My Translation of the Destruction of the Indies

1. America was discovered in 1492 by the Spaniards that inhabited. After that many of them migrated over for 49 years. The first place many of the Spaniards started to migrate to was the Spanish Island [San Salvador], it had lots of space [about 600 mile around] and very fertile soil.

2. On all sides of this island were islands that had an overwhelming population of Natives and Forreigners [Way too mnay]

3. The main land or continent [10,000 miles of land near shore] was about 250 miles north and parts had already been discovered, while others would be found in time. This land was far too over populated. THE ARTICLE SPECIFICALLY SAYS, “And such a multitude of people inhabits these Countries, that it seems as if the Omnipotent God has Assembled and convocated the major part of Mankind in this part of the World.”

4. According to the article, these people in the land are Men of gods creation, innocent, simple, have a great understanding of all craft, fine and delicate, obedient, and loyal to their people [I THINK THE PEOPLE OF POWER is what they mean], yet they have the desire to inflict injury, harm, or suffering on another, either because of a hostile impulse or out of deep-seated meanness.

Yet they behave themselves very patiently, submissively and quietly towards the Spaniards, who they have to cope with and in a way live under. The Natives finally decided to live without revenge against the Spaniards and lay aside all the hatred, commotion, and quarrel.

5. This makes the Natives very tender, delicate, softhearted people, making them, after a few years, stupid and with unbalanced temper and altogether are incapable of hard labour. By one or more offsets or disturbances, “the very issue of Lords and Princes” who they live among them very wealthily and abundant, use it all up. They become as tender as the Children of their caretakers or labourers. This nation became in need of attention or action and poor, have nothing, consequently making them neither snobbish or arrogant or ambitious.

9. The Spaniards first assaulted the innocent or easily mislead people, cruelly like starved Tigers, Wolves, or Lions would. Starved because of not have studied for the past 40 years after their first landing. This massacre of the 3 million unfortunate people, in Hispaniola alone, that were killed so inhumanely and barbarously butchered and harassed [With several kinds of torments, never heard of before] left a trace. [So 300 of these people are vividly remembered]

13. The Spaniards absolutely depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of great extent than all of Spain and the Kingdoms of Arragon and Portugal together, that is to say for 1,000 miles that are now desolate and absolutely ruined, keep in mind that formerly, no other Country had been more populous then this.

14. During the 40 year space, either they exercised their eagerness to shed blood and hateful tyranny [Tyranny meaning ruled by one of absolute power] in these regions of over twelve million people, including men, women, and children that undeservedly died, or, the less likely, say that over 15 million people died of natural causes.

16. The main motivation for the Spaniards to endeavor the barren land of these people and exterminate was gold; they figured that if they were to grow wealthy in such a short amount of time, they might, to a degree, earn worthiness, as were in no way consistent with their persons.

Their ambition and miserly desire to gain and continue gaining wealth, which was what they want/desired most, and the vast wealth of those regions; the Humility and Patience of the Native people (which made their approach to these lands more easily attainable) did much promote the business: whom they despicably condemned, that instead of treating them like beasts, they treated them like the scum or filth of the Earth; And they were so anxious and corcerned with their own lives and souls, that instead of converting them to Christianity like they were supposed to, they killed all those people without those people understanding the true faith or sacraments.

17. The Spaniards never even received any wrong doings or injuries from the Natives. The Natives actually referred to them as people descended from Heaven, until they had no choice but to start defending themselves, which was proved by repeated injuries, violent Torments, and injust Butcheries.

Of the Island HISPANIOLA

3. They began considering when and what should be and would neededly be the means that they might expel the Spaniards from their country and start defending themselves. But what they used as both offensive and defensive “weapons” were things that looked like reeds that they would use to play a boys sport with one another more than Manly arms and Weapons. [So they weren’t trying to use them for harm, more of just a little more protection for themselves. I think that this makes them very caring and thoughtful]

4. The Spaniards noticed yet they were well weaponed with lances and swords, which they began exercising their bloody Butcheries and deceive or surprise the natives and overrun their cities and towns, not even sparing the women and children, atleast not the women so much. They were ripping up their stomaches and tearing them to pieces. [I don’t feel that this was necessary at all. The Natives were protecting themselves yet not trying to harm anyone and still the Spaniards were being ruthless and brutal towards them, without the slightest bit of consideration. And these Spaniards called themselves strong believers of the Christian faith. I wonder how they see themselves doing these things as ok.]

5. [THIS PART I DIDN’T THINK I SHOULD TRANSLATE BECAUSE IT IS SO BOLD AND SO GRUSOME THAT I DON’T THINK I WOULD HAVE GRAPPED THE WHOLE MEANING IF IT WAS RE-WORDED] “They laid Wager among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, or divide a Man in two; or which of them should decollate or behead a Man, with the greatest dexterity; nay father, which should sheath his Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition. They snatch young babes form the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call’d upon their Bodies when falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to them, and inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, together with the Mothers that gave them Life,” [This is absolutely horrible, I don’t think they had a right to do these things. It shouldn’t be fun or interesting to them. They should have seen what they were doing to another human being. It’s not as though they are taking revenge, which would be slightly more responable but still not ok. They had absolutely no reason to be so Cruel in my eyes.]

6. [SAME AS IN 5] “They erected certain Gibbets [gallows], large, but low made, so that their feet almost reached the ground, every one of which was so order’d as to bear Thirteen Persons in Honour and Reverence (as they said blasphemously) of our Redeemer and his Twelve Apostles, under which they made a Fire to burn them to Ashes whilst hanging on them:”[That is so cruel. They wanted them to suffer more, knowing that they weren’t far away from the ground and safety. And for them to bring up the lord and his apostles is downright wrong. They are almost using him as an excuse for their wrong doings.]

7. [SAME AS IN 5 and 6] “But those they intended to preserve alive, they dismiss’s, their Hands half cut, and still hanging by the skin, to carry their letters missive to those that fly from us and ly sculking on the Mountains, as an exprobation of their flight.” [So those they didn’t kill they left brutally tortured, with a task. There really was no mercy.]

8. [SAME AS IN 5, 6, and 7] “The Lords and Persons of Noble Extract were usually expos’d to this kind of Death; they order’d Gridirons to be placed and supposed with wooden Forks, and putting a small Fire under them, these miserable Wretches by degrees and with load Shrieks and exquisite Torments, at last Expir’d” [The Spaniards that were out exploring weren’t the only ones that were a part of this so they weren’t only doing these things out of their own person greed or cruel mindset]

9. [SAME AS IN 5, 6, 7, and 8] “I once saw Four or Five of their most Powerful Lords laid on these Gridirons, and thereon roasted, and not far off, Two or Three more over-spread with the same Commodity, Man’s Flesh; but the shrill Clamours which were heard there being offensive to the Captain, by hindring his Repose, he commanded them to be strangled with a Halter. The Executioner (whose Name and Parents at Sevil [Sevilla, a city in the south of Spain] are not unknown to me) prohibited the doing of it; but stopt Gags into their Mouths to prevent the hearing of the noise (he himself making the Fire) till that they dyed, when they had been roasted as long as he thought convenient. I was an Eye-Witness of these and and innumerable Number of other Cruelties….”[It almost seems as if in this time it was somewhat normal, even though I am sure that this isn’t the case. It is inhumane]

The First Charter of Virginia; April10, 1606 [BOTH MY FIRST AND EDITED VERSION because for some reason only part of my original one saved and showed]

Who is the author?

The Author of "The First Charter of Virginia" is King James in 1606.

Who is his/her audience?
This piece was written for the settlers that were ordered to establish colonies in the New World and those people who were involved in the Virginia Company.

What was the tone of the document (vocabulary)?
The tone was formal, informative, some what persuasive, and negative.

What was the purpose and context of the piece?
The purposed was to establish the boundaries, rules, and benefits in the New World given by Kind James, and they were supposed to follow these as ordered.

How is it persuasive?
Ethos: The emotions involved in this document are selfishness and fraud. The reason being that they are talking about land that doesn't even belong to the Europeans, yet they start taking over the lands, soil, rivers, mines, etc. In reality the land belongs to the Natives.
Pathos: The credibility is that King James wrote it. Clearly the people believed him, otherwise they wouldn't have moved to the New World. What also makes this piece credible is the source we received it from and that this document can be found by multiple reliable sources.
Logos: The logic isn't completely there because King James didn't really own that land that he was promising to people, so it wasn't his to be giving out and it's not like he came to the New World and took control of this area. But the system and the method of determining boundaries and such things was logical.

Destruction of the Indies: Bartolome de Las Casas

In recent discussions of the Destruction of the Indies, a controversial issue has been whether the Spainards treated the Natives the way that they should have been treated or was this cruel, unnessarily, and inhumane. On one hand, some argue that the Natives were treated cruelly. From this perspective, the Natives were kind, softhearted, and saw the Spaniards as Men of gods creation. They did nothing but be thoughtful and treat the Spaniards with respect, even when it came down to them having to protect themselves. On the other hand, however, others argue that it was the right for the Spaniards to tourment and inflict pain on the Natives. In the words of one of this view's main proponents, "...wayes and means they might expel the Spaniards out of their Countrey, and immediately took up Arms." According to this view, the Spaniards might have been afraid of getting kicked out, so in this respect, the natives motivated the cruelty and the Natives weren't as kind and softhearted as people made them seem. In sum, then, the issue is whether it was really necessary for the Spaniards to be that cruel to the Natives or was it just.

My own view is that the Spaniards treated them this way out of their strong greed for treasures that they didn't even really stop to think about whether their actions were rightly fit to the situation. Though I concede that even if the Natives were creating reason for the Spaniards to treat them in the manner they did, to a degree, I still maintain that how far the Spaniards took it was just inhumane and by far unnecessary. For example, in the passage it say, "They laid Wager among themselves, who should with a Sword at one blow cut, or divide a Man in two; or which of them should sheath his Sword in the Bowels of a Man with the quickest dispatch and expedition. They snatch young babes from the Mothers Breasts, and then dasht out the brains of those innocents against the Rocks; others they cast into Rivers scoffing and jeering them, and call'd upon their Bodies when falling with derision, the true testimony of their Cruelty, to come to them, adn inhumanely exposing others to their Merciless Swords, together with teh Mothers that gave them Life." In addition, that same section of the passage where it talks about the Natives thinking of kicking the Spaniards out and taking up arms, it continues on to say, ".. But, good God, what Arms, do you imagin? Namely such, both Offensive and Defensive, as resemble Reeds wherewith Boys sport with one another, more than Manly Arms and Weapons." Therefore, the Natives we deciding to put their foot down, metephorically speaking, and start defending themselves, but never was their intention to be cruel and torture the Spaniards, even after all the Spaniards had done to the Native people. Although some might object that the Spaniards may have thought that they were forcefully converting the Natives to Christianity and what they were doing was needed to be done, I reply that the Spaniards only thought of their own greed and want for power, may it be unintentionally or not. The issue is important because it is never ok to be so cruel to any form of human life and it changed history forever, as it says in the passage, "As to the firm land, we are certainly satisfied, and assur'd, that the Spaniards by their barbarous and execrable Actions have absolutely depopulated Ten Kingdoms, of greater extent than all Spain, together with the Kingdoms of Arragon and Portugal, that they say, above One Thousand Miles, which now lye wast and desolate, and are absolutely ruined, when as formerly no other Country whatsoever was more populous."

My writing philosophy...where i was and how i wish to evolve..

Over the years my writing has been to the format that I have been taught. It doesn't portray much originality, it isn't as exciting to read as a book, it isn't really what i like at all. I have been told in the past that I am a great writer. This may be true in the aspect that I follow the directions, I include my facts when needed, I, by far, write more that what is needed or necessary, so if that makes you a good writer, then I guess I am.
I have always wondered why no matter how my teachers had instructed us, as students, to write, it had never came out fun to read. It never made me feel proud that I had written something that I could pick up in a few years down the road and read it in the same interest as when I had wrote it or write after turning it in. But I have been proud of how long I was able to continue following out words onto a page and how I seemed very knowledgeable of my subject. I know that this is because I take pride in my work and find it important to have a great understanding on the subject at had. This too is a characteristic of a great writer but just because you do that does not necessarily mean that you produced a great piece of writing.
I want to learn to write in more imaginative ways, so that my read can make a clear and indepth picture of what it is I am talking about. I would like my writing to sound like a story or a beautiful poem not like a text book, which is the closest thing I can think of to my current style of writing.
I am not entirely sure where I want to end up in my growth of writing, but I do know that over the past few days in class and what I have been reading, I do find more interest and I would love to make at least one nice piece. One that I can be proud of. One where the words flow, one where I bring out many characteristics of myself, one that is full of excitement, yet does not become overwhelming and I still sound educated. Something along those lines. I just hope that over this course I can figure out where I stand as a writer and where I want to become.



P.S. I think that Charles Deemer definately would understand why I do not like my current form of writing. My writing does not really seem like MY WRITING, if that makes any sense.

English Composition as a Happening

First off, I should start by saying that this piece of writing was difficult for me to read because I wasn't really comprehending about half of it but this is what I have pulled out of it. And let me just say, what I did actual understand I mostly agreed with.


In "English Composition as a Happening," I beleive that Charles Deemer is trying to tell us, as the reader, that the education system is flawed. Over the corse of the piece he wants to pursuade us, as the readers, that students should not be talked at or basically have the teachers ideas of a certain subject be implanted into the students head, but rather the students should be the ones putting out the effort to discuss their view on the topic. This system helps students form their own views, helping the present, not just the future. Deemer also beleives that the students should not have a change in beleif or opinion just because the teacher does not agree. Education in Deemers eyes is an experience. It is not something that you just listen to and write down, but actually forming ideas of your own. English Composition is a corse that Deemer feels would be a great start for a happening and that it, as he says would be a proper introduction to the possibilites of the university, a preview of what the university is about. In paragraph six, he says, "Yet in at least one respect, the composition course is a university maverick because it has no real subject content. Logic, literature, linguistics, political science, philosophy -- these and other disciplines crop up in the course but as subject matter certainly they are covered with more rigor in their home departments. Clearly, then, English Composition is a methods course, concentrating not on a subject matter but on ways to get at and write about any subject matter." A happening is a situation meant to be considered as art, has lack of narrative, frequently seeks to involve the audience in some way, and has room for improvisation. It shows you your limits, it forces you to think for yourself instead of being forced to beleive something, you allows creativity, gives you experience, it allows us to make goals and find out what interests and motivates us. So in all, Deemer has a valid point that English Composition as a Happening would make a proper introduction to the possibilities of the university because it would allow students to see how they think, set goals for themself, get involve, learn what they know, pull themself out of their comfort area, and so much more on many levels and in a variety of subject area.

The Way the Deemer supports his position:

• includes many quotes from a variety of different writers, especially ones in education
• shows his views on where he sees flaws, along with proposed solutions that he feels would better the system
• gives specif examples and tells why

[Overall, Deamer shows multiple views and multiple sources of valid supporting quotes and information, including his own.]

Admissions Essay

A few years back I was involved in an organization called the Institute for Community Leadership [ICL]. This group was a non-profit organization that mostly worked with middle schools and high schools, teaching students how to do public speaking as well as write speeches to help them express and stand up for their beliefs. I first found out about it because they worked with my cousin’s high school and she had invited me along with them one Saturday. I was involved with this organization for about two years. I would have continued on with the program if it weren’t for my schedule conflicting with it although I feel that it would have been to my greater benefit if I would have continued on.

In this program I was able to grow and change a lot. One thing that I did that I feel helped change my community was that I helped other students at other schools find the courage to speak on what they believed. It worked exceptionally well because majority of the time I was the youngest member and they saw that if I was capable then there was not really a reason why it was not possible for them. During one summer I spent about three consecutive weeks with the organization. We first went to Eastern Washington, where we had many team building and poetry workshops. The next week we drove down to a small city, not far from Portland, and worked with the city’s middle school students for a few days and helped out on the families’ farm that we stayed at. While we were there we learned a lot about their Native American heritage and even helped them with the festival they had put together in celebration of their heritage and a memorial celebration of their daughter who had passed away from cancer at a young age, so it was in part a cancer benefit. It really helped me grow because where a person comes from and their background has a lot to do with why they are the way they are and why they believe what they believe. Therefore it strengthened my speeches and gave me a great understanding of how important it is to know where you come from and what your people have worked for in order for you to get where you are today. Our next and last stop was in Oakland, California. There, we worked with the students of Castlemont High School. I believe that I really got to connect to many different people. This school was considered to have the most violence and many troubled families. I really got into talking with some of these students and they let me in on how many of their friends were dying because of unnecessary violence. I, this little kid that they had just met, coming all the way from up North, was able to convince them that they did not have to just sit there and not attempt to put a stop to it. It was clear to me that we really came in and changed the lives of those students over a course of three days. Through all the bug bites, lack of sleep, sleeping on hard-wood gym floors and tents in the middle of no where, long distances traveling and not eating much, everything I experienced with them was well worth it and life changing. Some things with that group I can look back on and laugh, like showering in a lake or our out door portable showers in the backyard barn of the main organization’s house. Another life changing activity that I was able to be a part of with ICL was on Martin Luther King Jr. Day one year. We first went to the main Starbucks manufacturing building in Seattle and preformed our speeches on integration and non-violence and then to this huge auditorium in Olympia where we did the same. It was definitely mind-racking and not easy, but there could not possibly have been anything better that I could have done that day in my capability. I can honestly say that at least a good sixty percent of the students we worked with have used what we taught them at least once since then and I think that all schools should have this program open to them.

At PSEC, I could use all that I learned and experience in many ways. Leadership was a big thing with our organization and I could bring that leadership into PSEC in all that I do. In group activities, I definitely am not afraid to be the first one to stand up, help take charge, and delegate work as well as do my share. I could also help my fellow classmates and group members by showing the proper, efficient, effective, clear, and strait to the point way of presenting projects. Standing up for what I believe gives me the ability to make relevant suggestions on how we can improve our community, our school, and our classes. Over all, there is so much I know can bring to PSEC positively.

The Institute for Community Leadership was one of the experiences that I feel both helped me as a person and my community. Just because I am no longer a part of the organization does not mean that I do not still believe what they are doing is helping things change for the better and I am still able to apply what I have learned. I hope that I can continue to try improving my community. One motto I find important is, “If you do not stand up for what you believe in and think is right, then what is its significance and why should it matter to anyone else.”