The Importance of Cattle

The Maasai culture revolves around cattle. They believe all cattle were given to them by their God, Ngai. This religious belief causes tension between Tanzanian people because today the Maasai still steal cattle. Social status and condition are centered on the amount of cattle each man owns. While the men own the cattle, it is their wives responsibility to care for the animals. This can be a large task for one women, so polygamy is encouraged and accepted by both sexes because it creates less work for each woman. Stealing cattle and polygamy are both accepted social norms to the Massai people. While these are uncommon practices, their diet often consists of drinks made from cow's blood and milk. This blood and milk is mixed in a gourd that has been coated in urine. The urine prevents the mixture to spoil. This is a traditional mixture made purely from cattle ingredients, an animal that truly defines their culture.

Pictures from Tanzania

Here are pictures of Maasai, from my trip to Tanzania in 2008. In one picture you can see the men's shoes made out of tire. The other pictures are of Maasai women and children, in their traditional clothing.

Ferguson - Sinking Globalization

Nial Ferguson discusses the 19th and 20th century globalization period, represented by unregulated money, free trade, limited restrictions on migration, and inflation was low. This globalization period brought about many technological advances, such as the U-20 Submarine. This advancement in technology, however, brought catastrophic damage to the Lusitania. This is his first example of a fall or crash after a technologic advancement. He claims history repeats itself, yet every time it does we are shocked by the collapse. He also points blame at the "great illusion" many Americans possess, that movements like the Iraq war would be over quickly. We tend to think irrationally. Ferguson discusses the savings rate of .2% of disposable income in 2004, to 7.7% percent 15 years ago. With these low savings rates, investment is also down, creating the government to be more reliant on foreign countries for aid. With China buying much of our country's debt, it is dangerous because they will have a role in our government, he calls this relationship the "great-power rivalry." Ferguson, discusses the stakes of economic globalization.

The Film Avatar Is Offensive to the Maasai?

Blogs and newspapers this month have been buzzing about the box office hit "Avatar," but some questions it's racial undertones. In the movie it is a typical struggle over land between an indigenous tribe and white men. The critics have said the film was offensive to the Maasai people because the indigenous population wore jewelry and hair styled after the Maasai tribe of Eastern Africa." "Avatar" has a nauseatingly patronizing racist subtext, says Will Heaven at the Daily Telegraph." I have not seen the film yet, but I am intrigued by this link to todays box office.

Mahbubani

Mahbubani claims the West is the source of the world's problems, because they are unwilling to accept that the "Asian Century" has come. I think in this article he raises valid arguments like it is ignorant for our nation to assume our government will work in problem areas, such as Iraq; however, Mahbubani himself is Asian and appears biased and spiteful throughout his article. He claims," Every time there is a major flare-up in the Middle East.... few of them doubt the problem's origin: the West." He makes bold statements such as the one above with out providing sources to the claim. Despite his bias he makes some strong claims, the West cannot deny. By going into Iraq without UN permission, the United States lost the right to ask Iran and other nations to follow Security Council resolutions. This was a rookie mistake. He also highlights the west failing to accept global warming, when they have created the majority of the pollutants. He admires Al Gore and admonishes George Bush. This article was focused on the shortfalls of President Bush not the "West" as Mahbubani titles it.

i just found this!