Response to Microlecture 3

    I thought this microlecture was fascinating and I had never heard of internal imperialism before. The US has a history of settler colonialism, starting with the first pilgrims even before America became a country. Even outside of the 48 contiguous states, the US has lasting influence in places like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This was the result of Manifest Destiny, or the idea that Americans were destined to spread their reach from "sea to shining sea" and beyond. Combine this with religious, economic, and military prerogatives, and the US has frequently colonized other places and cultures.    

    The Dawes Act, Indian Termination Act and Indian Removal Act were a reminder of how active the US government has been in this abuse of indigenous people, as both pieces of legislation sought to strip Native Americans of their land and identity. The Dawes Act and Relocation Act not only took native lands, but really looked to assimilate indigenous personas into American culture. I think what is more disturbing is that most of these were probably passed off as beneficial to Native people. While Americans have been incredibly violent and cruel, they also lied and connived their way into the overwhelming majority of indigenous lands. I feel like one of the main takeaways from this last text and the microlectures is that we as a country have some large problems have gone mostly unaddressed. With increased recognition of the problems Native Americans have faced, I hope that we can learn from our mistakes and actually acknowledge the problems while working on solutions.

NFL MVP Standings

Here are my top 5 NFL MVP candidates, an update (and improvement) on Arnav's list from earlier in the quarter.

5. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks): As much as it pains me to give Wilson a spot, I think the Seahawks would have a losing record without him. While his blistering start to the season has slowed considerably, he still has the Hawks in position to win the NFC West. The turnover numbers (10 interceptions and 6 fumbles) are probably too high to win the award, but he sits at 2nd in passing touchdowns and 3rd in passing yards. 

4. Aaron Donald (LA Rams): Aaron Donald stands out on the field. It feels like every play he is shedding blockers in the run game or harassing the quarterback in the pass game. While he certainly passes the eye test, the numbers are there as well. He ranks first in the league with 12 sacks and is 2nd with 4 forced fumbles. He is a big reason the Rams sit at first in the division and anchors a top-5 defense in the league. Unfortunately, it is near impossible for defenders to win the award, despite Donald's dominance.

3. Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings): I just want to preface this by saying that Dalvin Cook has missed 2 games thus far, making his eye-popping numbers even more impressive. He ranks first in the league with 1385 total yards and is tied for the league in total touchdowns. He has done all of this on a terrific 5.2 yard per carry. While Cook has the misfortune of playing with the most average QB on the planet, he is a big reason for the Vikings resurgence. In the end, the NFL loves quarterbacks and one of them is going to win it.

2. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers): I don't know if the Packers drafting Jordan Love really pissed Rodgers off, but he has been playing with a chip on his shoulder all season. Despite the lack of weapons, he has put up 3100 yards and 33 touchdowns, which rank 6th and 1st respectively. Most impressive has been the way ARod has taken care of the football, with just 6 turnovers over the first 12 games. Looking at the team, the Packers have the number one scoring offense and sit at 9-3, looking at a top playoff spot in the NFC. If the leading candidate slips up in a game or two down the stretch, Rodgers has a legitimate shot at the most prized award in the NFL.

1. Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs): This shouldn't be a surprise. Mahomes has somehow elevated his sky-high levels of play and looks to be on his way to his second MVP award. He leads the league in passing yards and has a ridiculous 30/2 touchdown to interception ratio. His Chiefs lead comfortably in the AFC West and have looked dominant throughout the season. This is Mahomes award to lose.

Performative Art and Alcatraz

    So I actually did some research on this and the story is quite interesting. Essentially what happened was five Sioux landed on Alcatraz in 1964, one year after the prison closed, and attempted to claim the island under a treaty that allowed Native Americans to use surplus federal land. 5 years later, a small group seized Alcatraz for a day, symbolizing the land taken from their ancestors. Shortly after, 90 Native Americans occupied the island, staying there for 19 months and swelling to a population of over 600.

    A major part of the occupation seemed symbolic. Just as the white men came and claimed land that didn't belong to them, the indigenous people returned the favor. Additionally, the larger group mocked their own treatment, saying the situation at Alcatraz (no clean water and limited supplies) was no better than those in the reservations. They created a Bureau of Caucasian Affairs, a parody on the hated Bureau of Indian Affairs.

    I think that performance art is in large part a way to draw awareness to a certain problem. While those first takeovers of Alcatraz certainly didn't last long, I'm sure they made the papers and their story was made into an article on History.com. This act helped bring attention to the past mistreatment of the indigenous people and even the current wrongs (like the treatment on the reservations) being perpetrated against Native Americans.

    In a way, There There could be considered a work of performative art, in that it brings awareness to an issue. I was never aware of many of the issues that are revealed in the novel. For instance, Tommy Orange brings to light the problems with addiction that many Natives Americans face, demonstrating some of the long-term effects of the Manifest Destiny mindset.