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THE VALUE OF AN ETHNIC STUDIES COURSE
By taking a Colombian class, students can learn that Colombian people
have many reasons to be proud of their culture. They will enjoy this
course for many reasons, due to the variety of topics. People can learn
about Simon Bolivar “El Libertador,” natural sources of gold (the
sacred metal), and the Amazon.
Simon Bolivar was one of the greatest generals
of South America. He was called “El Libertador” (The Liberator),
because his victory over the Spaniards won independence for Bolivia,
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Colombian people are very proud
of this great leader, because he was the first president of this
country. When he was president of this country, its name was New
Granada, and four countries were part of it.
Gold, this precious metal, was well known by
the aborigines of my country as “the sacred metal.” It was first
found in the beds of rivers and creeks. They used to create awesome
artistic figures out of gold by using primitive tools. Gold was used as
an offering to the gods, and just the leaders of the tribe were adorned
with this precious metal.
The Amazon is called the lungs of South America
because of its extensive vegetation. The diversity of animals and plants
is amazing; for that reason this beautiful place is a nature reserve.
The Amazon is considered the largest rainforest in the world, and it has
many natural parks for recreation and tourism.
For many people, when they hear about Colombia
they think about violence, crime and drugs. But learning about the
culture, history and great leaders, you will have a better point of view
of what this country and people are about. |
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THE WAY MALES AND FEMALES ARE RAISED
Today in Colombian culture, the way males and females are raised is
becoming more similar everyday. Education, social lives, and equal
rights of freedom are changing really fast for the women’s benefit.
Anyway, in small country towns away from the big cities, there are still
many differences between men and women.
People who live away from the big cities are a
little bit more closed-minded. Most of the old people want to be
attached to their old culture, and they want to continue doing things
how they were taught; therefore, they will teach new young generations
how they are supposed to do things; however, boys and girls will find
out that they will have different duties and responsibilities in their
social lives.
Young girls are supposed to stay at home
helping their mothers doing housekeeping, taking care of their younger
sisters and brothers and cooking. With these tasks mothers are making
sure their daughters are learning how to raise a family. Females are
also taught that they must lose their virginity when they get married.
If this does not happen and the parents find out that she had sex before
marriage, it’s going to be total chaos for this girl, because for them
she committed a really bad act of immorality. Consequently, she will
lose respect from any men and even her family.
Boys help their fathers working on farmland or
a cattle ranch. They learn how to manage the money they earn working, so
they can have a good way of living when they become family men. When the
boys are at home they are not allowed to cook, wash their clothes or do
regular cleaning; instead, they will be fixing, painting or building
something around the house.
These small country towns keep good family
values and people live in a friendly and lovely environment, even though
parents are so drastic while they’re raising their children. They know
that their children will have a better future, and they will become more
respectable persons. In general, Colombian men and women are raised with
the same opportunities, and they are able to choose their own way of
living. |
