Where the Present Turns to the Past, Wisdom Grows

As a bone chilling breeze rolls off the bright green hills, I look up at the overcast sky and reminisce of little league baseball practices held on this field nearly 15 years ago. My childhood rushes back to me and Apache Indians place-names from Keith Basso’s Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and Language among the western apache come to mind. This feeling I had was surreal, as if I was transported back to that time was watching actions of my younger self and my childhood friends. For me this experience was similar to what I believe Basso is attempting to convey.

Keith Basso’s, a “weekend” ethnographer –linguist and professor of anthropology at the University of New Mexico, Wisdom Sits in Places is essentially four individuals essay on the importance and meaningfulness of places to community, and how the Apache people incorporate these places onto their language and culture, moral and social valves.

Along with several Apache guides, Basso set out to map the places of Apache importance which he refers to as place-names. Basso and his guides Marley and Charles map many places with descriptive names from their ancestors. Moreover, Basso indicates that many places named, are not necessarily reflections of their locations but moral indications to be cautious. For instance, Basso notes the place-name “Shades of Shit”. Basso’s guide Charles sees the place and transitions into a story teller of the past. He tells the story of how this place received its name; with emphases on the unmoral actions of their ancestors, Charles’s story provides a moral lesson. Therefore the Apache place-name “Shades of Shit” perhaps was once descriptive of its location now provides a moral story of what has happened to a past generation who has not shared when others have had none.

In the preservation of culture through place names Basso is told a story by his friend and Apache source of information Nick Thompson, who is considered among Apache in Cibecue to be an expert in language and culture. Thompson narrates a story about an apache man who killed a Whiteman’s cow off the reservation and is arrested by a policeman of Apache heritage. It is believe by the Western Apaches that the policeman was place under some sort of witchcraft, which did not allow him to remember what he was doing. Therefore, the policeman forgot to tell the army officer why he had come to Fort Apache. (The policeman was supposed to tell the officer that he had arrested a man who killed a cow). Ultimately returning to Cibecue with the arrested man and releasing him at “Men Stand Above Here And There.” Thompson describes this story as consequences to “Apaches who act [sic] too much like a Whiteman.”[1]

Furthermore, Thompson indicates that even though this story may be seen as an amusing story, the Apache people understand that they may be looked down on if they join “outsiders against members of their own community.”[2] Therefore, the story of “Men Stand Above Here And There” provides the Western Apache with a place that uses imagery to strengthen the Apache culture by disapproving of those who wish to involve themselves in the Whiteman’s way of life.
In Basso’s third Chapter “Speaking with Names” an Apache woman’s, Louise, brother was bitten by a snake and failed to receive a ritual that would deal with his contaminated state. Because of her brothers predicament Louise was in a position to receive criticism for her brother’s actions. When Louise attempts to defend her brother’s actions to a group of friends, she is first interrupted by Lola Machuse who says softly, “’Tse`e` Hadigaiye` yu` ‘a`godzaa’ (It happened at Line Of White Rocks Extends Up And Out, at this very place!).”[3] This comment was intended to send Louise and the others to this place in their minds, to hear and see the moral lesson of what happens if you are careless. As a result Lola’s “statement relieved Louise of any need to publicly defend her brother’s conduct.”[4] The reference of Lola’s place names allowed another Apache women, Emily to state “’Ha`aa Tu`zhi’ Yaahigaiy` yu` ‘a`godzaa.’ (Yes. It happened at Whiteness Spreads Out Descending To Water, at this very place!).”[5] This statement also sent Louise to this place in her mind. Louise later indicates that her mind traveled to these places instantly and she “saw that girl (from the story Line Of White Rocks Extends Up And Out) She was impulsive. She forgot to be careful…She was like my younger brother.”[6] The use of place-names in these situations allows the Apache people to bypass negative criticism and see the deeper moral and cultural mistakes, and to be able to state their concern without appearing to verbally attack Louise or her brother.

Lastly Talbert Paxton, an Apache cattleman approaches Dudley Patterson and his associates who are providing information to Basso, for work. Paxton who is a friend of Patterson has had an unfavorable past in terms of women and drinking. And when Paxton and his associates question Talbert on whether or not he is “clean” the conversation is: “So! You’ve returned from Trail Goes Down Between Two Hills!...So! You got tired walking back and forth!...So! You smelled enough burning piss!” Talbert responses, “For a while I couldn’t see!”[7] These comments are in reference to the stories of Old Man Owl who is blinded by lust of two young women. As Basso later infers this instance represents a moment Talbert Paxton’s “Metal Smoothness” was weak. The statements by Patterson and his associates are essentially the Apache from of inferred conversation by men. It was as if they were asking him “did you fix what was wrong with you” without being emotional; addressing the issue without talking about it. Thereby, using place-names, Patterson addressed the issue (drinking and women) and provided criticism without being harass.

On a separate note, it is the belief of the Apache that the mind is a product of mental resilience and mental steadiness referred to as Metal Smoothness. Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the individual as well as that of the community to guide the Apache people’s growth. These components of the mind and community guidance allow the Apache people to “Drink [wisdom] from places.” A specific reference to place-names which are essentially places that hold great amounts of wisdom and moral guidance. This metaphor of wisdom in places is source of Basso’s title Wisdom sits in Places.

[1] Keith Basso, Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and language among the Western Apace, (University of New Mexico Press 1996), pg 54
[2] IBID, 55
[3] Keith Basso, Wisdom Sits in Places: Landscape and language among the Western Apace, (University of New Mexico Press 1996), pg 93
[4] IBID, 95
[5] IBID, 95
[6] IBID, 94-95
[7] IBID, 113

The Value of Our Soldiers

An innocent Christian Golczynski holds back his tears while receiving his father’s burial flag. The pressures, the morning, the hardships, to come are not yet evident to this boy who has just become “the man” of the household. This young boy of eight for the time being only feels the hurt, the loneliness, the anger of losing his father. Why is it that across the U.S. thousands of children, young boys, are inheriting duty of the man of the house? Has the revenge and pride for our country lead us into a war we had no busy fighting? More specifically is the war in Iraq worth the life of Christian’s father and the 4263 other heartbroken families across the United States. The Daily News Journal, a Rutherford County newsprint, originally published the photo of young Christian Golczynski courageously accepting the American flag that covered his father’s casket.

It has become common today to lose sight of the reason the United States went to war with Iraq. Several years ago, the standard way of thinking about the war in Iraq was that we were looking for weapons of mass destruction, terrorist and those who harbor terrorist. However, today many Americans tend to believe that we went war with Iraq for oil, to catch Saddam, while others feel that President George W. Bush needed to prove to something to his father.

It is often said that children of fallen soldiers should be proud of their parent’s service to our country, while the hardship these children may have to endure is frequently over looked. Propaganda images, similar to this one, flooded newspapers and the internet after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York. As Americans we rallied together, backed our leaders and with pride went in search of revenge. The pride and our drive to “get’em” was taken advantage of by many politians and used to receive American support for a war, many Americans now believe we don’t belong fighting. So if we do not belong in Iraq fighting a war that is not ours, are our beloved soldiers dying for a cause that is not ours. On the contrary, there is a large minority that feels that we should be in Iraq, and that our U.S. soldiers are making progress in ridding the world of terrorist while stopping those countries that promote and harbor terrorist.

It’s ultimately the children of our heroic military men and women who will have to come to terms the loss of their beloved parents. If the hidden goal of the United States was to remove Saddam from power, which we accomplished why is it that we still have an overwhelming government military and private military presence in Iraq? Well some Americans’ view, including Christian’s father (http://www.iraqwarheroes.com/golczynski.htm) felt that we need to finish the job we started. However this opens the issue of whether the U.S. should be the government that democratizes the world. And if it is not our place to govern the world, then are our American soldiers dying in vain? My own view is that our soldiers our dying for a cause that is not American. Though I concede that children of fallen soldiers should be proud, I still maintain U.S. soldiers are dying in vain.

Without the Bad we Wouldn't Have the Great

Is Godfather Part II an overall better movie than the Godfather? We can debate this for another 35 years. However we could not if there was no Godfather Part II.

In the fall issue of Substance, a Mt. Sac Journalism publication, Charlye Dehart published “Honey…No Sloppy Seconds: Why the Hollywood industry should stop recycling at the box office”. Dehart emotionally claims there should be a no sequels in film and that we should be demanding more creativity from the industry. Dehart supports his claims with personal opinions on several Disney movies, other children films and Horror movie sequels. The article concludes with a Dehart’s list of classic movies without sequels and mentions several creditable sources which have a top 10 list; not directly mentioned but we are lead to believe the sources top 10 list are free of sequels.

Sequels, though often redundant and stretches of the original screen play, are a necessary in the film industry. Such films as Rocky 2, Rambo 2, The Godfather Part II, and all of the Star Wars movies would not have been produced if the film industry had not “recycled” and expanded the original.

Dehart uses the Cinderella 2 as an example of how the film industry lacks on creativity and loves money. Although I agree that the film industry does love money, there is a relevant need for a Cinderella 2. As a parent I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of a child’s imagination. I have often been plagued with the questions: what happens next? Do they get married, have babies? By creating sequels for children’s films, we are allowing our children to continue the fantasy; to be captivated by the images and emerge themselves into the story.

Similar to children, many adults, including myself, embrace and idolize characters of the new movie classics. We want to see more, to see the persona of the character develop further. This creates a need to further the story line and expand on the characters. Therefore, in order to have Academy Award winning films such as the Godfather Part II, which explore the life of Don Vito and furthers the Godfather persona, sequels need to be produced. However the film industry needs to be cautious when producing sequels to avoid the statement, “it wasn’t as good as the original.”

So the real issue at hand is not whether or sequels should be produced but when should they be produced.

Is Your Time worth the Money

Running to class, she trips scraps her knee and hobbles into class late. “Sorry I couldn’t find a parking spot,” she apologizes and takes her seat. This type of situation happens all too frequently at Mt. Sac. Many students complain of the parking situation, but how can we improve the parking? One solution, that is alreading in the works, is to build a parking structure. This is a great idea but it will not be complete until most of us have already completed our education at Mt. Sac. I propose that there should be a premium parking pass, for reserved parking. Close off several of the smaller parking lots, and requiring the premium pass to park in these designated lots. These permits can be issued to the first students who purchase permits or at an increased price. A price increase would raise permits from the current $35, a fraction of the university price.

There are down falls with this proposed parking reassignment, students with improper passes will park in these newly designated stalls. The students who violate the parking laws would be subject to ticketing and/or towing. More importantly, additional revenue would be generated, these funds could restore courses that were cancelled due to budget cuts. In addition, the guarantee of a parking space would increase study time for many students.

Students arrive hours before class not to study but to find a parking space. Annabel Velasquez, an interior design major at Mt. Sac, mentioned she would gladly pay $45 or even $50 if she would be guaranteed a space close to building 28. Nearly all the students questioned gave similar answers. One student who opposed the idea of a premium pass said, “I don’t mind waiting, if I have to, I usually have good luck, and on Monday and Wednesday I have an early class, so I beat all the traffic.” This student who happens to be my brother continued, “Well, if you bought me the pass I would use it.” With this in mind I suggest that the school devise a system that would allow student to purchase the passes for designated premium parking stalls.