered.  Even though there has been a lot of destruction to our feelings of self-worth for centuries, we all have it within ourselves to live a life filled with contentment. It would behoove us as a nation to work together to address the problems we are facing by providing support for one another and by rebuilding our communities.

I suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of chronic abuse.  It was like I was walking on a battlefield during war time. Being out of the war zone is like breathing fresh air for the first time. My dream is to release other Native American people from their shame and anxiety induced prisons. The first order of business is to gain an understanding about what has been done to us for centuries and how that abuse has scarred our well-being often beyond recognition. Many of us have been in pain for so long it is difficult to even imagine life without it. Feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness have gotten in the way of our ability of doing our very best as a result of unresolved trauma. 

Instead of feeling as if you are serving on the front lines of a horrific battle, you will feel as if you are walking through a quiet meadow. Colors will become more vibrant and you will feel like the world around you is a friendlier place, one in which we can flourish. The new skills developed during the healing process will give you the personal power to heal. You will finally find the answers to the questions many of you may have had for a long time. Whether you are preparing for your healing journey or have been on your journey for a while, the Beyond the Shadows book is an essential resource. This book is about becoming masters of your life and establishing more meaningful experiences. Living a life filled with meaning involves developing your fullest potential and saying no to things that have caused harm to you and things that may cause you harm. You owe it to yourself and the other important people in your life to be physically, spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually healthy. 

Reference

Brunner, S. (2016). Beyond the Shadows. Michigan: Freedom Eagles Press.

Note: This blog posting is taken from the introduction of my book Beyond the Shadows.

Forgiveness

Forgiveness and holding onto grudges are at the heart of many human dramas. People are often humiliated, rejected, wounded by selfishness and inconsideration, treated in-humanely, and stabbed in the back. Forgiveness can forge a bridge linking hatred and alienation to liberation from two kinds of hell: bitterness and victim-hood on one side; and guilt, shame, and self-condemnation on the other.

Making peace with those who harmed us does not have to be done in person. It may happen in the privacy of our own mind. This is going to be difficult to hear. Forgiveness is about letting go of our own unhealthy feelings of self-importance so we can move on with living a more balanced life. In essence, forgiveness is not about weakness. Weak individuals are the people who cannot for-give. Forgiveness is the healing work of the strong. 

Forgiveness of those who have personally caused harm to us, our families or significant others can serve as a release. In the Course of Miracles “all dis-ease comes from a state of unforgiveness,” and it is further explained that “whenever we are ill, we need to look around to see who it is we need to forgive.” Louise L. Hay also adds the very person an individual finds hardest to forgive is the one needed to be let go of the most. Forgiveness has nothing to do with condoning unjust and unkind behaviors, it means letting things go (Hay, 1999).

Forgiveness must not involve trade offs, we must not expect retribution. A good example of this is sending a letter to someone and demanding they follow all require-ments set forth in the letter before forgiveness will be granted.  Learning how to trust again after being harmed is one of the most challenging facets of being a human being. Developing trust is essential for forgiveness and healing. It is important to be able to move on. If we let others know that we have trust in them and this acknowledgment is earnest, they are less likely to betray us. In order to forgive and make peace with those who hurt us, we must learn to trust again.

          True forgiveness of self and others involves con-fronting the truth about a harmful situation and then feeling the emotions associated with the situation head on, not holding back at all. By experiencing feelings as deeply as possible, even feelings of anger towards the individual who may have caused us harm, we allow these feelings to be released. Remember, everyone makes mistakes (Hay, 1999).

         Generally, it is more harmful for the person who is holding onto the resentments than the person who is perceived as causing the resentment. Everyone has been hurt at one point or another. Life is unfair. When harm is caused by others, there will not always be an understanding as to why. Release those hurt feelings. Holding onto resentments is linked to several physical problems such as increased blood pressure, weakened immune system, depresssion and impaired memory. Harboring resentments is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

Examination of feelings concerning forgiveness towards our parents is a necessary component for the healing process. Mourning a lost childhood is vital for overcoming childhood trauma. Most people have set beliefs of how parents should treat their children. When parents fall short of these beliefs, the adult child often feels cheated. Everyone who wants to be mentally healthy needs to come to terms with their parents whether they consider them to have been either good or bad parents. Children do not possess the intellectual and emotional tools to admit their parents’ harmful behaviors are not the result of something the child has done. When parents are at war with each other, a child’s loyalties are strained. This is most likely the case in a majority of households due to the high divorce rate in this country. Again, it is important to accept what has occurred during our childhood and forgive those who have harmed us.   

Hay is experienced in providing services to those who are suffering from poor health, lack of money, unsatisfactory relationships, or even repressed creativity and associates these problems with not loving the self. Holding ourselves hostage to resentments is associated with not loving the self.  Hay suggests we need to love, accept, and approve of ourselves just as we are. We need to consider ourselves a work in progress. Self-approval and self-acceptance are a couple of the main ingredients which can lead to positive changes in every area of our lives. This process can begin with never criticizing ourselves. Self criticism can lock us into the pattern we are trying to change, which is oftentimes referred to as a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

We need to forgive ourselves for our perceived shortcomings and mistakes. Sometimes when we are feeling anger towards someone, we are actually angry with ourselves. We may be angry for putting up with someone’s harmful treatment of us for as long as we did. We need to make sure we forgive ourselves. Be kind to ourselves and garnish acceptance of feelings as we progress along the path of healing. It is okay to be compassionate with ourselves. Our pain is only a part of who we are. We have other parts of our psyches that need to be put in the forefront such as our ability to be tender, our sense of humor, our intelligence, and a whole host of things that make us, us. We can tell ourselves, "I am imperfect just like everybody else" (Karen, 2001). 

To assist with building more love and appreciation for ourselves complete the following exercises:

1.      To enhance our self-trust we need to think and write in a journal of a time when we trusted ourselves but thought we had made a grave mistake. Did we learn anything from that experience? Would we have been able to learn the lesson without the experience?

2.      We need to determine who was hardest on us, ourselves or our friends, family, or coworkers?

3.      Determine how did a difficult experience helped us become who we are today?  Do we consider ourselves wiser, more mature, more accepting of others? Did that experience help us reach new heights in the ability to refrain from judging others?

4.      Make the resolution that no experience is ever wasted if we learn something from it. Masters of success tell us that anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried to do anything, especially anything worthwhile (Engel, 2006).

We need to remind ourselves of the worthlessness of worry. Constructively working through traumatic experiences is a way in which we can prevent further damage. Often we find ourselves ruminating about the horrible things in our lives and these obsessions can take over. It is important to practice thought stopping when necessary in order to prevent us from obsessing about traumatic experiences in an unhealthy manner.

The five steps to thought stopping are:

·         Notice when we are having a destructive thought that causes anxiety.

·         Choose a way to immediately and forcefully tell ourselves to STOP this thought. Some ideas include saying “Stop!” out loud or in our mind; picturing a bright red stop sign; and picturing ourselves pushing our arms out in front of us with our hands in a “halt” position. We can keep a rubber band around our wrists and snap it gently; or give our heads a quick shake as if we are physically shaking off the thought. 

·         Consciously exchange the anxious thought for a peaceful thought. We can plan our peaceful thoughts ahead of time so they are ready immediately and write these down to keep track of them. Say our peaceful thoughts out loud or in our minds.

·         We need to keep our mind focused on our peaceful thoughts until the anxious one is completely gone (Schab, 2008).

            Changing our thoughts can make a significant impact on our healing process. Many people throughout history have suffered from trauma. Some individuals have made the bold statement that adversity, obstacles, chaos, and trauma may actually be necessary for people to be successful and fulfilled.

            J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter books, described when she was in the depths of despair. She was experiencing a broken marriage, her parents’ display of disapproval concerning her life decisions, and poverty. Hence, she lacked the support she needed and her options were minimal concerning her predicament. Her failures stripped her of everything nonessential in her life and it taught her things about herself. Rowling turned to one of her dreams which was to become a writer and she sat one day at a café and started writing on napkins about her thoughts of a manuscript idea and the rest is history. Mary Tyler Moore made the public statement about chaos breeding creativity. Suzanne Somers has written about the trauma she has faced in her life. Post traumatic growth can occur in many forms besides recovery. We may find ourselves pursuing our dreams with vigor after we recover from unresolved trauma.   

Forgiveness can open up many opportunities for us. We can develop better relationships, pursue our dreams and aspirations and take better care of ourselves. Holding onto resentments can damage us physically and emotionally. By changing our thoughts, we can make a more positive impact on our lives. Setting ourselves up in victim-hood only causes us harm. It’s time to turn ourselves around instead of beating ourselves up. We are imperfect like everyone else and we need to accept ourselves imperfections and all.

Reference

Brunner, S. (2015). Beyond the Shadows. Michigan: Freedom Eagles Press.

Gerrrymandering

This is the best explanation of gerrymandering you will ever see

How to steal an election: a visual guide

By Christopher Ingraham March 1, 2015 

Gerrymandering -- drawing political boundaries to give your party a numeric advantage over an opposing party -- is a difficult process to explain. Suppose we have a very tiny state of fifty people. Thirty of them belong to the Blue Party, and 20 belong to the Red Party. And just our luck, they all live in a nice even grid with the Blues on one side of the state and the Reds on the other.

Now, let's say we need to divide this state into five districts. Each district will send one representative to the House to represent the people. Ideally, we want the representation to be proportional: if 60 percent of our residents are Blue and 40 percent are Red, those five seats should be divvied up the same way.

Fortunately, because our citizens live in a neatly ordered grid, it's easy to draw five lengthy districts  -- two for the Reds , and three for the Blues. Voila! Perfectly proportional representation, just as the Founders intended.  Now, let's say instead that the Blue Party controls the state government, and they get to decide how the lines are drawn. Rather than draw districts vertically they draw them horizontally, so that in each district there are six Blues and four Reds. You can see that in grid 2 above, "compact but unfair."

With a comfortable Blue majority in this state, each district elects a blue candidate to the House. The Blues win 5 seats and the Reds don't get a single one. Oh well! All's fair in love and politics.

In the real world, the results of this latter scenario are similar to what we see in New York, though there are no good examples of where a majority party gives itself a clean-sweep. In 2012, Democrats received 66 percent of the popular House vote. But they won 21 out of 27 House seats, or three more than you'd expect from the popular vote alone. And from a purely geometric standpoint, New York's congressional districts aren't terribly irregular -- at least not compared to other states.

Finally, what if the Red Party controls the state government? The Reds know they're at a numeric disadvantage. But with some creative boundary drawing --  the type you see in grid 3, "neither compact nor fair" -- they can slice the Blue population up such that they only get a majority in two districts. So despite making up 40 percent of the population, the Reds win 60 percent of the seats. Not bad!

In the real world, this is similar to what we see in Pennsylvania. In 2012, Democrats won 51 percent of the popular House vote. But the only won 5 out of 18 House seats -- fewer than one third. This was because when Pennsylvania Republicans redrew the state's Congressional districts, they made highly irregular districts that look like the one below, PA-7, one of the most geographically irregular districts in the nation.

Now, this exercise is of course a huge simplification. In the real world people don't live in neatly-ordered grids sorted by political party. But for real-world politicians looking to give themselves an advantage at redistricting time, the process is exactly the same, as are the results for the parties that gerrymander successfully.

The easiest way to solve this issue, of course, would be to take the redistricting process out of human hands entirely. There is already software capable of doing just that -- good luck getting any politicians to agree to it, though.

The process of re-drawing district lines to give an advantage to one party over another is called "gerrymandering". Here's how it works. (Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)

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 Note: Gerrymandering has been coming up latel

The Amish

A large group of Amish people decided to move to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan a few years ago. We see them at local farmers’ markets, at local stores and driving their horse and buggies near where they live and other areas. They seem to be a friendly lot. Some of the stores put a place for their horses to be secured. We are not permitted to park near these areas to prevent us from blocking the area. The men usually sport beards and the women wear bonnets and long dresses. There have been some complaints about them driving their carriages during the nighttime hours. People fear they may not see their black buggies. The police have not been able to convince the Amish people to install lights to the back and front of their buggies. There has been another complaint about the Amish not having to obtain building permits. Our home was built by the Amish, they worked for a manufactured home company. I have learned through my travels that they own restaurants, build furniture and build homes, they are a talented group of people. They are also farmers. I decided to explore and learn more about what it is like to live in an Amish community.

            The Amish people have lived in America for a long time with the first Amish people arriving during the 18^th century. They moved to this country to escape persecution because of their religious beliefs. The first sect was established by Jakob Amman, a Swiss minister, during the late 17^th century in the Anabaptist church. He believed that his followers should adhere to the teachings of Jesus and His apostles, but leave the rest of the world behind, not get involved in the daily lives of others outside of their sect. The word “Amish” originated from his name.

            Their language was derived from the “Deutsch” or German and from an ancient dialect. Because of their isolation from the outside world, their language is spoken differently than the current German. Their language has been influenced by the English population.

            Farming is the central focal point of their lives so where they live depends on where they can farm successfully. The population of the Amish has expanded due to their large families so they tend to live on land away from urban areas. They initially resided in Ohio and now have expanded to 30 states and they also reside in Canada. Ohio has the largest Amish population. The Amish population is one the fastest growing populations in the U.S. In 1920, the population was at 5,000 and now it is almost 300,000. In 1984 the population was reported to be at 84,000. The extensive growth is related to the belief that large families are a blessing from God. Children also provide assistance on the farms.

            Contrary to what I believed, the Amish are taxed on their earnings. Increasing numbers are venturing into business enterprises, primarily carpentry and the sale of farm products. They form construction crews that build homes and other buildings. A friend of mine told me that her neighbors hired the Amish to put a new roof on their home. As a result of owning property and earning money through various ways, they pay all taxes: income, property, sales, estate, corporate and school. They were exempted by Congress to not collect or pay social security . they view social security as a commercial insurance. They believe the members of the church should provide for its community members. The Amish people have been exempted from workmen’s compensation for the same above reason. They are excluded from military service due to their belief in non-resistance. This not only applies to war, but also law-enforcement, politics and legal actions. Wouldn’t life be simpler if we didn’t have to deal with any of these things?

            The Amish life is ruled by the “Ordnung,” a German word for order.  Most Amish people forbid the owning of cars, televisions, computers, other forms of self-propelled machinery and the use of electricity. They forbid the sanction of divorce, and attending high school and college. Photography is not permitted because it may lead to personal vanity. Another Amish word “hochmut” defines the prohibition of the demonstration of pride and arrogance. It is believed that the horse and buggy mode of transportation keeps the community anchored in one area.

            Amish children attend school usually through eighth grade, mostly private schools. A few have attended public schools, approximately 10%. The United States Supreme Court passed a ruling in 1972 that they could end school at the age of 14. Instruction is usually provided in English and their German language.

            The Amish are not considered one single unit, there are four main groups: the Old Order, the New Order, The Beachy Amish and the Amish Mennonites. Subgroups and different rules exist amongst these various categories. The Beachy Amish and Amish Mennonites have been known to drive cars and use electricity while the other groups do not.

            Their dress is rather plain with some groups only wearing black and white clothing, while others may wear muted colors. Buttons are not permitted because of the potential for showiness, and such things as Velcro and zippers are also not allowed. They use pins and hook-and-eye closures. Capes may be worn to religious services.

             The term “Rumspringa” refers to the period of time in young person’s life when they are deciding to either be baptized and join the church or leave the Amish community. The term means running around and this running around stops when they get married. When a person turns 16 the youth will socialize with their friends on weekends. They will perhaps seek a future mate or explore the workings of the outside world. The “Rumspringa” ends when the person is between the age of 18 and 21 or if they decide to leave the Amish community.

            I hope this summary of what it is like to live in an Amish community was helpful. It is my understanding that they are a hard working people who embrace the solidarity of their communities. With farming being their main focus, the community practices a drive to satisfy the responsibility of caring for their community as a whole. I have seen during the winter months, a long line with cotton towels were hung to dry and possibly air. I saw a young man at a mail box, he seemed excited to discover what had been sent. The males are usually seen driving the horse and buggies. I imagine the family members are assigned the traditional jobs of males and females such as the females handling the cooking responsibilities. I wonder if they celebrate any of the holidays we celebrate. Do they read books on a regular basis? When it is dark outside do they light candles? Perhaps I will need to interview a few Amish people to find out more about their lives.

Reference

Diebel, M. (August 15, 2014). The Amish: 10 things you might not know. Retrieved on March 7,   2017           from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/15/amish-ten-things- you-need-to-                       know/14111249/

           

           

           

           

            

Easter Island

Easter Island is a mysterious place in the South Pacific in which giant stone statues echo their historical enchantments. The island is located 2,300 miles from Chile’s west coast and 2,500 miles east of Tahiti. The island was formerly referred to Rapa Nui to its first inhabitants. The island was later christened Paaseiland or Easter Island by the Dutch explorers to honor the day of their arrival in 1722. The island was annexed by Chile during the 19^th century and today it mainly serves as a place where many come to visit each year, a tourism location. Many visit the mystifying sites such as the giant statues, the ceremonial village of Orongo and the Rano Kao volcano.

            The creators of the enormous statues were considered master craftsmen and engineers. These marvels are distinctive to other sculptures discovered in the Polynesian cultures. The role the statues served in the ancient Polynesian civilization and the way they have been constructed and transported has puzzled many for centuries.

            Rapa Nui was the first name given to Easter Island by the Polynesians. The first king of Rap Nui was Hoto-Matua, a ruler possibly from the Marquesa Islands. The approximately 900 large statues provides the greatest evidence that a rich culture was established by the original inhabitants. The statues averaged 13 feet in height and weighed approximately 13 tons. The huge stone busts were referred to as “moai.” They were carved out of porous rock formed by volcanic ash. It is still a wonder how the statues were moved all over the island.

            There were distinct cultural phases: the early period (700-850 A.D.), the middle period (1050 – 1680), and the late period (after 1680). Between the first two phases there was evidence that many early statues were destroyed and the statues were rebuilt. The later statues were larger and heavier. During the middle period burial chambers were constructed. The moai were believed to represent the important people who were deified after their death. The biggest statue found constructed during the middle period measured 32 feet tall and weighed approximately 82 tons.

            The later period, laced with civil wars and destruction, involved many statues being pushed over and many obsidian spear points were found. Two competing ethnic groups existed during this time period: The Short-Ears and the Long-Ears. Many lost their lives during heated conflicts.

            The first known European traveler to set foot on the island was a Dutch explorer named Jaob Roggeveen. He arrived in 1722. As stated earlier, the Dutch named the island Paaseiland or Easter Island to celebrate their date of arrival.

            After about 50 years in 1770, the Spanish viceroy of Peru sent explorers to the island. They spent four days and estimated the population to be at approximately 3,000 people. Four years later after a civil war the British navigator Sir James Cook arrived to find that the island’s population dropped to only 600 to 700 men with only about 30 women still remaining.

            Jean-Francois de Galaup, a French explorer, discovered 2,000 people on the island when he arrive in 1786. The major influx of people was decimated by a slave raid from Peru in 1862 which was made worse by smallpox being introduced to the small community. The population was reduced to 111 by 1877. Catholic missionaries decided to settle on the island to convert the natives to Christianity. Chile annexed the island and rented much of the land for sheep raising. In 1965 the government of Chile appointed a governor for Easter Island. The residents of the island became citizens of Chile.

            Easter Island was formed by a series of volcanic eruptions. It is 14 miles long and seven miles wide. The hilly terrain and subterranean caves filled with corridors extend into the mountains of volcanic rock serve as a challenge for people who want to explore the island. The largest volcano is Rano Kao and the highest point is Mount Terevaka, which reaches 1,969 feet above sea level. The climate is subtropical and sunny and dry.

            In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage site. The island has no natural harbor, however, ships can anchor on the west coast at Hanga Roa, the island’s largest village with a population of about 3,300. The island houses a mixed population, mostly of Polynesian ancestry, and the Spanish language is the most prevalent language spoken. The economy is supported by tourism.

            The history of the island involves visitors from many countries. The mysterious large Polynesian statues have provided an unsolved puzzle for many for centuries. Why and how were they constructed? The island serves as a tourist attraction for many today.

Reference

History.com. Easter Island. Retrieved on March 7, 2017 from www.history.com/topics/easter-

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