Daily Log

Friday, September 2

We watched parts of an old episode of The Lone Ranger to clue students in on who the heck the Lone Ranger and Tonto are (were?) and what a violation of everything sacred it is to suggest that the two would ever fight, in heaven or elsewhere.



We returned to yesterday's Native American stories, read "The First Ship" aloud, and discussed why students felt it was outside the mould for stereotypical Indian tales. That it is historical rather than mythological was an important reason given in each class. Dr. P suggested that our preference for the mythological in Native culture reflects our inclination to relegate Indians to a distant, pre-industrial past for which we feel great nostalgia. The assigned story by Sherman Alexie will testify that Native Americans are still very much a part of our modern world.



HW due Tuesday:

Read "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven" closely, sensitively, and repeatedly and TYPE a solid paragraph or two of your best writing explaining why the story is named what it is. I am not looking for a single right answer. I want your ideas, well explained and supported with details from the text.