Anthropology, 210 (Citizenship)

In this chapter, there is an in depth discussion of citizenship and how it affects those who emigrate from their land of birth to settle in a new country and how this affects their interactions with their homeland.  Although I am an immigrant, I didn't experience many of the conflicts they touched on in this chapter as my homeland, Canada, is often viewed as an extension of the United States, the country to which I moved.  

Citizenship laws can be a very confusing subject, in the United States, some countries are allowed to have dual citizenship, where the national can retain their original citizenship while also gaining one for the United States.  Those that are not on the list are required to renounce legal claim to their citizenship to their native country.  For any swearing into allegiance to the United States, even if the country is on the list of acceptable dual citizenship countries, technically the recitation includes renouncement of all other citizenships and sole allegiance to the United States.  Oddly enough, although the United States do not view it as legal, that country may still see you as a citizen and will assist in legal issues.  The book mentioned that in the past, countries were not very kind of ex-patriots, but with the more modern world, countries are more interested in keep allegiance, even if it may be long distance.

Anthropology, 210 (Australian Nationalism)

The issues facing the Australian population in terms of national cohesion is not a foreign concept.  Colonization affected relations between indigenous people and settlers due to the self entitled methodology European settlers adopted as they took over the rest of the world.  In Australia, the concept of terra nullius, the idea that before Europeans arrived the land had been owned by nobody, was used by settlers to push native populations, or Aborigines, from the land to new locations.  The rationality for this was that Aborigines were foragers and therefore did not need fertile land to live upon, while settlers were improving the state of the land with their ownership.  Racial profiling and a mentality that the Aborigines were a dying race also played a part.

Just as in the United States, the suppressed group was pushed out of their native lands and cut off from resources by settlers with an ethnocentric belief that said groups did not need nor properly use the land they inhabited.  Modern Australia has been trying to solve these historical issues by writing laws to help Aborigines regain their lost lands and incorporate more culturally encompassing legislation and symbolism for the country.  There has been a lot of criticism of these attempts, as with many heated points of contention, with every step forward two steps are taken backward.

Anthropology, 210 (Marriage Response)

 I feel like my time in the military plus coming from a home which resulted in divorce has possibly coloured my impression of marriage in a negative way.  I feel like marriage is more of a social obligation, that couples can live together and have strong meaningful relationships without needing a ceremony to affirm said relationship.  

In the military, couples tend get married quickly, often within 30 days of meeting each other during tech school.  These couples are fresh out of Basic Military Training, a high stress and emotionally trying time, only to move to another stressful and emotional situation.  I know from personal experience, you tend to cling to the people who transition with you, and some form romantic bonds which burn hot at the onset.  Couples rush into marriage with someone they may not know very well because they want the change to get to know them and the easiest way to do so is to become man and wife for the military to recognise a couple and station them together.  This situation is a way for couples to continue to get to know each other and possible have a strong lasting relationship, and if not, getting a divorce is easier than being stationed apart for 2 or 4 year tours, others use it purely for the benefits and extra income.  Seeing this happen multiple times made me feel disenfranchised with the idea of marriage as a sanctimonious union and more as a means to an end.

Anthropology, 210 (Marriage)

Marriage can have a different meaning depending on the culture and subculture it is being defined within. There are many aspects as to why two parties decide to become united, be it for power, security, finances, or even obligation. Personal and familial obligations have a profound affect on the decision making process involved in marriage. Anthropologically speaking, it is defined by how it transforms the status of the participants, carries implications about permitted sexual access, perpetuates social patterns through the birth of offspring, creates relationships between the kin of partners, and is symbolically marked. (Anthropology: What Does it Mean to Be Human? pg. 379)

 Although that definition covers the direct social impact of what a marriage dictates, it does not include the literal definition of the parties involved. Some cultures believe one man and one women while others believe a man can marry a man and a woman can marry a woman. Some believe one man can marry multiple women, or one woman can marry multiple men. These different point of views have often caused clashes among members in the same society as well as between differing societies. These beliefs are often religiously backed, deeply rooted in tradition and deviance can be grounds for righteous retribution. In modern times, especially in the West, people are now using the option of civil unions instead of marriage, to gain the economic benefits of a legally binding “marriage” in lieu of any religious alignments.

Personal Health and Wellness, 110 (Behaviour Change Paper)

I have been under the impression of having a relatively healthy lifestyle; I don't drink, smoke, do drugs, and maintain a healthy body weight. After taking the lifestyle evaluation at the beginning of the chapter, I realised that wasn't necessarily the case. My three weakest components were a 2 in nutrition, 5 in fitness, and 6 in emotional health (WW #1). A month earlier, nutrition and fitness would have been my strongest components. Without the mandatory meals and physical training enforced by the Air Force, and the large shuffle of moving back into civilian life, these fundamentals slipped away. I chose nutrition because I assumed it would be a relatively easy lifestyle change to bring back into my life.