Component A:

1) http://lanic.utexas.edu/subject/humanities/


There is a Humanities link to Latin America that includes many topics that will be helpful in learning about Latin America. When you click on any one of the topics below, it folds out into more menus that break out into the various Latin American Countries. You could answer any question concerning Humanities in Latin America with this web site.
2) http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Humanities/History/By_Region/Regions/Latin_America/

This site offers another wide variety of information, which can also be read in Spanish. Two major categories were history and literature and then went in a variety of directions, including by subject, time period and, location.

3) http://www.academicinfo.net/latinamhist.html

This web page also offered a variety of sources for information on Latin America; include time lines and a more in-depth information concerning specific events that involved Latin America. I did find that some of the links were unavailable.

Component B: http://www.geocities.com/EnchantedForest/Meadow/8921/bculture.html
This Web page does a good job of giving the definition of culture and community.

Component C

What does it mean to be an American? Ever since September 11, 2001, when America was attacked by terrorists, the word American has sparked an awareness of pride. Watching people die in other countries due to war or terrorist attacks was so far removed; it was like watching a movie. When the attacks happened on American soil, the fear and images were so real, so close to home, that it was difficult to explain to my children what was happening, as they watched the events unfold.
With culture defined as learned behavior, I was taught to respect people. I come from a large family, with six girls. We were very close in age, which allowed my parents to let the two oldest raise the next four. It was very difficult to hide what you were doing, when your sisters were also your friends. My parents were very influential in my life, leading by example. They worked hard and had fun, and taught us to do the same, as well as to be self-sufficient. I learned at a very early age not to steal and to never physically hit anyone, even in fun, because you never know when it may backfire. If I was taught to never physically strike someone, why would someone risk their own life in a suicide bombing and kill themselves, as well as many others? Did their culture teach them to disrespect life?
I believe these terrorists belonged to a community of people, who felt strongly that their mission was so important to them that they were willing to give up their life to see it to completion. The American culture values human life; however as a community, they have developed a formal association, the military, employing people who are willing to risk their life to protect others. Having only seen war glamorized in the movies, I have always wondered how people survive after experiencing such tragedy.
After watching the airplanes crash into the New York skyscrapers, I feel a new sense of patriotism, but ache for the families who have people defending our honor. With the values I was taught as a child, I find it sad that these terrorists chose to belong to a community that probably did not have a positive cultural experience, as I did growing up.