How did the ethnocentrism of the British and the First Australians cause conflict between the two groups?

Ethnocentrism is the tendency to believe that one's ethnic or cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one's own. The ethnocentric individual will judge other groups relative to his or her own particular ethnic group or culture, especially with concern to language, behavior, customs, and religion.

Ethnocentrism plays a big role in the history between the British and the Aboriginals. Long ago when the British came to establish a bond with the first Australians, the Aboriginals. The British saw the Aboriginals as a less advanced race that was inferior to them. Unlike the British who wore clothes, the Aboriginals dressed much like cavemen. The British wielded guns while the first Australians wielded spears. As we all know, a gun is definitely more advanced compared to a spear. That aside, after the British had learned about the Aboriginal’s ways, the British tried to help them. Their so-called ‘help’ meant taking the Aboriginal’s children into a white colonized school. To the British, the Aboriginals were savages. So by taking their children to a British school, they believed that they were helping them become more civilized. This act greatly impacted the land of Australia. Eventually, the Aboriginals rebelled against the British. But sadly spears were just toys to the superior British with more advanced weapons such as a gun. Today the Aboriginal race is unknown to many. The large race of Aboriginals has decreased from more than 250 clans to less than 50. The harsh life that they had lived through shows us that ethnocentrism only allows us to see the great things we have that others don’t. The colonization of Australia was a terrible act. Such a phenomenon must never be repeated again.

An Apology from the Australians to the Aboriginals

Dear people of Australia,
I believe that you should apologize for all the wronged doings you have done. Long ago you people came and took away everything that the Native people had. At first contact, these people may have seemed like uncivilized barbarians. In order to change them to follow your 'civilized' ways, you people stole their children. By stealing their children, you tried to wipe out their dark skin tone by making them mate with one of your white people! You may call these people animals, but the real animals are you. They may not have shared the same customs or traditions, so what right did you people have to change them? A sorry may not be able to remove all the horrible things that has happened; but I believe that it is never too late to say 'sorry.'

The Rabbit Proof Fence

In my opinion, a hero is somebody who can lead and help others when in need. Molly is a leader and a hero to her sister, Daisy, and her cousin, Gracie. The three girls were taken to Moore River where they would learn the 'proper' British manners and customs. Sick of the British, Molly decides to take Daisy and Gracie and escape from the school. A storm had broken out which gave Molly the upper hand. Covered up by the storm, the tracker had trouble tracking them. This shows that Molly is a cleaver girl who can lead and guide Gracie and Daisy to safety.

Duet Acting, Shakespeare- Act 1, Scene 2

CASSIUS
Will you go see the order of the course?

BRUTUS
Not I.

CASSIUS
I pray you, do.

BRUTUS
I am not gamesome: I do lack some part
Of that quick spirit that is in Antony.
Let me not hinder, Cassius, your desires;
I'll leave you.

CASSIUS
Brutus, I do observe you now of late:
I have not from your eyes that gentleness
And show of love as I was wont to have:
You bear too stubborn and too strange a hand
Over your friend that loves you.

BRUTUS
Cassius,
Be not deceived: if I have veil'd my look,
I turn the trouble of my countenance
Merely upon myself. Vexed I am
Of late with passions of some difference,
Conceptions only proper to myself,
Which give some soil perhaps to my behaviors;
But let not therefore my good friends be grieved--
Among which number, Cassius, be you one--
Nor construe any further my neglect,
Than that poor Brutus, with himself at war,
Forgets the shows of love to other men.

CASSIUS
Then, Brutus, I have much mistook your passion;
By means whereof this breast of mine hath buried
Thoughts of great value, worthy cogitations.
Tell me, good Brutus, can you see your face?

BRUTUS
No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.

CASSIUS
'Tis just:
And it is very much lamented, Brutus,
That you have no such mirrors as will turn
Your hidden worthiness into your eye,
That you might see your shadow. I have heard,
Where many of the best respect in Rome,
Except immortal Caesar, speaking of Brutus
And groaning underneath this age's yoke,
Have wish'd that noble Brutus had his eyes.

BRUTUS
Into what dangers would you lead me, Cassius,
That you would have me seek into myself
For that which is not in me?

Leonardo Da Vinci 'A True Renaissance Man?'

Leonardo da Vinci was a true renaissance man. He was a philosopher, mathematician, engineer, inventor, architect and a painter. He was born into the renaissance age and was a genius, not likely to be seen again. He seemed to be interested in everything which led him to discovering and creating many things. His scientific study of light and shadow allowed him to discover that objects are not simply created by lines, but also by light and shadow which helped give the three dimensional effects. His detailed anatomical study shown in the Vitruvian man has shown the symmetry and proportion of a human body which was never studied. He was the first artist to study the proportion of men. In a time when there was a limitation in scientific research, Da Vinci was not afraid to query and discover new things. He also assisted in the design of guns and armor tanks for the army. In the field of architecture, he participated in the competition for the Cupola of the Milan Cathedral (1487-90). But his design was not selected. In the field of mathematics, this can be seen in his design by introducing to the world perspective. He believes that mathematics is closely related to drawings and paintings. He also believes that: "things of the mind untested by the senses are useless." It was this curious and querying mind of his that led him to discover new things to introduce to the world. He is truly one of the greatest Renaissance men.

Brunelleschi- Risk Taker

Brunelleschi was definitely a risk taker because he challenged new ideas that had not been tested. Building a dome weighing 37,000 tons consisting of 4,000,000 bricks was not a simple feat during the renaissance. He had to convince the church and those involved that this could be done. During the 14th century as Santa Maria del Fiore (the Duomo) was constructed, the Opera de Duomo which oversaw the construction held a competition to see who could build a dome on the cathedral. It was Brunelleschi who won the competition. He convinced the authorities by standing an egg upright breaking its bottom. It was almost an impossible mission as Brunelleschi "had to rewrite the rules of Western architecture and there was no guarantee of success." At that time, there was a shortage of timber in tuscany which could be used for building scaffolds in the cathedral, so Brunelleschi had to think of a new idea to make this possible. Ingeniously, "his plans showed an inner hemispherical dome within the cathedral's octagonal drum, a second ovoid brick was placed on top held by nine sandstone rings." To raise the bricks and sandstone beams, he invented a hoist to raise them; this was the world's first reverse gear invented. Everyday he came up with new ideas to finally complete the task proving that his theory was workable when many doubted it. Even when there are times when he could have doubted himself, he persevered by inventing new methods and coming up with unconventional ideas to overcome his obstacles. He was willing to take risk when he was unsure of the outcome. It was his risk taking spirit that the Duomo was the largest masonry dome ever built. Fillipo Brunelleschi reinvented engineering and architecture proving himself to be the greatest architect and engineer of the Renaissance.

His dome could not have been created without the help of the Medici family. Because he had the support of the Medici, the church had no choice but to support him. Because his idea wasn't fully tested, they could only hope for his creation to hold up. Each time he proved that his new method works, people began to have more faith in him. Had the church not given him a chance, new engineering methods would not have been discovered. He was the first engineer of the Renaissance.

Where Do New Ideas Come From?

There are many types of ideas such as business ideas, inovative ideas, good ideas, terrible ideas, etc. But where do all theses ideas come from? They can from the enviroment we live in, TV,advertisements, internet, people around us, dreams, etc. But where they come from is not as important as if it actually works. Steve Jobs's mackintosh and ipods are good examples of good ideas. In today's society, one of the many universal ideas is to come up with ways to save our planet. These ideas involve the three R's, reduce, reuse, and recycle. Producing energy saving cars such as electric cars, more energy efficient buildings, water recycling are all fantastic ideas of this century. There will definitely be many more innovative and green ideas to come that to meet our every needs.