Animism is a word used to group religions or worldviews that assume a natural order that should be respected and worshiped. It is a belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe. People who hold these beliefs would say the stars and the changes of the seasons have important meanings that influence the fate of individuals. Animists strive to live in harmony with the natural rhythms of the Earth, after all, they would say, we are the sons and daughters of the earth and our well-being depends on living in harmony with it.
Read the song below. It is addressed to John Smith, a European who is ignorant of Pocahantas' worldview. What are the implied beliefs of Mr. Smith in the song?(Name at least 3) Finally, why do you think Pocahantas asks so many questions? .
Colors of the Wind by Vanessa Williams
You think I'm an ignorant savage
You've been so many places
I guess it must be so
But still I cannot see
If the savage one is me
How can there be so much that you don't know?
You don't know ...
You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name
You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew you never knew
Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountains?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colors of the wind?
Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth
The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends
How high does the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know
And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountains
We need to paint with all the colors of the wind
You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colors of the wind
John Smith is implied to be civilized, unsure, and doesn't know how things go in life. Pocahantas asks so many questions to question his knowledge about the world
ReplyDeleteEliot Baez
ReplyDelete2019-08-22
Some of John Smith's implied beliefs are that Pocahantas is a savage, that the only people who are people are those who look like him and live by his own ways, and that any land that he lands on is automatically his own. Pocahantas is asking so him so many questions because she wants to plant a seed of self-doubt within him, so as to help open his mind up to her own animistic world-view and free him from his limited European ways of thinking.
He thinks that they are savages. "how can there be so much you oft know"?" can you paint with all the colors of the wind?. How high does the sicamore grow"?.she asked so many questions to make hum realize the beauty in nature and has he ever payed attention to his surroundings. shes telling him how he doesnt see the reality of all the living things.
ReplyDeletethis on is mine
DeleteThe implied beliefs of Mr. Smith in the song were: Pocahontas and her people are simply ignorant savages, that land is something to be discovered and claimed as one's own, and that only his people (white people) are people. I think that Pocahontas asks so many questions because she wants to make him re-think the way in which he thinks about the world. She wants to show him how she sees the earth. - Mya Carbajal
ReplyDeleteJohn believes that she is a savage due to that she is not like her she doesn't come from his perspective. He also believes that animals are just meat and don"t have value.He also believes That land is just land he dosen't really know the value behind it. There's actually live on the land that he calls territory.I believe that Pocahontas ask so many questions o he can question if he really does believe what he believes. She is trying to make him rethink what he thinks he believes with questions.
ReplyDeleteJessica I.
ReplyDeleteIn the song Colors of the Wind it implies that John Smith's beliefs are that he thinks pocahantas and her people a savages, he also seems to believe that he owns whatever land he lands on and that earth is a dead thing he can claim, as well as thinking that the only people who are people are the ones that look and think like him. I believe Pocahantas asks a lot question to see if John Smith will start to question wither his belief is right. She also asks these questio to see if John can see what she trhough her perspective.
Angel Martinez-I think the reason she asked so many its so Mr. smith can realize all the things he and the Europeans do is wrong and should stop.
ReplyDeleteCarlos Hidalgo
ReplyDeleteI think she asked so many questions because she wants people to think about what happens in the nature that people don't know about it. That there's something that has to do with everything that was put there which will be someone important. Also that he wants people to believe that everything is living here for a reason.
Pocahantas ask so many question because Smith thinks its his land and doesn't know that each rock, trees and creatures have a life. Smith is implied to be unconscious about what hes doing. while pocahantas is a supernatural and is a savage.-Kate C
ReplyDeleteShe asked so many questions, because he thinks the land is the white man's, and he calls them savages, and he believes they are not smart
ReplyDeleteCarlos Chavez
ReplyDeletePocahontas didn't know rocks the trees etc have a life he asked a lot of questions the reason he did was because he thought he own the land.
Vanessa Carmona
ReplyDeleteIn the song his beliefs are the thinks Pocahontas and the people are brave. He also believe that he owns whatever land he lands on and earth is something he claims.
Giovanny Medina
ReplyDeleteI think pochantas is asking so may questions because the guy thinks the land is his so the lady starts singing about how he dosnt know what he knows like about the bear and the land.
Yulisa Martinez I think she asked so may questions to tell Mr.smith that what he is doing is wrong.
ReplyDeleteFatima Lua
ReplyDeletei think Pocahantas asked so many questions because she worries about nature and everyone else doesn't cause i might not be important but i think everything is here for a reason
selena Perz
ReplyDeleteHe asks so many questions because he owns all the land he lands on. He likes showing what nature is really about and how it feels to be surrounded by nature.He is trying to show that animals have a great heart even though they are out in the world.
I think she asked so many questions because she wants people to see what happens in with the nature and that people don't know. And I also think she wants to know people that everything lives for a reason.
ReplyDeleteYasmin Torres p.6
Pocahantas asked so many questions because she wants to know if John knows what he doesn't know. John's 3 beliefs and that he think the only people who are people are the only people that look and think like you. Also that you own any land you land on. Come roll in all the riches all around you And for once, never wonder what they're worth. Laura Negrete p.6
ReplyDeleteshe asked all these questions to because she told john smith that if he knew the land as well as she did, aslo shes a savage becasues she not from where john smith is from. wilkison
ReplyDeletePocachantas is talking about nature and that every little thing means something than just seeing what smith sees oscar G
ReplyDeleteUlisses Zepeda
ReplyDeleteThe first one is when she said If the savage one is me how can there be so much that you don't know? You don't know. The second one is when she says You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you, But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger. You'll learn things you never knew you never knew. The final is how high can the sycamore grow if you just cut it
MarshalI- John Smith said that Pocahantas is a savage that people who look like him are the only ones who are peopl and that any land that he is on is his. Pocahantas is asking him lots of questions because she wants him to see the world as she sees it like animistic not like his view.
ReplyDeleteIsrael Cisneros - the many questions asked towards Smith, implying his beliefs, are to challenge his beliefs and show him a different perspective on the world around him. examples of Smith's beliefs are that people like Pocahantas are savage, he still has yet to understand the unknown, and he is lacking empathy
ReplyDeleteErik Perez-- Three implied beliefs are that he thinks only him and his people are the only people out there. Another belief is that he wasn't seeing the nature around. lastly he thought the world was a dead thing and he was here to claim part of it. Pocahontas asked many questions to see if if mr.Smith admired the world just like she does.
ReplyDeleteHazael Herrera- Pocahantas stated many things about John Smith, she states that someone or something weren't to think or look like him he woulg against them/it.She also tell him how in a way he is greedy and ignorant.
ReplyDeleteI think Pocahontas asked many questions because his beliefs are different perspective from his world to her world. -Stephanie Guillen p.7
ReplyDeleteJohn Smith has his beliefs set as riches being materialistic like gold or wealth but its also implied that he isn't spiritually connected to nature as much as he should be because he is biost towards his beliefs
ReplyDeleteAngelica Maldonado
ReplyDeletehis belief are that he only classified people who are like him,he assume that everything has a price tag,he also believe that he owns whatever land he lands he can claim.Pocahontas asks a lot question to see if John Smith truly understand value since he been everywhere so he claim
that the world should be treated right, we shouldn't buy or sell anything that's not right,the earth gives us everything for free. people like him are ignorant and don't see the value in life that's why she calls him a savage he hunts and kills animals destroys lands and takes what he wants, if people want land they get it because they think they can.they don't see the view of her the Pocahontas, her beliefs are that everyone should be together"we need to sing with all the voices".she says that nature valuable to life important.
ReplyDelete-Michael Escobar
John Smith impales that Pocahontas and her people are savage. John Smith also believes that they own the land they land on. "You think the only people who are people Are the people who look and think like you" this quote impaling that these are are not savages people in John Smith mind. Pocahontas ask many question to understand John Smith logic.
ReplyDeleteThree beliefs Mr. smith had in this poem is that, Anything can be bought and sold, and any animal can be captured or killed, and also Smith is too blind to see what earth is really worth. Also phochantas asked so many question because smith is seeing the bigger picture of the spirit world.
ReplyDeleteRicardo Lopez- the savage part was just to gt a better idea who they were being called so the song was a way o get a better idea of their day to day life
ReplyDeleteThe implied beliefs of Mr.Smith is that he thinks pocahantas is a savage, he thinks that he owns any land he lands on. He also believes that if you dont think like him you're not people, this is because he is ignorant. Pocahantas asks so many questions to try to open up his mind and she wants him to see her perspective on nature, she wants him to see the world animistic like she does and she wants to try to get him to rethink his belief. Jennifer Magdaleno
ReplyDeleteI think the reason Pocahantas asks so many questions is because shes questioning his beliefs, not understanding why he thinks nature is just something you can own and treat like if its nothing. Smith's beliefs contain of anyone who isn't a civilized white man is considered a savage. He also believes that anything can have a price, and that any land can be claimed. Then he thinks shes an ignorant savage just because she doesn't act and know about the European lifestyle that he lives.
ReplyDeleteLisbeth Ramos
ReplyDeleteIn the song the Colors of the Wind the implied believes of Mr.Smith is that he thinks Pocahantas and her people are ignorant savages, he also believes that whatever land he lands on is automatically his, and that the only people that are people are the ones that look like him, think like him, and act like him. I think Pocahantas asks many questions to see if she can make him doubt what he believe and make him see what she sees.
Esther S. I think Mr.Smith implied beliefs are that he does not believe that nature is alive that has feelings like mountains, rivers, animals and even rocks have feelings, it is as if he thinks that every place he walks on is dead and that every thing he looks at is from him and he can take, and he thinks that Pocahontas and her people are savage. Pocahontas ask many questions because she want to understands why Smith is very mature and doesn't want to believe her beliefs and also she want to change Mr.Smith's mind so that they both think and believe that nature is alive and is as part of our family.
ReplyDeleteMaria Escudero, I think that the implied beliefs that Mr. Smith has for Pocahontas is that he thinks she's a savage, he thinks that the only people who are people are the people who look and think like her, and he thinks you own whatever land you land on. I think that Pocahontas asks so many questions because she sees the world in a different way/perspective.
ReplyDeleteIngrid Quintanar- Three implied beliefs of John Smith is that he believes Pocahontas is a savage that she isn't civilized. He believes people are only the ones that resemble him. John thinks he can claim any land he steps foot on.I believe Pocahontas asks John so many questions because she wants John to realize that there is so much more meaning to life on earth. She wants to persuade him to think the way she does and see the world from her point of view.
ReplyDeletePocahantas asks so many questions because smith thinks that each plants or moutains as well as rocks don't have life. the beliefs are that each plants, mountains, and rocks have life that if they are able to communicate with them as well.-ilda c
ReplyDeletePocahantas points out that Smith doesn't own anything because everything on earth has its own life. -Destiny Carroll
ReplyDeleteEvelin Sarabia- The reason she asks to much questions is because shes explaining how nature works. She wants people to know what happens in nature that they dont known. He wants people to know where she was going for
ReplyDeleteIsela Velazquez
ReplyDeleteShe asked many questions because they are important and she asks them repeatedly so you know its something important.
Victor Santiago
ReplyDeleteThe way smith saw life was that he as to kill the living thing that matter most in life that give us thing and that we give back to them to like animals,plants,and other living thing out there.Pocahantas asks so many questions because she didn't know him and was about to shoot a bear that had babys in her den and sang to him about the thing in life
The reason she asks so much questions is because she wants the man that the earth is not just dirt up for taking and that everything is connected and has life.She wants to teach him to forget his savage ways and not take the world for granted-Jose Rodriguez
ReplyDeleteJohn's implied beliefs he conquers land for the land and not for the environment itself. His European way of life has not taught him to appreciate the land and the spirits that flow through the earth. Pocahontas asks so much question because she wants him to change his ignorant point of views on the Earth and care for it instead of being taken over by greed and claiming all the land. -Francisco De Lira
ReplyDeleteMr.Smith's implied beliefs are that if they don't like them they are dangerous, any land you conquer is officially yours and lastly people that don't live in one place for long are savages. Pocahantas kept asking a lot of questions because she wanted him to realize how ignorant he actually is. - Margarita Gallardo
ReplyDeleteSmith implied beliefs are that English people have the right to take over land that wasn't theirs. That they know what's better so they don't need to walk in someone else's shoes. Pocahontas asks so many questions to see how smiths thinks and how he'll react. To see where he comes from -Angel Silva (Guess I didn't press post)
ReplyDeleteshe asked all these question to beacause she told john smith thatif he knew the land as well as she did, also she a savage because she wasn't born where john smith was - yairtorres
ReplyDeleteshe was an ignorant savage and own the land that she cliamed
ReplyDelete