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Blog Post #1: Week 1
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*Because of my love of economics and math, I like to name things arbitrarily to maximize clarity. In this blog post, I will label the video on Marti as A and the video on the uncertain future of Latin America as B*
In this week's videos, I was particularly moved by two subject matters. Namely, I enjoyed the videos labeled as "Marti and Cuba" (A) and "Towards an Uncertain Future" (B). I think these two videos work perfectly with each other because of my belief that Latin America needs influential leaders such as Marti to cause a change in these uncertain times.
Let's analyze the first video, A. In A, I was moved by the allusions to my geographical Caribbean partner, Cuba and its patriotic icon, Jose Marti. Jose Marti, venerated as the father of Cuban independence, is one of Latin America's most famous leaders. He lived in exile in New York, earning his living as a foreign correspondent. Throughout the 1880s and early 1890s, it was through Marti's gaze that Latin Americans were able to see and understand the United States. In essence, he was one of the gatekeepers between the New World (the economic powerhouse of the US) and Old World (the economically developing Cuba).
Then, in the second video, B, I enjoyed the economic data they provided about the history of Latin America. Particularly, the way the footage analyzed the critical question of "How in fact do you reform institutions with long histories of corruption and mismanagement?" was awe-inspiring. It reminded me of the striking finding in a World Bank study called Understanding the Income and Efficiency Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here, economists try to pin numbers into the fact that Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean could have been twice as productive, had they enjoyed the same level of efficiency in the capital and labor use as in the US. In this study, they conclude that a possible answer to the regions efficiency gap is that the region’s workers produce on average just a fifth of the output of a US worker.
So, how do these videos/studies relate to each other? I think that they meet in the intersection of economics and culture: we need more capable leaders in Latin America. Learning from Marti, and having a comprehensive view on the uncertainty in Latin America, is essential to cause a change in this troubled region. The members of the diaspora are imperative to cause economic well-being.
read full post >>Blog Post #1: Week 1
Posted by: feedwordpress
*Because of my love of economics and math, I like to name things arbitrarily to maximize clarity. In this blog post, I will label the video on Marti as A and the video on the uncertain future of Latin America as B*
In this week's videos, I was particularly moved by two subject matters. Namely, I enjoyed the videos labeled as "Marti and Cuba" (A) and "Towards an Uncertain Future" (B). I think these two videos work perfectly with each other because of my belief that Latin America needs influential leaders such as Marti to cause a change in these uncertain times.
Let's analyze the first video, A. In A, I was moved by the allusions to my geographical Caribbean partner, Cuba and its patriotic icon, Jose Marti. Jose Marti, venerated as the father of Cuban independence, is one of Latin America's most famous leaders. He lived in exile in New York, earning his living as a foreign correspondent. Throughout the 1880s and early 1890s, it was through Marti's gaze that Latin Americans were able to see and understand the United States. In essence, he was one of the gatekeepers between the New World (the economic powerhouse of the US) and Old World (the economically developing Cuba).
Then, in the second video, B, I enjoyed the economic data they provided about the history of Latin America. Particularly, the way the footage analyzed the critical question of "How in fact do you reform institutions with long histories of corruption and mismanagement?" was awe-inspiring. It reminded me of the striking finding in a World Bank study called Understanding the Income and Efficiency Gap in Latin America and the Caribbean. Here, economists try to pin numbers into the fact that Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean could have been twice as productive, had they enjoyed the same level of efficiency in the capital and labor use as in the US. In this study, they conclude that a possible answer to the regions efficiency gap is that the region’s workers produce on average just a fifth of the output of a US worker.
So, how do these videos/studies relate to each other? I think that they meet in the intersection of economics and culture: we need more capable leaders in Latin America. Learning from Marti, and having a comprehensive view on the uncertainty in Latin America, is essential to cause a change in this troubled region. The members of the diaspora are imperative to cause economic well-being.
read full post >>Latin American Studies 100 2019-09-09 20:46:00
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Week Two
What impression did I have of columbus before I looked at his account?
Before looking into Columbus's accounts I was led to believe that Columbus was a hero. In my younger years at school when studying North America and the European explorers who “discovered” it, I was always told that Columbus was a smart and brave man who, despite the opinion of others, hypothesised that the world was not flat and proved other Europeans wrong. However, as I went into high school, the narrative of Columbus that was being old was a slightly different one. I learnt how he mistakenly called the indigenouse people of north America Indians and how he enslaved and mutilated native people
.How my thoughts changed after reading about events in his own words?
After reading about the events that took place in Columbus's own words I find myself having mixed feelings towards Columbus and the way he treated the native islanders. When looking from a modern point of view, the way in which Columbus speaks about and treats the native people seems inhumane and cruel. However, in the context of the time, Columbus seems to think that his actions are nothing less than commendable. He thinks that by discovering the land in the name of the King and Queen he is doing what is right. This is also suggested when Columbus talks about bringing back six of the native people for the king and queen so that they may learn to speak Spanish and learn to follow the Christian religion. However awful Columbus’s actions may seem through a modern point of view. I think that in Columbus’s eyes he was doing the right thing.
It's often tempting to cast Columbus as hero or villain. For many years he was seen as the former; these days, he's more often portrayed as the latter. Is either approach helpful?
I think that to say either Columbus is a hero or villain does more harm than good. To say that Columbus was a hero dismisses the experiences of the indigenouse people of the lands that Columbus discovered. Because he did cause harm and pain to the people who originally inhabited these lands, it would be insensitive to say that what Columbus was doing was an act of heroism because it insinuates that the natives lives pre-Columbus were not valid nor valuable before Columbus arrived. On the other hand, to call Columbus a villain would also be a disservice. At the time Columbus’s beliefs on natives being a simple bread of humans was widespread and to the best of his knowledge, he was doing god's work. To call Columbus a villian downplays the common ideals and culture of 18th century Europe. By trying to understand both sides of the story and come to the conclusion that Columbus was doing only what he thought was best, can give us a more complete view on the situation and a better understanding of the ancient and modern Latin America.
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Week One
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Hey everyone! My name is Jessica and I’m an exchange student for this semester from the ANU in Australia. I’m super excited to be undertaking this course, however, I’ll be the first to admit that my blogging and web skills … Continue reading → read full post >>
Thoughts on Columbus
Posted by: feedwordpress
As a child I sang a song in elementary school about Columbus' discovery of the New World. The catch was that "somebody was already there." While initially Columbus had a more neutral position in society, even sometimes positive, by the time I reached m... read full post >>
Thoughts on Columbus
Posted by: feedwordpress
As a child I sang a song in elementary school about Columbus' discovery of the New World. The catch was that "somebody was already there." While initially Columbus had a more neutral position in society, even sometimes positive, by the time I reached m... read full post >>
Response To: The Meeting of Two Worlds
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I have never before put much thought into the “borders” of Latin America. Before, when presented with an object, geographical location, or even an individual, I would claim with much certainty whether or not it was Latin American. The idea of Latin America being fluid and incomplete has challenged whatever knowledge I previously believed IContinue reading "Response To: The Meeting of Two Worlds" read full post >>
Introduction: Who is Felipe Grosso?
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Hi everyone,
My name is Felipe Grosso, and I’m currently going into my third year at UBC pursuing a major in Honors Economics with a minor in Philosophy. I’m very excited to start this endeavor with all of you. I think the best way of getting to know me is to understand what I want to dedicate my life to. My dream is to become a researcher in the economics of education subdiscipline. I have always been fascinated by the interrelationship between education and the discipline of economics. I believe that the fact that I’m studying at a university such as UBC entails a commitment to my country of Puerto Rico. Specifically, I feel the need to give back to those that don’t have the opportunity to study and learn at world-class institutions. My dream is to explore new ways of thinking about educational systems to decrease educational inequality in Puerto Rico.
Now, why am I taking this class? Because I want to grasp a solid understanding of the cultural, historical, and societal context of Puerto Rico. And what better way of doing so, than to have a class on Latin American Studies. Because of this reason, the opportunity of participating in this experience is one that I cannot pass on. I’m excited for the chance to flourish with people who are committed to learning about our society and motivated to grow as fellow students.
Thanks for reading!
read full post >>Introduction: Who is Felipe Grosso?
Posted by: feedwordpress
Hi everyone,
My name is Felipe Grosso, and I’m currently going into my third year at UBC pursuing a major in Honors Economics with a minor in Philosophy. I’m very excited to start this endeavor with all of you. I think the best way of getting to know me is to understand what I want to dedicate my life to. My dream is to become a researcher in the economics of education subdiscipline. I have always been fascinated by the interrelationship between education and the discipline of economics. I believe that the fact that I’m studying at a university such as UBC entails a commitment to my country of Puerto Rico. Specifically, I feel the need to give back to those that don’t have the opportunity to study and learn at world-class institutions. My dream is to explore new ways of thinking about educational systems to decrease educational inequality in Puerto Rico.
Now, why am I taking this class? Because I want to grasp a solid understanding of the cultural, historical, and societal context of Puerto Rico. And what better way of doing so, than to have a class on Latin American Studies. Because of this reason, the opportunity of participating in this experience is one that I cannot pass on. I’m excited for the chance to flourish with people who are committed to learning about our society and motivated to grow as fellow students.
Thanks for reading!
read full post >>Characterization of Columbus
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Christopher Columbus has long been celebrated as a hero, a brave adventurer, many cartoon exists showing him and his men who bear gifts to the indigenous peoples of the lands he “discovered”. Children’s books tell stories of friendship and growth. All the pictures show smiles and vibrancy. As society becomes more culturally sensitive it delves […] read full post >>
