Our Lady of Mount Carmel

David Koresh “claimed he had cracked the code of the Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation, which predicted events leading to the apocalypse. He told his followers that the Lord willed the Davidians to build an Army of God” (Koresh). The members believed everything Koresh was saying so they could be accepted which is why they agreed to collecting weapons to defend themselves. This is when the situation became the beginning of the end for the Branch Davidians, when they started stockpiling weapons. “The Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms heard about this and requested a search warrant for Mt. Carmel but decided to make a surprise forced entry rather than serve the warrant” (Britannica). The Branch Davidians did not stand down and fought back. “The result was a 51 day standoff between Koresh and Federal agents” (Koresh). This event left Koresh, all his followers and the compound up in flames for proceeding to listen to a destructive leader's commands. In addition to normative social influence, these cults used the psychological method groupthink. Groupthink is a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an irrational or dysfunctional decision making outcome. Jonestown is a great example of groupthink because everyone believed in Jim Jones. Hundreds…

In Texas 1993 there was a guy named Vernon Howell who was a part of a group named branch Dividians. Vernon Howell changed his name to David Koresh and created a cult. A cult means a religious group which promotes worship of a human leader and devotion of one's life to a specific purpose. David made a cult than stored a whole bunch of gun powder and guns and made an army which he said he wanted to make an army of God. This whole entire thing about how Waco was destroyed occurred very interesting…

The image of La Virgen has been present throughout most of our lives. From our homes to the murals in our communities. Growing up in a Hispanic/ Latino community it’s the norm to see her image either in tattoos, candles, shirts, posters, cars as well as in our churches and grocery stores. Historically, speaking her image has been used politically for instance, Cesar Chavez used her image, during the Mexican War for Independence her image was used as well. The image of La Virgen has evolved…

Mexico has many unique celebrations just like every other country does. Different traditions and value are what distinguish each country from one another. For Instance, In Mexico. Holidays such as Halloween, Christmas, and Independence Day are celebrated. However, they are celebrated differently cultural wise as well as the day the holiday is celebrated. Catholic celebrations, such as Three Kings Day and Day of our Lady of Guadalupe are also celebrated. Dia de los Muertos, also known as Day of…

The book “Our Lady of Controversy” edited by Alicia Gaspar de Alba and Alma Lopez addresses many prevalent issues that were raised when Queer Chicana artist Alma Lopez showcased her reinterpretation of the iconic archetype of La Virgen de Guadalupe at the museum of International Folk Art in 2001 CyberArte. The book consist of short essays from scholars that analyzed the controversy through the context of religion, feminism, art and censorship, colonialism, queer theory, and Chicanx history.…

The rebozo in the novel Caramelo had significant meaning and symbolism for the characters and the Mexican culture. What is the rebozo? What does it mean? How important is it to Mexican culture and the women in the novel? Celaya is born of a Mexican immigrant father and a working-class Mexican American mother. She finds herself feeling forced to choose sides. Celaya’s grandmother, Soledad, is the central secondary character on whom all others react. She is the one who is affecting all of those…

The Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe A Marian apparition, an extraordinary appearance by the Blessed Virgin Mary. The figure is normally named after the town where it took place in, or a nickname given to Mary on the event of the apparition. In Catholicism, our woman of Guadalupe is the patron saint in Mexico, envisioned as a pure women clothed in a blue mantle. Her hands are folded, her eyes are looking downward and she is surrounded by a brilliant gleam. She is standing upright on a…

everything in its path they are still trying to rebuild it.I got the oppurtunity to meet and rebuild one of hurricane survivor’s home.I got to see a new culture and meet new people that welcomed me into their home.I have volunteered in many places and has made me relize that a lot of people need help.It remind me that its’s impotant to give back and must be compassionate.Recently I volunteered at Sacred Heart Toy Drive .Seeing all the moms trying to pick the perfect toy for their kids…

Miguel Gonzalez’s piece titled The Virgin of Guadalupe depicts the Virgin of Guadalupe in the center, with a smaller image in very corner and a beautifully decorated frame encompassing her image. She is shown looking down with her head a bit tilted to the left, a pose that characterizes her and distinguishes her from different virgins. She is in the center, with a beige background that most likely represents Juan Diego’s tilma, where her image appeared for the first time. Emanating from her…

Deena J. Gonzalez’s essay and Rolando J. Romero’s essay concern themselves with similar topics, but each one has a different approach to delivering their arguments and organizing their ideas. While Gonzalez takes a more individual approach to analyzing the truth behind Malinche, Romero compares her to La Virgen de Guadalupe. Both of these writers take an approach that sees Malinche as someone who got the short end of the stick. In Gonzalez’s essay, “Malinche Triangulated, Historically…