GEOG #8

Joy Prior
Geography 120
Sec 001
Otterstrom, Samuel M
#8: INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS
Independence movements are occurring all over the world. Choose one news article dealing
with an independence movement taking place in the world and discuss it in terms of the
geographic factors (particularly location, population, ethnicity) that have contributed to the
movement. (Use your atlas.) What factors discourage the country in which the area lies
from allowing it independence? What do you think will be the outcome of this movement?
Ingram, Sommer. Texas Nationalist Group Rallies for Secession.Associated Press. Chron Huston &
Texas News. March 6, 2011. Web March 2011.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/7458701.html

North America: Texas
This article summarized a small but enthusiastic group of Texans who want to succeed from the United States Government. A group of citizens gathered at the foot of the Capitol. Some demanded to debate Governor Rick Perry directly. Many were members of the Constitution Party of Texas. Someone was a host to a political show. The group was all convinced of one idea though, and that is that in order to avoid national debt, taxation, and embracement the state of Texas should abandoned the United States Government and start an independent nation. It is a cry for Irredentism; conservative Texans do not want to be associated with the rest of the United States.
I looked at how large Texas is as a state and studied the physical geography. It is on the east edge of the Rocky Mountains, and the west side of Mississippi. This puzzled me, because I could not see how with all of the national travel and even international communication that the physical geography would influence a state to desire independence. Then I began to think about how historically the physical geography influenced the place aspect of Texas. The Rocky Mountains were a large barrier to cross, and so unlike other states such as California Texas was able to trade quickly with eastern states. It is also along the Gulf of Mexico and relatively near the Great Mississippi River which would allow for all types of international trade.
This convenient geographical location helped Texas to develop into an influential location. Unlike other Midwestern states Texas has many large cities, and a lot of political influence in the federal government already. Also the geographical aspect of human environmental interaction influenced Texas wanting to succeed from the United States because it is unique. Texas used much of the continental oil to obtain economic power, and unlike other states (Utah for example) in the United States that have restricted oil drilling Texas has even encouraged off oil drilling in the Gulf Coast. This makes it unique.
On that note, while I was looking at a map of Texas I realized that the state it’s self has great diversity. There are huge cities and great spaces of agricultural land. It is right along the border of Mexico and on the same block live immigrants, and boarder control. Some of the state is along the Gulf Coast, but other parts of the state are near the Rocky Mountains. Possibly this article represents the Balkanization of America into smaller more specific groups that agree about what should be politically such as the: conservative Texans.

Feast of Dedication; Lazarus; Triumphal Entry

Jesus does not deny who he is. How often do I walk by the mirror and degraded myself? Or when I fail a test I think that I am too stupid? I do not imagine that the Savior was caught up in false impressions of himself. When the people were prepared to stone him to death at the Feast of Dedication He did not deny His true identity. He knew who he was. His example has helped me to not be persuaded by the world’s stones: magazines, advertisements, and music that tells me I am not a valuable daughter of God. I want to follow the Saviors example and declare to the world that I know who I am, and I know from Christ’s example that once I know who I am I can better follow God’s will.

REG In the Temple

I am not endowed. My roommate is preparing for her mission, and about to receive her endowment. We got onto the discussion of the temple and being ready for the temple. She told me that she did not feel like anyone could ever truly be ready to enter the temple, but they could be prepared to enter the temple. This thought has been crisscrossing my brain, because I don’t understand. John chapter 10 really helped me to cut through some of the confusion in my heart and mind about the preparation for the temple. In this chapter Christ uses the image of a good shepherd. He calls his sheep by name and welcomes them into the protection of His pasture. This comforted me heart because I felt that preparing for the temple is not simply about accomplishing a check off list, but it is about coming into the fold of Christ. When I enter into sacred covenants I am numbered as one of His sheep, and protected as one of his fold. That is a great blessing!

REG More Parables and Teachings

In the reading I loved the parable about the poor man and the rich man who both went to heaven and received their reward. As the book points out the poor names name was Lazarus, and the rich man had no name. This was mind boggling to me because I realized that Jesus only teaches truth; His stories are true; His principles are true; His lessons are true; the characters are true. The parables that Jesus teaches with are not like fables or designs of the imagination. Instead parables are filled with true characters are real as Lazarus himself. If Lazarus was a real character in Jesus’ parable was the rich man also a real character, someone who Jesus knew and was aware of but simply did not disclose his name. There was a literal Lazarus, but was there a literal rich man? Thinking about the rich man as a real person with dreams, fears, and loves made me realize that I could literally be the rich man. The idea that the parable could literally be describing me, as literal as it is describing Lazarus, caused me to reevaluate what I value in my life.