What part of the story struck you the most? Why?-Why do you think we ignore the human aspect of the Trail of Tears? Why do we focus only on the facts?

Instructions:
1. Pick one of the two questions to answer.
2. Answer the question. You can do so by typing OR by uploading a video of you giving your response.
3. Respond to one other classmate’s response. This can be by typing or via video.
Assignment Perimeters
1. The original post should not be more than 200 words.
2. I will lock a thread after 15 original posters.
3. Please post your original post 1 day before the deadline so others have time to comment.
4. The best posts integrate focus more on the details of what you read and how that relates back to the sources. Coming up with concrete examples is the best way to enter into a discussion. For comments on other posts, try to move beyond simple statements. Try to see how the post relates or doesn’t to your thoughts on the subject.

QUESTION:

The Trail of Tears is one of the most commonly discussed atrocities to Native Americans. However, we rarely take time to examine it further than the basic, unemotional facts.
For this discussion post, I would like you to listen to this podcast: Trail of Tears – Trail of Tears (1998) – This American Life
It recounts the events of the Trail and the modern-day implications.
Step 1: Listen to the podcast. Trail of Tears
Step 2: What part of the story struck you the most? Why?
Step 3: Why do you think we ignore the human aspect of the Trail of Tears? Why do we focus only on the facts?
Step 4: Comment on your classmate’s post. Do you agree or disagree with them?

RESPOND to CLASSMATE:

Emily Welk

1.) What stuck to me from the Trail of Tears podcast was not only the fact that there was a lot of injustice for the Indians and their land from Americans. But what stuck was when Sarah and her sister were talking about the “Broken Promises” and how, as an American, we are so used to that term, in some way, we know that the history in books is not always correct and that some things even written in books were not right in any way shape or form.
2.) I believe we ignore the human aspect of the Trail of Tears, as we do any other historical movement, primarily because of the American cause. Yet, we brush the most critical issues under the rug. Simply because it is ‘not our problem’ or because it seemed ‘better’ to leave out the human aspects and leave in the factual ones.