I came across an interesting article on Paste magazine's Web site. The title alone was enough to draw me in: "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath: The Shocking Similarities Between Gospel Music and Death Metal." The subject matter was incredibly interesting, and the writing was smooth and powerful. The author got some really good quotes from band members and from the former editor of a Christian music magazine. Citing song lyrics for comparison was incredibly effective.
I was raised going to a small Baptist church, so I'm familiar with most of those hymns. I also listen to a wide range of music and have heard some pretty gory rock and metal lyrics. I think it's a striking comparison, one that I have never considered but from now on will notice more often.
To read the article (because you know you want to), visit:
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/10/sabbath-bloody-sabbath.html
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saving the Arapaho Language
As I was browsing for an article to react to, I came across a New York Times story about the Arapaho tribe of American Indians trying to preserve their native language. In the late 1800s, the U.S. government started boarding schools to educate and "Americanize" Indian children, forbidding them to hold on to tribal customs or even speak their native languages. As a direct result of that initiative, there are only about 200 Arapaho speakers alive today.
Fearing for the fate of their heritage, the Arapaho at Wyoming's Wind River Reservation have established a school where children will learn strictly in their native language. Currently there are about 22 children ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to first grade enrolled at the school. Administrators plan to add a grade each year. Tribal elders hope the school will create a whole new generation of Arapaho speakers.
When I began reading, the first two paragraphs immediately drew me in to the story. It began with a brief anecdote about a 69-year-old Arapaho woman, then immediately shifted to an excellent quote. The article flowed well, explaining the urgency of creating the school and the repercussions of losing a native language. It showed how the loss of a language has a far greater impact than one might assume. Teaching children Arapaho not only preserves the tribe's culture; it also creates an environment where that culture is honored and valued.
The end of the article really impressed me. It included an anecdote of tribal elders listening quietly to songs sung in Arapaho at the school's opening ceremony. The anecdote is followed by this quote: “They are the ones who whispered it on the playground when nobody was looking.” It perfectly links the beginning and ending of the article while showing the strength and perseverance of the Arapaho people.
To read the article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/17arapaho.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=arapaho&st=cse&oref=slogin
Fearing for the fate of their heritage, the Arapaho at Wyoming's Wind River Reservation have established a school where children will learn strictly in their native language. Currently there are about 22 children ranging in age from pre-kindergarten to first grade enrolled at the school. Administrators plan to add a grade each year. Tribal elders hope the school will create a whole new generation of Arapaho speakers.
When I began reading, the first two paragraphs immediately drew me in to the story. It began with a brief anecdote about a 69-year-old Arapaho woman, then immediately shifted to an excellent quote. The article flowed well, explaining the urgency of creating the school and the repercussions of losing a native language. It showed how the loss of a language has a far greater impact than one might assume. Teaching children Arapaho not only preserves the tribe's culture; it also creates an environment where that culture is honored and valued.
The end of the article really impressed me. It included an anecdote of tribal elders listening quietly to songs sung in Arapaho at the school's opening ceremony. The anecdote is followed by this quote: “They are the ones who whispered it on the playground when nobody was looking.” It perfectly links the beginning and ending of the article while showing the strength and perseverance of the Arapaho people.
To read the article, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/17/us/17arapaho.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=arapaho&st=cse&oref=slogin
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