The Great American West

I always wanted to go on several cross-country trips. The longest I ever took was from New York to Wisconsin and then down to Oklahoma, returning through Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, etc. The other long trip was from NY all along the Atlantic coast, up through Maine, New Brunswick, to Nova Scotia.

I've also toured Washington state--one of the most beautiful and diversified states in the US. And, from there, down through Oregon, to California & Nevada. If you are to do one long trip, do this one. Take your time, transversing left & right in Washington, Oregon and California, from Seattle to San Fransisco, and back.

This film shows the huge territory of the Louisiana Purchase--that is, when president Jefferson bought this vast, mostly unexplored land, from France for $15 million. The US in the early 1800s, was a much smaller country, mainly a collection of states on the East coast. The lands west of the Mississippi were home to sparse Indian tribes, unchartered, and a true wilderness. The Lewis-Clark expedition, funded by Jefferson was a great feat to accomplish. They reached the Pacific Ocean while they mapped the lands later to become part of this country. [hit the link and watch the PBS wonderful series on the subject]
It's summer, and many of us associate it with travel, time to see parts of this magnificent cosmos, and in particular this beautiful continent. The world is my home; there are no borders in the experience of life and of imagination.

"Uncontacted" Tribe Found in the Amazon. Seem to Want to be Left Alone.

UPDATE, June 23, 2008

Since this story was picked up by all the major media, they now feel embarrassed to admit that the photographer that "discovered" this tribe lied! Yeap, he made up the story. This tribe has been "known" for decades, like many others, but the intent was to try to save those primitive people from modern society, hence the hoax.

I don't think this was the right way to help these people. Yes, it brought attention to the issue, but a hoax is not a good way to start a campaign--even if such a campaign has merit.
Here's the story of the plot, the cover-up, and the confession.

*****

(Funai/AP Photo)

Did you hear about an "un-contacted" tribe in the Amazon jungle? It's amazing that in the 21st century there are primitive people who have been living totally isolated from the rest of humanity. I don't know if a fly-over constitutes contact, but judging from the pictures, the members of that newly discovered tribe didn't like it. They appear to be shooting arrows at the airplane with the photographers!

If people want to be left alone, I'm respect that. But, this issue got me thinking about a subject I hadn't thought before. I'm grappling with several questions, such as:

• if the two civilizations (theirs and ours) are so far apart, it's likely the stronger one will impose itself on the weaker one
• primitive people are, well, primitive, with customs and morals different than ours; should we judge them? how about if they practice cannibalism?
• are there any benefits from establishing contact?
• sooner or later, the outside world will invade their domain, so is it better if it is done today with care and proper respect before the commercial companies exploiting the Amazon get to them--and, judging from recent history this encounter has been deadly & catastrophic for the tribes
• what are our obligations towards a primitive people?

I'll be following this subject.... Meanwhile, chime in with your thoughts.

More pictures of this tribe, here.

Another landing on Mars with more discoveries to follow!

Also few days ago, the robotic explorer Phoenix landed on Mars! We have the first pictures from the ground of the Red Planet! [above is an artist's rendition of the landing; click on it for more info] I just found it amazing that in the span of few days human beings send a mission to Mars million million miles away, while some other human beings live in the stone age.