Summary

Documents: Montecino's 1511 Sermon, The Requerimiento, The Cruelties of The Spaniards Commited in America Destruction of The Indies

They Say:
As New Spain was at the rise of wealth, Spaniards depend on Indians for mining gold. Individuals such as Friar Anton Montecino despise the abuse and mistreatment that were fixed on the Indians by the Spaniards. Friar Anton Montecino report his sermon to the Spaniards about the cruelties they have done to the harmless, innocent people. Montecino claimed that the Spaniards were sinful and were leading to hell (not following the Christian faith). Montecino's sermon had lead to King Ferdinands's Requerimiento. The Requerimiento states that spreading Christian faith is the reason for the conquest. All Indians should serve and acknowledge higher subjects of the islands and Spain, with no resistance. Indians should learn Christianity taught by priests. If the Indians follow The Requerimiento, they would not be treated as slaves. If the Indians reject the document, they would be the fault for their slavery, war, and harm by the Spaniards. Bartolome de Las Casas had written an excerpt, in 1552, about the cruelties the Spaniards had done to the Indians. He admits that the Indians were moralists than the Spaniards. He emphasizes several of the torments of the harrassed Indians the Spaniards did, causing decreased population. Bartolome, as the witness, had seen numerous inhumaned tortures. The whole cause for this was gold.

I Say:
I agree with Montecino's and Bartolome's document because the Spaniards were greedy and focused on wealth and title. Conquest had meant for spreading Christianity. With inhumane tortures, missionaries worried what would the Indians think of the religion. When The Requerimiento was required to be read to the Indians, I think that it was a cynical violation of Christian faith. I don't think Christian faith is based on "If you don't do this, then you'll get this." "Encomienda gave encomenderos the right to force Indians to work when, where, and how the Spaniards pleased." To me, this means The Requerimiento meant nothing because Spaniards harmed and use the Indians for gold anyways. This is true for Bartolome's excerpt. His excerpt was made in 1552 and The Requerimiento was announced in the beginning of 1514. About 40 years later, Spaniards violated The Requerimiento. Indians followed it, yet the Spaniards still do harm on them.

Beginning Writing Philosophy

Before, I didn't really like writing because I was poor in grammar and I thought I lacked the creativeness. During high school, I started to like writing because of a language arts teacher. She told me I don't write with my own voice. Through that year, I liked writing such as research papers, personal essays, and argumentative essays. Also, I wrote daily journals, used to jot down thoughts and opinions, based on a given topic or quote. At home or on my spare time, I go on the Internet to chat or Myspace or email with friends and family. I send/reply comments/emails with my own style and voice.

I use slang, abbreviations (LOL, LMAO, etc.), and especially pidgin in Myspace/email/chat room. Pidgin is a mixture of languages or slang that we can communicate with each other in Hawaii (languages include Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino, Chinese, Portuguese, English). Sometimes pidgin can be shortened English words (part of our culture). I use pidgin especially with family and friends in Hawaii, but with friends in the mainland, I use some grammar so my comments/emails can be understandable. Sometimes my comments/emails can be very random (starting up with topics or commenting pictures). When I email with teachers or write academic papers, it would be professional. When I approach with school work, I research and think thoroughly about a given/chosen topic. I use templates that can help me guide and organzie my thoughts. In "They Say/I Say", templates can help you "how to engage in the kinds of critical thinking." Templates provide structure though it may take away originality. When I am used to the template, I can come up with ways that can fit/support a topic creatively while using the structure (with a better flow).

They Say...I Say...

Authors define writing as a piece of art. This means that it is an expression of feelings or ideas. Structure, such as thesis to topic sentences to examples, are needed to help the writing piece flow, but the structure does not limit creativity or expressions. Writing can be viewed by one author, but authors would define writing as universal. This means that an author's point of view/opinion should consider others' point of view/opinion by backing up, or giving explanations, of a given point. This type of writing piece will have readers agree or identify with the writing piece and have their questions answered. To me, writing is a tedious work that we have to learn in every grade. I learned writing with structure that give it's boring taste based on a teacher's requirements. Though as I came older, I learned more types of literature which I can express my feelings or thoughts such as poems and personal essays. Also, I can play around with different styles of writing. I realized that writing helps me think critically which can help me communicate with others outside in the real world or at school.