In Maya mythology, Tepeu and Gukumatz (also known as Kukulkan, and as the Aztec's Quetzalcoatl) are referred to as the Creators, the Makers, and the Forefathers. They were two of the first beings to exist and were said to be as wise as sages. Huracan, or the Heart of Heaven, also existed and is given less personification. He acts more like a storm, of which he is the god.
Tepeu and Gucumatz hold a conference and decide that, in order to preserve their legacy, they must create a race of beings who can worship them. Huracan does the actual creating while Tepeu and Gucumatz guide the process. Earth is created, but the gods make several false starts in setting humanity upon the earth. Animals were created first; however, with all of their howling and squawking they did not worship their creators and were thus banished forever to the forest. Man is created first of mud, but they just dissolved and crumbled away. Other gods are summoned and man is next created of wood but has no soul, and they soon forgot their makers, so the gods turned all of their possessions against them and bring a black resinous rain down on their heads. Finally man is formed of masa or corn dough by even more gods and their work is complete. As such, the Maya believed that maize was not just the cornerstone of their diet, but they were also made out of it.

Political Cartoons that relate to Latin America

I have always thought that political cartoons is a great learning/education tool for people of all ages and backrounds.

It happens that I found many polital cartoons that relate to Latin America on http://www.caglecartoons.com/

When looking at these cartoons, I want you guys to closely observe them and tell me what you think. If you need help, have these following questions in mind: What the message of the cartoon is or how is the artist trying to persuade the reader.

If your having trouble, try identify and explain the captions, labels, titles and/or speech bubbles of the cartoon.


Later on if you guys want, check out the website I cited above and find another Latin American Political cartoon to post or comment on. There are so many that I am sure all of you will enjoy.

-Ms Gikas-

the government! its trying to take over the world and get us all!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zhs64JnfC8c

everyone watch this.
you mite not think its that serious,
or that its far fetched,
but try to open your eyes.

a new time is upon us!
get with it dudeeee!!


<33!!

http://condor.depaul.edu/~dialogo/back_issues/issue_1/shades_lincoln_park.htm----- This is an article that someone wrote about living in Lincoln Park back in the 60's when it was mainly a puerto rican community. Some of the names mentioned in the first paragraph were actually people that were portrayed in the play I was in. Pancho Lind was beat to death for being a revolutionary and trying to protect his neighborhood from being taken over. Manuel Ramos was shot in front of his friends home by a drunk white police officer while having a party for his friends birthday. The cop later said that Manuel pointed a gun at him, yet no other guns were found at the scene. As messed up as it it, the police officer went free. (Doesnt say that in the article but i just thought yout might want to know about some of the people mentioned)

Stereotyping or being racist?!

On Saturday I was at work taking peoples food orders ...The day was going normal until this old white lady showed up and I took her order but she kept changing what she wanted. So everytime I repeated what she wanted she would get angrier and angrier, I dont know why, b/c all I wanted to do is get her order right. As I was repeating her order she started yelling at me and asked one of my co-workers if I could speak any English or am I just dumb. At first I was speechless, I could not believe what I had just heard. All I could do was yell out "Yes, I do know English", after all I am at work. I dont know if she was impatient or it was because she saw that most of us working were hispanics and she just assumed we were those "wetbacks". I've had many racist comment thrown at me, but this one I'll never forget. Maybe b/c in other occasions I snapped back, but since I was at work I felt and was powerless.

"MEXICAN-AMERICANS"

theres a famous saying that you need to prove to the Mexicans, how mexican you are and to the Americans how American you are.

Im not sure what im getting at but, over the weekend of Mexican Independance Day I was so shocked at what I had seen.

The Mexican flag being disrespected. Dragged on the floor by young teenagers which half of them dont even know what being Mexican is about.

Your flag symbolizes where you come from. And for you to drag the flag on the floor and wear it as an item of clothing isnt helping you make a statement. Its making you look like one of the dumbest people. The flag is a symbol of honor, its more then just a flag. For young teenagers to drag it and to see what I saw with my own eyes. It put me to shame that not enough people know what an independance day. If you go to Mexico you dont see a bunch of mexicans standing a corner waiting for cars to honk to show pride. So in conclusion why do us mexican-americans do it here?

OK so my dad told me about something that happen in Mexico ............ so here is the story hope is interesting ;-)

Well there was a car accident in Coahuila people showed up (even news reporters) at the scene to see what was going on but what nobody knew was that the trailer that had crashed was loaded with 25 tons of ammonium nitrate about 30 minutes after the people were standing there the trailer exploded and 29 people died instantly more than 200 are injured and 50 of them critically. They described the scene as a battle field, smoke everywhere and a huge hole in the ground. They say that the out break caused the destruction of at least 50 vehicles and damaged twenty houses in a radius of 600 meters. This happen September 10th of 2007.

interesting article on peru

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wycc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1150153

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez threatened on Monday to take over any private schools refusing to submit to the oversight of his socialist government, a move some Venezuelans fear will impose leftist ideology in the classroom.

A WAZ GOOD LA HISTORY PPL

HI MS. KOEHLER I GOT A BLOG THING NOW. OH YEAH I WAS SICK THATS WHY I DIDNT SHOW FRIDAY, ILL BRING A NOTE.

Stereotyping Sucks!

Yes, stereotyping as we all know it occurs all the time. People often stereotype without even realizing it or some people do it because they feel it’s normal to judge others. I personally feel that the reason people like to criticize and stereotype is to make others look away from them.

It is obvious that stereotyping can be hurtful to individuals or groups of people. It leads to negative energy, hate and discrimination. The power people get from stereotyping is ignorant and it occurs because people simply want look better than others.