I am a huge fan of Disney movies. I love everything about them and as a little girl I would watch them all the time. Pocahontas has always been a favorite of mine because of the love story between her and John Smith. In a way you could compare her to a teenager of our time falling in love for the first time. She's a young girl sneaking around to see him and keeping him a secret from her father who would disapprove. This love story has been viewed by millions of people but they have all been fed a lie. Disney led on that Pocahontas and John Smith would fall in love and live happily ever after but that was not the case.

Pocahontas was not her real name. It is a nickname that means "the playful one", quoted from our Bedford Anthology of American Literature book. Pocahontas was the daughter of chief Powhatan. It turns out that Pocahontas first met John Smith in an attempt to save him from being executed by her father. Apparently the execution was a ritual for the Indians, and Pocahontas was only playing a part. Incidentally this part helped them become friends. After Smith returned to England Pocahontas was captured and held hostage in Jamestown. During her captivity she was converted to Christianity and married and englishman John Rolfe. She followed Rolfe to England where she died shortly after being unable to withstand diseases.

The story of Pocahontas is known by millions and most of them may not know the truth. They may still be under the impression that she and John Smith lived happily ever after. Even though the Disney movie is misleading and not historically accurate, many still fall in love with it.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

Nunez de Balboa was a Spanish explorer who was born in Spain in 1475. Balboa was a bankrupt nobleman who needed to escape form creditors due to his bankruptcy. He escaped on a voyage to Hispaniola aboard a ship being commanded by Martin Fernandez do Enciso. Together they founded a town they called Santa Maria de la Antigua de Darien. Eventually Balboa and Enciso had their differences and the colony was split between the two. Balboa no longer saw his allegiance with Enciso and decided to explore the country. During his exploration, Balboa gained the trust of the natives by treating them fairly unlike Enciso who outcast them. In time, Balboa heard of a southern sea and a land with gold. He set off to find this sea and eventually found it on September 25, 1513. He named it the “Mar del Sur”. After a short exploration of the area, he set home for Antigua and reached it in January 1514.

Upon his return, there was a new governor residing in Antigua, Pedrarias. The King of Spain heard of Balboa’s great discovery and decided to fund him to explore the “southern sea”. He also granted him the title of governor of Panama and Coyba. After holding Balboas funding for a small amount of time, Pedrarias allowed Balboa to begin his voyage and also promised him his daughter in marriage. During the expedition, Balboa heard a rumor that Pedrarias had been suspended and sent his friend Garabito to investigate the rumor. Learning that the rumor was false, Garabito told Pedrarias that Balboa would not marry his daughter. Infuriated, Pedrarias had Balboa and four other companions executed on counts of treason.

Although Balboa came over with nothing, he discovered the Pacific Ocean and incidentally was executed for a simple misunderstanding. Had Balboa not been executed what other findings might he have discovered?

Info found at http://virtualology.com/hallofexplorers/VASCONUNEZDEBALBOA.COM/

Native American Creation Stories

Native Americans have been portrayed by explorers and immigrants as savages and incompetent people, when really they have an intelligent and insightful way of looking at life and religious views.

One story that stood out to me was from the Alsea tribe. The origin of death was portrayed by two cousins and their two sons. One mans son became sick and died and mourned him for five days. On the fifth day he visited his cousin and asked if his child should come back and his cousin replied, no you should become well again. Shortly after, the other cousins child became sick and died. After visiting his cousin and asking the same question, his cousin replied, "you didn't want it this way at first. Therefore, people will always die but will never come back."

After reading this many thoughts began to flow through my mind. What if the first child came back? Would everyone who died be able to come back? Sometimes I wonder if people really would come back from dying if that first child had.