Among the Stars: November 2014

I have chosen the legalization of marijuana in the United States. This includes decriminalization, legalizing for medical use, and complete legalization. There are several states that are still criminalized as well. This is an on going debate in the United States, especial since Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana in 2012 for recreational use. California took the plunge in 1996 legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. This is something that can be mapped across the United States and can also be spanned from the beginning of the United States, hemp paper is what the Declaration of Independence was written on, up until now when two more states legalized marijuana for recreational use. This plant has been used for more than just getting high. This plant can be used for many positive things such as, paper, textiles, helping to slow cancer cells, and many more. So I plan to do a history of why it was criminalized and why now it is getting legalized. I will be choosing several states to focus on and reasons each one has for their marijuana laws. It will be mapped across the United States going from coast to coast and I have not decided on the time frame yet because it has deep roots in our country; however, it will at least be from 1996 until present.

Native Americans are one of the strongest, most proud cultures in the United States and Thursday the Three Rivers American Indian Center celebrate their culture at Slippery Rock University. Native American day is not a well known holiday in the United States but has been recognized in many of the states, especially in the west where the Native American population is greater and more concentrated. The day is not a set date, it varies by state and year. The Three Rivers American Indian Center performs from 9:30am until 4:00pm in the Robert Smith Student Center ballroom. Thirty-four Native Americans perform, speak, and demonstrate traditional and contemporary Native American existence in Western, PA. The participants are indigenous tribal people from the greater Pittsburgh area who have won awards in traditional dances, drummers, and singers in their tribal traditions. They have many activities going on for the students such as, make your own dream catcher and participation in the tribal dances. They have hand made jewelry, paintings, and other artifacts for sale as well. The Three Rivers American Indian Center was established in 1969 to provide the opportunity for Native Americans to share their culture and values and to provided education to improve the quality of life and to elevate their economic status. They go to different schools and perform for the students so that they can see how different their culture is compared to the american culture. This event happens every year at Slippery Rock University and other schools attend this event as well. It is open to everyone and everyone there was in awe at the performances. There is a mutual respect between the Native Americans and the students attending. Several activities that the Native Americans did were open for anyone to join. They encouraged others to join them in dancing. They also had crafts for those attending to create and make themselves. There are people there who would talk about how to make traditional cloths and the meanings of the feathers, which is very important in the Native American culture. They talked about the repression of their people and how they bear no ill will to those who slaughtered their ancestors. They also talked about their POW-WOW a little. The POW-WOW is a meeting the Three Rivers Native American Center holds every year between the tribes in the greater Pittsburgh area. It is a two day event that happens late September every year. It is much like what they brought to Slippery Rock University but on a much larger scale. They have competitions and prizes and more ways to get involved. Celebrating our differences and similarities is one of the fundamental rights of being and American. Unity and celebrating culture of this nation is what Native American Day is all about.