Before I begin to say how interesting I thought everything
was, I think I should touch up on something that seemed to disturb the whole
class. While our tour guide thought he was being funny, he was far from it. His
misogynistic jokes were not amusing. I expect full professionalism while
attending a historical sight, but he did not conduct himself in that manner. I also
expect respect, something he did not give a group of young women who attend a
women’s college. I guess respect is NOT a “guy thing”. His Y chromosome, as
he would say, makes him feel as though he is entitled to something greater than
the rest of us. I think he believes patriarchy should still be a thing, who
knew. I am not trying to bring this man down, but bring woman up, because his choice
of words seemed as though he was trying to downgrade us for being XX. If I were
addressing his actions to him in person, I would tell him that gender has no
correlation to knowledge. I would paraphrase, “The thing is, its patriarchy
that says men can only have particular kinds of responses. It patriarchy that
says men are stupid and monolithic and unchanging and incapable. Its patriarchy
that says men have animalistic instincts and just can’t stop themselves from harassing
and assaulting. It is the patriarchy that says men can only be attracted to
certain qualities, can only experience the world in narrow ways. Feminism holds
that men are capable of more- are more than that.” Chally Kacelnik
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| Scottish Immigrant Henry Burden |
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| Different versions of lights from different times |
I
am glad I am a smart FEMALE with a UTERUS, because I picked up pamphlets on my
way out. I knew I was not going to be able to retain any information he said.
What struck me in the pamphlets is that it said this region is arguably the
first to use cutting-edge technology as the focus to gain economic prosperity. The
Burden Iron Company, helped Troy become essentially the birthplace of the American
Industrial Revolution. What really surprised me was that Troy, New York, was
the fourth wealthiest community in the United States. I think because of the
state the town is in now, I cannot imagine it once to be a place of prosperity.
The Capital District of New York produced almost a million horseshoes and
muleshoes a week in the mid-1800s. Henry Burden, shown above, created a
horseshoe machine that was capable of producing sixty horseshoes per minute.
The Burden Iron Works manufactured nearly all of the horseshoes used by the
Union Army during the war. Now, the Burden Iron Works serves as a historical
landmark, headquarters of a giant 19th century Iron manufacturer. The
things inside of the Iron Works Museum would be more interesting if they were
set up in an orderly fashion. We went from making iron to producing collars to
making iron again. If it was set up in sections I think it would be easier to
see and remember. Despite not retaining many things from our guide, there was
one part of the “tour” that I found interesting. The new lights that were just
put in. These lights range from different abilities of light in different time
eras. The first light, starting on the top left corner, is equivalent to the
1882 gas light. The next light, the top right corner, is equivalent to the
1920s version of Thomas Edison’s lighting. The third and fourth lights, are
1940 and 1990 style lights. I wish we were able to go back there later on in
the night to have a better view on the lights. Technology has come a long way,
and now we are able to pretend as though we are using gas lights. The Burden
Iron Works Museum educates visitors not only about the history of iron working
in South Troy, but also why feminism is a thing- a good thing.
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| Gravestone of Mother Ann Lee, founder of the Shaker community |
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| The meeting house (top right building) and Shaker females |
I have never heard of the Shaker community until now. While
looking at their attire and buildings, they reminded me of the Amish community.
I was shocked to learn that they were far from the Amish beliefs. They loved
technology. They also practiced gender equality (our iron works guide should
have been a shaker) and racial equality. I think I assumed the shaker community
to be boring. But, while practicing their faith, they would shout and shake and
roll on the floor. I guess this would have been amusing to watch, and fun to
participate in. What I don’t quite understand is why they practiced celibacy.
How would they continue the word of their faith if there was no one to continue
it to? The shaker’s beliefs made me discuss with myself all the different
religions in the world. It is amazing that in the United States we are able to
practice free religion without being prosecuted. The shakers had a huge impact
on certain areas, and continues to have an impact in history.
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