Journal #13: Zitkala-Sa

Although Zitkala-Sa ends her story with her conforming and “fitting in” to society, her story does not illustrate the American Dream coming true for her. Throughout the story she demonstrates her distrust and hatred towards the “palefaces”. This attitude towards the palefaces begins her first day arriving to the boarding school. The Native American children at the boarding school were given a very strict routine, an “Iron Routine”. Zitkala-Sa hated this, she even tells a story about one her friends dying from not getting rest or medical treatment. Although Zitkala-Sa learns English and learns to behave like an American child, she still sees herself as a Native American. This is strongly shown when she rejects the Bible. Throughout the entire story we see an internal conflict – she felt as though she had to choose between being American or being Native American, she did not think she could be both. At the very end of her story Zitkala-Sa was still not accepted into society. She shows the reader this when she is describing the audience at a contest she was in at college, “Here again was strong prejudice against my people”(p.438). She ends her story with a sense of defeat, “I laughed no more in triumph when thus alone. The little victory did not satisfy the hunger in my heart. In my mind I saw my mother far away on the Western Plaines, and she was holding a charge against me”(p.438). All in all, Zitkala-Sa was westernized, but she did not see this as a positive thing.

Journal #15: Border Patrol State

Ms. Silko,

After reading your essay “Border Patrol State”, I have come across some points that I do agree with and some that I do not. Overall, US Border Patrol along the New Mexico-Arizona-Texas borders has dramatically changed and become more aggressive. However, it is hard to say that it is a negative thing. Yes, some of the Border Patrol officers are very narrow-minded, angry, and aggressive people. But, those few officers should not be used to describe the entire Border Patrol force. In your essay one statement really stuck out to me when you said, “‘Immigration,’ like ‘street crime’ and ‘welfare fraud,’ is a political euphemism that refers to people of color. Politicians and media people talk about ‘illegal aliens’ to dehumanize and demonize undocumented immigrants, who are for the most part people of color.” First off, I do not believe that the Border Patrol is accusing only colored people of being these things. It just happens to be that in these Southern states colored people are the majority of people that do contribute to these matters. It would be no different than pointing fingers at the minority groups in the North – who are not all colored people. Immigration is not the problem in the US; it is illegal immigration. I do agree that calling illegal immigrants “illegal aliens” is offensive. Since I am Catholic I was brought up to believe that everyone is equal and deserves equal opportunities. However, we do not live in an ideal world. I do believe that immigrant should be treated the same and given the same rights to apply for US citizenship – which I am almost positive they do. My father himself is an immigrant, yet he is not a man of color. He is also not a US citizen to this day and people do not frown upon him for that. It is more so the actions of immigrants that define who they are, not the word itself. Overall, there are many things that are not right in this world and that do need to be brought to attention. Immigration is a huge issue globally. Sadly though, this is a world based on capital, politics, and power.

Journal #14: The Things They Carried

After reading The Things They Carried it really gave me insight to what war was like for soldiers in the Vietnam War. The Vietnam War has always intrigued me so I have seen many documentaries and mini series on this subject. Obviously, being a soldier would not be enjoyable, but it was not always up to the individual to decide whether or not they wanted to go to war, like Tom O’brien. In the beginning of this sequence of stories about Vietnam O’brien described the basic necessities that the soldiers carried, “…P-38 can openers, pocket knives, heat tabs, wristwatches, dog tags, mosquito repellent, gum, candy, cigarettes, salt tablets, packets of Kool-Aid, ligthers, matches, sewing kits, Military Payment Certificates, C rations, and two or three canteens of water”(p.1459). He then went into detail describing what other soldiers brought along with them – things they considered important. I would have carried photos and letters just like Lieutenant Cross did. I would carry photos mainly of my family and very close friends because it would give you something to look back on and encourage you that you are in war for more people than just yourself. Along with this I would carry a diary so that I could keep track of time and later on read about events of the past. Having a diary would also be helpful to write down express thoughts and emotions – it is a way of venting so that you do not have to keep everything you have endured on your mind 24/7. It would also serve a purpose after the war and could be passed down for generations, history is very important in society. One thing that I own today that I would have taken with me is a Saint Michael the Archangel pendant I have blessed by the Pope - for Catholics he is considered a guardian angel. I am not extremely religious but I take it with me places that I feel I will need help with matters that are beyond my control. It would give me a sense of hope and peace of mind. 

Journal #12

My favorite one sentence from Hawai'i's Story by Hawai'i's Queen is from Chapter One: A Sketch of my Childhood. The sentence reads: "Rent, eviction of tenants, as understood in other lands, were unknown; but each retainer of any chief contributed in the productions of his holding to the support of the chief's table". This quote is my favorite because it really stuck out to me and grabbed my attention and made me think of what it would be like to live a life like that. In the United States most people know what rent and eviction is by a very early age. The fact that these did not exist is pretty exciting. The fact that these Hawaiians worked together, for each other and trusted each other enough to not have to install these duties is quite sensational. The value of life in Hawaii was, and still is, something alien and estranged to our society today.