Difference between revisions of "HIST 131--Week 10 Questions/Comments"
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Is it possible that Davy Crockett just exaggerated his hunting skills to become famous and well-known? Aside from that, the frontier generates an idea that the men are standoffish and mean, that they're kind of like Michael Caine and Robert Duvall's characters in "Secondhand Lions"--they sit on their front porch and shoot trespassers or things that annoy them. Davy Crockett's story here contradicts that by portraying the frontiersmen as being good neighbors and helping them when their food supply was low. Or maybe frontiersmen were nice to their neighbors and mean to everyone else... -- Meganne Lemon | Is it possible that Davy Crockett just exaggerated his hunting skills to become famous and well-known? Aside from that, the frontier generates an idea that the men are standoffish and mean, that they're kind of like Michael Caine and Robert Duvall's characters in "Secondhand Lions"--they sit on their front porch and shoot trespassers or things that annoy them. Davy Crockett's story here contradicts that by portraying the frontiersmen as being good neighbors and helping them when their food supply was low. Or maybe frontiersmen were nice to their neighbors and mean to everyone else... -- Meganne Lemon | ||
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| + | In response to everyone's disbelief at this proud frontiersman's epic bear killing claims, I would like to note that I also do not believe for one moment Crockett massacred that many bears. Here's why: It is common knowledge he ultimately died at the hands of Mexican militiamen with primitive weapons. Bears are several hundred pound killing machines. If he could take on the latter, the former would certainly not have been an issue. Additionally, in response to why he would make this up when he was running for political office, when you think about the petty issues of today that affect votes (the fact that George W. Bush swayed the 2000 election by being voted overwhelmingly the man America would most like to enjoy a beer with) it is really no surprise a society of rugged outdoorsmen and adventurers would more likely vote for a man who claimed to be such a glorious hunter. | ||
| + | -Adam Shlossman | ||
Even though it doesn't relate exactly to this reading, I was also curious about the comment "as rich as a Jew." Where did the wealthy Jewish stereotype come from? Were there even any Jews around in America at this time?- Jake Guralnik | Even though it doesn't relate exactly to this reading, I was also curious about the comment "as rich as a Jew." Where did the wealthy Jewish stereotype come from? Were there even any Jews around in America at this time?- Jake Guralnik | ||
