"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWIMzN4mk8U&feature=youtube_gdata_player "
Check this out guys!

Mike, youre twisted. And to Elliot, that's what I talked about in my first post! It's crazy to think that we live in the society that we live in while there are natives in other parts of the world that are completely secluded from our way of life. In the book, its bizarre to read about the New Guinea natives because their lifestyle seems so alien. For example, the way the dress (or lack of clothing I guess...) and their obsession with war seems so ancient. The chapter about the native lifestyle and how they were always starting wars as a ritual, and they cut of girls' fingers, doesn't even compare to the western world. It's do sad to think that, however "barbaric" and uncivilized the natives may have been, that the western world was bound to corrupt them.Shangri-La was a secluded valley and the people were protected from the western world. It's disheartening to think about how people felt the need to intrude on their lives just because they felt that they needed to be saved or helped.

Finished the book guys!! The story ended happily ever after, of course. For the Americans anyway. The natives and their culture seemed to spiral after the Americans left a stamp in the valley. As the author put it, the West left on Shangri-La what they were most famous for; inflation and disease. This reminded me of the White Mans Burden, and found it interesting that the aphorism portrays whites as the victims, but its really the minorities who get the burden (laid/layed)? upon them. I was intrigued that their (natives) discovery prompted Christian missionaries to establish a community there. That shows me that if you don't find Christianity, (like the natives who hadn't found it, in fact they didn't even know or care for its existence), Christianity will find you.
ANYWHO, hoped you guys enjoyed the book as much as I did. Thanks for letting me join!
What are your feelings for the natives? WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THAT PENIS GOURD ON PAGE 302!?!?