Kennedy Speech in Santa Fe

While we were in Santa Fe, New Mexico; soaking up the "sun" and enjoying the sights and sounds of this beautiful place, we happened upon an Obama rally on the night of the last debate. Before the debate was aired, Maxwell Kennedy--son of the late Robert Kennedy--gave an opening speech to the Obama supporters and volunteers in the audience. The students were very impressed with his 'punching' of words, his enthusiasm, and his obvious knowledge of the topic. As we listened, the students got a good example of a persuasive speech. Although our cultural speeches in December will be informational, it was still good to see and hear a thoughtful orator.

(Thanks to Misaki for supplying the video footage).

The Culture of Acoma

I went to New Mexico and Arizona on a trip. I visited people of the Acoma Pueblo who respect nature. They protected Pueblo culture and religion from the Spanish because they have pride in their culture. I felt these things from visiting them.

Acoma Pueblo defended their religion from Spain. They made kivas, which are circular rooms for practicing their religion. The Spanish came to their city and had them practice Catholicism. However, Acoma people wanted to practice their religion. They changed the kiva's shape from circular to square to hide the place where they practiced their religion, so they could keep practicing. They enshrined nature and they believe people come from the mother earth and return there after death. Their agriculture depends on nature because it is dry farming. They never give water to plants, so plants are given water only by rain. It is difficult for them to get water because they live in a higher place than the river or the place that they can get water. However, they are not only keeping Pueblo culture but also losing the Pueblo language. Their children can't speak their language now. They speak English, so the Acoma Pueblo school tries to teach culture and language. However, it is difficult because Acoma Pueblo children do not go to the same school.

It is important to keep one's own culture because ancestors developed culture, which took a long time. Pueblo people protected their culture from their enemy, but they are losing Pueblo language because of time. We must try to keep and tell about important, different cultures.