There Goes the Neighborhood

The phrase “There goes the neighborhood” can register to many different opinions or thoughts for many people.  However for me I think that the quote means that a way of living has been altered by the introduction of a new cultural or philosophy on life.  For example we see this many times throughout the course of history.  One example that we talked about in class was dealing with the Native American way of life, and the English views.  One of the aspects that the two civilizations really clashed at was their view on their certain religion.  For example the Native Americans were polytheistic and worshiped many different kind of gods, while the English were monotheistic, and would not dare give praise to other gods.  This led to the English trying to impose their religion on the Native Americans.  However the Native Americans would not give in, showing great dedication and faith in their own religion.  This would eventually lead to the English taking over many parts of North America, in which the Native American way of life was dwindling by the minute.  The two groups of people would not cooperate, and give into one another.  I think that throughout the history of earth, when two different groups of people meet for the first time and they have different ways of living, the two groups will usually disagree with one another.  This will lead to the near extinction of one way of living, while the other way begins to thrive and expand.

            I think that it is interesting to see how over time, the way of life for Native Americans has changed so drastically.  Once the English explorers voyaged to the Americas it seemed that they were forcing their religion and different views of life on them.  They thought that their methods for life were correct, while the Native Americans culture was very primitive and barbaric.  Once the English imposed their new ways of life on the Native Americans their “neighborhood” was invaded and stripped away of its precious cultural values of life.  To this day the Native Americans have been given small portions of land in which they can call it their home.  Their “neighborhood” was destroyed when the first explorers landed in North America.  This example of the Native Americans and the English explorers is a great example for this quote.  The Native Americans lived in a peaceful and satisfying neighborhood in which they were content.  Then the explorers came to North America and they ruined the lives of hundreds of people.  They destroyed a pleased environment or “neighborhood."  I think that at first the Native Americans did not know what the explorers were going to do, and they were okay with them being there.  But as time passed I think they realized what was happening and said, “There goes the Neighborhood.”