In other words, hunting had been part of their descendant’s heritage and traditions for as long as they could remember. There is no place that validates the heritage and traditions of hunting and ignites the hunter’s passion more than deer camp. These temporary hamlets of ‘hopes and dreams’ spring up every hunting season in the American wilderness bringing together hunters of all ages for a week of ritualistic ‘man bonding’ and hunting anticipation. At deer camp, Stories of faded glories, dreams of future triumphs, and boastings of skill and daring are shared. Hunting tactics, strategies, wisdom and knowledge is pooled, as well as meals are prepared and eaten together.
Unlike the white people, the American Indians appreciated their land and resources and lived in harmony with their surroundings. As Ortiz mentions, “Indians had to fight a desperate rearguard action to survive its [the white frontier’s] advance, so they had neither the time nor the means to tell their stories” (Ortiz 3). White men have all but destroyed a great deal of our environment. American Indians and those who have Native American heritages feel passionate about their histories. They have been wronged by being overshadowed by the white man’s inaccurate account of events.
It seems it is also this great joy that lets him finally die. His life is complete as he has waited for Odysseus’ return and in that he has fulfilled his duty, he is now free to rest. Not just in death, he has honored Odysseus in his life as well. It was Eumaios that speaks on behalf of this beast. He tells of a time when Argos was trained by his master to be a great hunter of wild goats and other smaller game.
He means that if the venture needs you to be anyone else but yourself, it will lead to no good. This reveals to me that Thoreau believes strongly in the individual, being yourself, and seeking your own path. This quote is also applicable to modern life because many ventures nowadays require you to conform for some purpose. The second aphorism I remembered is “Our life is frittered away by detail...Simplicity, simplicity.” Thoreau means that our focus and attention to detail now in society and culture do nothing but to waste our lives away needlessly. He believes simplicity is the better choice.
Forty yards ahead in a clearing the deer lay motionless. At almost the exact moment my dad and I recognized the buck, and a silent look passed between us. My dad was proud of my accomplishment, he was proud of the fact that I had practiced, and prepared for a clean shot like this. He reached out and put his arm across my shoulder. I could see in his eyes that he was excited for me; as excited as he would have been if he had made the shot.
In reading the book Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank, I thought the main character, Randy, was quite believable. Throughout the book he showed many human emotions for example; when he received the message of “Alas, Babylon” from his brother he immediately went into action to prepare the necessary supplies he thought they would need. However, being a bachelor and having no one that he was responsible for he forgot some of the items that a family with children might need. He bought pounds of steaks since he was used to eating primarily meat and forgot to buy such staples as flour, sugar and salt that a family would need. When Peyton was blinded by the bomb he immediately stepped in to help her and protect her filling his role as her temporary father figure.
However, he resolves these thoughts and continues to have perseverance and the will to survive. Paulsen descriptively demonstrates how a person can survive as Brian experiences realistic scenarios that seem near impossible. Brian realizes, throughout his brutal journey, that his family, which he was so disappointed in, was not as bad as he had thought. However, he knew, if he was ever going to see them again, that he needed to master his survival skills in the woods. Then brain found a rifle in the plane wreckage.
Though Colin Beavan completely changed his lifestyle to make a positive impact on the environment, not everyone can completely change because of the lack of time, discipline or capital, but we can always cut down on the negative effects that we apply on the earth. One of the methods that put readers in shock was when he decided
There’s just no winning, we were treated unfairly and we didn’t receive any wages. But that was no problem you white men, as long as you were benefitting right? But then we finally got a voice, someone stood up for our indigenous rights, and we were given equal pay wages. I thought things were finally going to be alright. But things didn’t change; it was a losing battle even when we were so close to victory.
Sitting Bull, the Sioux chief talked to a reporter about the ordeal that he and his people have been through because of the “white man”. Although the “white man” gave them so much, all they want is freedom. They don’t want to be confined in one space as the white man. “I would rather live in a tepee and go without meat when game is scarce than give up my privileges as a free Indian”. The reason behind this is that no matter what the Indians receive, no matter what materialistic goods, food, shelter, none of that means anything to them except their freedom.