Maegan+A

In today's world, peace is hard to find. With a war going on on the other side of the world, indeed, peace is rarely seen. This is one example of why I do not think that the present day resembles the Iroquois' world. "To truly reduce violence and to force Iraqis to find their own political solution, we must begin immediately to withdraw all of our forces." [|-Gov. Bill Richardson] The Iroquois was a people of peace--only using war as a last resort. Their leader is even called "The Peacemaker."

Death is not as big of a deal to us in the present day, as it was to the Iroquois. The Iroquois had all of their traditions--the "burial" process, the words spoken ove the body, the well-wishing of the spirit; but the main focus was on the spirit getting to the afterlife. Nowadays, the afterlife is questionable. Should you be wishing someone a safe journey into the afterlife? If there even a Creator? With so many questions involved, how can one focus on celebrating the arrival of a loved one into the afterlife? We don't. However, many other people have burial traditions. The egyptians [|mummified their bodies,] and buddhists [|cremate]. All out of respect, all to honor the dead.

Being a woman in a man's world can be difficult. But women, in the Iroquois time, were given a voice. Today, women have to fight for their own. It was not until the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920 that they [|won the right to vote.] Still, are not seen as superior or even equal to men, but their gender is respected a bit more. This respect was given in the Iroquois way of life, and did not have to be fought for like it does today. After World War II however, women proved how valuable they were, holding down the fort at home.

[|Women and World War II]

In the U.S. Constitution, it talks about a House of Representatives. This allows a certain number from each state to help make decisions on behalf of the country. The House represents the Cayuga and Oneida quite closely. Also in the U.S. Constitution, it is stated in the 17th Ammendment that the people can directly elect a Senator for this Senate. This resembles the same process for the Seneca and Mohawk Lords. [|17th Amendment]

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