That's right! We now live in the most powerful country on earth, we share the advantages of living in such an advanced society, we enjoy the endless possibilities of a city like Chicago but...why do we have the impression that there are so many inequalities within this society? Professors Arnesen and Howard took back to the old times, to the origins of it all, to the time of Columbus and the first encounters in North, Central and South America. Economic motivation plus unconciousness of an invasion (not a discovery) which brought to America not only the Europeans, but also their diseases and therefore a massive number of deaths in the native population. Spanish, puritans, the first fathers of the American nation have been revisited and questioned, examined and debated, explored and criticised...
Was Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite or was he just one racist more? How can his wish for equality be compatible with his own vital record (female slave pregnancy and later baby included) in favour of the slavery status quo?
Let's move onto stereotypes, and what's more...race. What's the definition of race? Does such a concept exist? is it biological or is it just a social construction? if so, how can we actually determine differences and priviledges depending on race?
A very intense day trying to explore these and many other ideas leading us within the times of the arrival to the New World. The origins of America take us straightly to the origins of its biggest paradox, a country which thoroughly fought for its own freedom whereas took freedom from certain human beings...an undoubtable democracy which still has not solved the big question of race, segregation, equality of opportunities...a complex workfield which will take us (I hope) to a deeper knowledge of us all as human beings.
After classes, a nice guided real and virtual tour around UIC overwhelming library. Wow! Still nervous as I know I will be ble to enjoy the electronic resources of this site for a whole year, I guess I will have to download so many things...impressive facilities with an effective staff member who guided us through with the best of her smiles ... I wish library staff members in Spain would take courtesy as one of their main obligations when it comes to making their libraries accessible and operative, but I'm afraid we're still miles away from that...!
Last, but not least, I keep on thinking about how young this great country is (from a historical perspective) and what a great opportunity this factor gives to its population to get a deeper knowledge of their roots, their History so as to be able to learn from the past and try not to repeat their mistakes in the future.
I think my laundry is over. Gotta go! (to be pronounced with an American accent!).
Javier Barbero
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