Journal Posting #15. Border Patrol's Control

DearLeslie Marmon Silko,

   You brought up a topic that is so rarely mentioned, however is a topic necessary to discuss. Your personal experiences and stories throughout your essay, "Border Patrol State," brought up valid points of discussion as well as some potential arguments. Although I have never experienced Border Patrol in such a harsh manner as you, I have read articles or heard stories relatable to your experiences. One novel that came to mind as I read your essay was The Devil's Highway. The novel discussed the struggles of 26 men as they passed the borders from Mexico to the United States and randomly went missing during their attempts at freedom. Hardships were depicted, however, the severity and fear these people felt towards the Border Patrol were also portrayed throughout the novel. It seems that immigrants risk SO much just for the attempt to live freely in the United States. Not only are they risking their lives and fleeing their country, but to have to overcome the US Border Patrol is a nearly impossible task. I truly agree and believe your perceptions towards the brutality and unreasonable treatment that Patrol Officers give, especially to different races and ethnicities. However, I can also understand how suspicious these Border Patrol Officers can be towards different ethnicities. Their job involves immigrants every day attempting to smuggle, cross illegally or flee into the United States, typically from Mexico. It is no wonder that if they see someone of a different ethnicity, they would be suspicious and feel the need to question their motives. However, I am fully against the idea of their brutality and unreasonable treatment, especially after reading your personal experience. Being searched without reasonable motive by a guard dog in search for drugs and ultimately coming clean, the officers were still unsure, reluctant and unnecessarily intolerant of you and your friend. Harsh punishment or treatment is not an appropriate action from Border Patrol Officers. Their job involves detaining immigrants and allowing Federal government to determine further actions. With your personal experience, my interpretation of the novel I read, and having read articles and discussed this topic in previous classes, I feel that your depiction of the Border Patrol portrays a true light of their unnecessary and brutal, racist actions towards immigrants or people simply driving throughout the open plains of America. 

Sincerely,

Amanda Hillary

Journal Posting #14. Along the Broken Road

After reading "The Things they Carried" by Tim O' Brien, I could not help but imagine myself in their positions, or worse, my friend who is about to be in that position on January 3, 2012.  How do these men carry themselves, let alone the weight of their equipment and the burdens from their actions? O' Brien claims they cover their emotions, their deepest fears and feelings, in order to move forward and perform in a proper military fashion. Yet even First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross struggled with maintaining authority and control over his mind, his wants, and his desires. If I was apart of Jimmy Cross's group, I can only imagine that I too would bring pictures. For me, pictures are the greatest form of memory. Just looking at an image refills me with emotions from that memorable event. Furthermore, images tell stories. They relive a moment in your past, either good or bad, but always memorable and significant. I wondered if I would bring a dairy, however, I feel I am not one that would sit and take the time to write out my thoughts and feelings. A picture would be able to take my mind to a different place. A part of my brain would disappear from the worries, troubles and hardships of the war and be able to re-experience a moment in my old life by just glimpsing at a picture. What the pictures would be of, I do not know. Perhaps me smiling with friends and loved ones, to help remind me during hard times that smiling is the greatest cure. Perhaps a hero in my life, one that can help me keep moving forward in order to achieve my goals, hopes and dreams. It was rather difficult to read this story as I constantly thought about my friend leaving in two months. Experiencing the unknown, perhaps he too will be carrying his hidden fear. Will his letters be somber as he will be able to openly express his emotions to me rather than his crew? Or will he too try to cover up his fears in his letters, ultimately trying to create a persona of strength and dignity; however, after reading this story, it is quite apparent just how much these men think about, concern themselves over and yearn for.

Journal Posting #13. Living the American Dream?

"The evil spirit laughed within me when the white flag dropped out of sight, and the hands which furled it hung limp in defeat" (p. 438).

Zitkala-Sa's experience into succumbing to the "American Dream" may seem like a triumphant success as she grew into the American culture. Learning English, gaining a diploma and further expanding her education by willingly choosing college over returning to her home in the plains, Zitkala-Sa's story merely depicts her accomplishment of the American dream. However, looking closer and more intellectually within her text, discrete marks of solitude, despair and regret are discovered as she earns for her previous life before the culture shock she received. Although she laughed after winning against those who ridiculed her race with a white flag, her "evil spirit" took control of her. Knowingly she knew this new attitude and vengefulness came from the American culture. The pleasure she gains from watching these people hang their flag, "limp in defeat" depicts too much the views of Americans who gain similar pleasure in succeeding or winning. America is based on success and overcoming the unthinkable. Zitkala-Sa did just that within the culture as well. She overcame the unthinkable within her Native society and abandoned her mother and home life for education and prosperity. Furthermore, she overcame the discrimination from these people, yet her evil spirit filled her with satisfaction as the defeated them. With thoughts of regret and remorse towards leaving her home town, Zitkala-Sa truly accomplished the "American Dream," working harder for success and triumph rather than embracing the love and support from family.

Journal Posting #12. Small Steps to Overcome

"As she put me down at the entrance of the schoolhouse, I shrank from its doors, with that immediate and strange dead of the unknown so common to childhood."

We've all been there. That moment of uncertainty, no confidence and completely unsure of what the future holds. Perhaps it's the first day of school, as you stare wide-eyed and petrified by the big yellow vehicle taking you away from your mother, as if you are never seeing her again. Those horrifying bus doors open with a screeching noise, and the fear of uncertainty overcomes you. In this sentence, I felt a further dictation than just her experience of the first day of school. This was the beginning of her future. She was uncertain of what was going to come, as Kaikai "put [her] down at the entrance," she will no longer be comforted by a more knowledgeable presence. This figure, "tall, stout" and large, emphasizes that protection Liliuokalani has had from the beginning of her life. However, she immediately "shrank fro its doors," as her future became too overwhelming to her with no certainty of what lies behind those doors. That "strange dread of the unknown so common to childhood," indicates her fear of what her next moves will be. No one is ever certain of the direction their life will go. One day, life may be the most amazing, unbelievable, and overwhelming experience; yet tomorrow may hold emotions and incidents so wretched to contemplate, but no one ever knows. I feel we are always experiencing that uncertain moment, when we shrink from the doors and are filled with countless tests to learn and live by. Constantly we are living in our childhood world, where we feel smaller than we truly are in order to overcome life's struggles. Similarly, Hawaii, though scattered and small compared to the cohesive United States, was faced with the struggle of overcoming the Treaty and learning to represent themselves, no matter how small they were.

Journal Posting #11. The Perplexing Motivations of Segregation

After reading Pauline E. Hopkin's "As the Lord Lives, He is One of our Mother's Children" and Claude McKay's poems, I still feel a sense of numbness and disbelief over how specific, grim and detailed these authors' writings were. Yes, historically this event, where segregation and discrimination was so brutally common, is something that must not be "sugar coated" or kept secret of its horrific details. However, while reading Hopkin's story, I felt uneasy and in shock. For a crowd of people to be encouraged by a stranger into killing someone seems wrong and unbearable! I cannot grasp the motivation that people got to kill someone, particularly an African American. Motivational words such as "I will lead you. On to the prison and lynch Jones and Wilson," or "I have come today to assist you in teaching the blacks a lesson," seem unreasonable and incomprehensible to me (p.245). To gain such an adrenaline rush and eagerness to kill because of a stranger's willingness to kill cannot be understood for me. Perhaps this is because of the generation time that I am living in. Perhaps if I was a youth in that time, I too would have "danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee," being one of those "little lads, lynchers that were to be" (p.708). McKay's poem "The Lynching," goes into such detail of how people embraced the deaths of African Americans. Women would look, but "never a one showed sorrow," as the man died in the "cruelest way of pain" (p.707-708). I do not feel like I will ever be able to understand people's intentions, beliefs towards killing a different race, and motivation to do so, especially during those times of ultimate segregation.

Journal Posting #10. Aha! Struck by Realization

In both "The Wife of his Youth" and "Learning to Read" create a moment, so unexpected, in which the reader feels enlightened, reaching that moment of complete understanding mixed with emotions and ponderous thoughts. That Aha Moment. Everyone has experienced it, yet people never take the time to identify the process of such a surprising realization. Although I felt more of a surprising and unforgettable moment in Charles Chesnutt's "The Wife of his Youth," both stories easily created that moment. During "The Wife of his Youth," the story makes you believe that the main character will marry the young, affectionate, attractive and lustful woman whom he hardly knows but deeply admires. Throughout the story it is depicted that Mr. Ryder is older with experience, though still desires the young hearted beauty. Even when the older woman in search of her husband came into the story, I never imagined that Mr. Ryder was the husband that she had been in pursuit of for twenty five years. Such dedication and admiration portrays true love, in which Mr. Ryder discovers at the end of the story. Although he was supposed to ask for the young beauty's hand at the Ball, his Aha moment struck him, where true love lasted over lustful desire. For me, the Aha moment didn't occur until the last moment, where Mr. Ryder states "Permit me to introduce you to the wife of my youth." Such a strong statement and perfect way to end the story. Simplistic yet realistic, the statement brings about an Aha moment for the reader. By ending the story this way, the reader, after being struck by this moment, is able to contemplate on the rest of the story and the process of unexpectedness leading up to it. I admit that I spent the next five minutes after rereading the story to find hidden messages that I had missed the first time. Little clues are placed into the story to lead the reader one way in hopes of that Aha moment occurring. Within Frances Ellen Walker Harper's poem, "Learning to Read," the knowledge I had prior to reading gave me the conclusion that she would never learn how to read simply because slaves were not taught how or allowed to learn. Similarly, it was not until the last stanza where I felt emotionally satisfied to hear that she states that she "never stopped till [she] could read/ the hymns and Testament," emphasizing her hard work and dedication to overcome the "unthinkable." With both stories illustrating dedication, admiration and accomplishment, the Aha moment for the reader not only brought about a new way of interpreting the story, but also allowed the reader to be filled with emotional recognition and realization.

Journal Posting #9. A Woman's "Bible"

After reading the introduction, the first recognition and connection that came to my mind was how the magazine industry attracted primarily women's attention. Even during the late 1880s, "advertisements for women's clothing and accessories... fashion, housekeeping, medicine, politics" were common articles depicted in magazines (p.28). It is amazing how magazines know how to lure women into buying them, reading them, and believing the information they advertise. Even today, I wait in line to check out and find numerous magazines ranging from good housekeeping tips, food recipes, fitness workouts,  the latest fashion trends, and how to sexually appeal to society. With these mindsets being planted into women's heads during the 1800s, how can women today NOT fall for these "tips" and "secrets?" "the emergence of a series of magazines [were] specifically designed to appeal to [women's] interests and tastes" (p.27). Magazines represent the "ideal" woman; a sexually appealing, physically fit, healthy homemaker and impressive cook; all characteristics that seem easy to obtain, but only if you buy the magazine. It is because of the magazine expectations that woman, who are supposed to be strong, courageous, confident both inside and out, feel so insecure, unsure and unsatisfied with themselves or their body. Did women during the 1800s feel this way too? Perhaps this unrealistic perception only became an issue after photoshop and airbrushing were invented, which transform the already perfect "models" into even more unrealistic representable figures. These models, whom starve and suffer severe health issues, are the "models" that adolescent girls admire and wish to be. Why? Why would one dream of becoming skin and bones, suffering damage to their body, and yet still not being perfect to Magazine editors? Whether this unrealistic figure came about during society in the late 1800s or today, magazines have been able to persuade and lure the female species for centuries, and even still today, to believe in the unachievable.

Journal # 8. Response to Olivia Caridi

Journal #7. Sensational Motivation

Poems involve symbolic meaning in each and every word. The imagery is deep, emotional, and motivational. Our Writing about Literature states that the best way to depict the meaning is to appeal "directly to the senses," such as sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell (p. 83). Within every poem, every image within the poem, there is meaning and depth. Both John Whittier's "The Farewell of a Virginia Slave Mother to her Daughters sold into Southern Bondage" and Frances Harper's "The Slave Mother" have such vivid and similar imagery, portraying the hardship that mothers had to face during slavery. Even today, losing a child has been said to be the more difficult experience to grieve, with the idea that parents are supposed to outlive their children. In a way, these mothers during slavery lost their children and had to grieve in similar ways as if their child died. Loss does not have to be interpreted as physical death, but also in more symbolic manners, such as losing a child to slavery. The thought of never seeing your child again is mind boggling and almost unimaginable, however, mothers in slavery dealt with these emotional experiences every day. These two poets emphasized the imagery of the experiences in order to make a statement. By creating such imagery and depth within the poems, the authors were able to persuade their reader, whether it be wealthier women grasping the sympathetic and emotional aspect of the poems, or abolitionists, interpreting the hardship and despair these mothers felt towards slavery. Within Whittier's poem, he portrays the sympathetic resentment that the mothers felt after losing their children to slavery, stating that "there no mother's eye is near them/there no mother's ear can hear them" (p. 1222). Later he uses imagery to describe the awful circumstances in which these children must bear alone, with "slave-whip ceaseless swings/noisome insect stings," "sunbeams glare/through the hot and misty air," all while the "fever demon strews," watching intensely over the slaves. In Harper's poem, "The Slave Mother," her imagery of her child not being hers, though her "blood is coursing through his veins" creates such a significant statement, in which children were not legally owned to their mothers in some states during slavery" (p. 1231). Other images like "a storm of agony," and "these bitter shrieks/disturb the listening air:/ she is a mother, and her heart/Is breaking in despair" further depict the emotions and disturbances these childless mothers grieved (p. 1232). Grieving a child is unimaginable and undefinable. However, with such vivid imagery, using sensations and emotions, these two poets were able to persuade their audiences in hopes of a transformation towards equality and reform.

Journal Posting #6. Give In or Stand Out

It seems today that women are perceived in equal power, respect, authority, and confidence that men are seen. This gender equality is so common and so typical in our generation's lifetime, it seems unthinkable to imagine a life of despair, struggle, and state of insignificance for women. In both stories, Jacobs and Child emphasize the enduring strength and commitment that particular women held during such demeaning times. Linda, in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," proves just how strong women are as she fights for her freedom and change, rather than submitting to endless abuse in slavery. Typically, women during slavery had no value, except to clean, work, and provide more slaves. Rape, as threatened to Linda in the story, seemed common and normal during those hardships. However, in today's time, sexual abuse is taken seriously and with the upmost punishment. Being discriminated and looked down upon as "sexual lust" rather than a worthy and valuable human being was emphasized in Jacob's story. Linda depicts a utopian desire in which "there is something akin to freedom in having a lover who has no control over you, except that which he gains by kindness and attachment," not the forced marriages, sexual abuse, and feeling of "property" that many women felt during slavery(p. 777). Freedom of not only self, but of choices of whom to love and be loved by is taken for granted in today's society. Linda was threatened after Dr. Flint discovered her love for a freed black man. Contrary to those times, today my parents embrace the idea of my independence, ability to choose a respectable man for myself, and the acceptance I hope they grant to my future husband. Trying to compare Linda's experiences to mine seems hardly incomparable in any circumstances. Similar to Jacob's story, Child's "The Quadroons" also depicts the courageous spirit of a young woman, attempting to make a change for herself. What both characters overcame were tremendous and courageous acts, even for today's time. Having that will power, admiration, and strength to fight for such beliefs from women seems like a common occurrence throughout our recent class lectures. Women have the ability to attain such strengths, though I feel it takes a certain independent and courageous type of female to resist society's norms and stand out. On a personal note, I feel Linda can be related to today's Lady Gaga; fierce and defiant with integrity, these two characters have firm beliefs and are willing to go against typical stereotypes to make a change. 

Journal Posting #5. A Distinct Theme

Themes help get the author's point across; to help establish the meaning behind their art of literature. Throughout history, primarily during the establishment of America and the colonies, Indians were discriminated and forced out of their homes in order for the colonists to build up the old "New World." William Apess and Lydia Sigourney both interpret the emotions and struggles the Native Americans felt by depicting similar themes in their literature. Apess uses his christian beliefs to portray his thematic advice, in which people who are devoted to Christ's words ("Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"), do not follow or take his teachings to heart. If we are to supposed love our neighbors as we want to be loved, how are discrimination, destruction, and desolation appropriate actions towards our neighbor Natives? By having such outward views, judging based on appearance instead of heart, love is impossible to truly understand and interpret. People can only comprehend love and its affects if they are able to look past appearances and value a person's worth and significance from within. Sigourney as well depicts, with intensity and sorrow, the Native scars in her poem "Indian Names." She uses such powerful words to impact the reader and portray the mark that colonization had on the Native Americans. Ending with the upmost meaningful comment, "Your mountains build their monument, Though ye destroy their dust," Sigourney poetically illustrates the quick disappearance of the people themselves, though their influential impact and significance to America are permanently left on the lands. Throughout both Apess and Sigourney's literature, they establish a theme so significant; that people can disrupt, destroy, and demean others, but the victim's past will always leave a memorable impact. Although there was discrimination towards the colonist's neighbors, the Native Americans' impact towards the foundations of America have and will always be recognized in this country.

Journal Posting #4. Winter's Empty Heart

In Elizabeth Stuart Phelps story, The Tenth of January, she uses imagery, descriptive words, and emotional writing to portray the dreary and lonely life of the protagonist, Asenath. By using gloomy and depressing descriptions of and towards Asenath, Phelps emphasizes the love and affection missing in Asenath's life, similar to the warmth and beauty missing during the winter setting. With no sensitive love from a mother or compassion from a lover, Asenath is blind to her father's deep admiration for his crippled daughter. He sees past her imperfections and appreciates her trueness and sincerity. Richard, also noted as Dick in the story, is almost created as a tease for the reader; a sense of potential love and enduring happiness for Asenath's crippled heart. Phelps uses words like "undersized, faded, ugly, and sickly" and rude remarks from strangers to portray Asenath's hideous physical appearance, ultimately making the reader have the upmost sympathy for Asenath and feel sorry for her life.  Phelps develops the character further by allowing the reader to know Asenath's secret love for Dick, though later discovering his heart is for her friend, but he feels obligated to marry Asenath, as if in pity. In addition, the setting helped outline the character further, with a winter setting in a lonely and desolate industrial town. The lonely streets and settings helps illustrate the emptiness of Asenath. By using descriptive words, illustrative emotions, setting, and other characters (whether they be Dick, her father, or bystanders), Phelps interprets the components necessary for effectively depicting a character.

Journal Posting #3. A Woman's Gift.

Irving's story, "The Wife," depicts the hidden beauty of women and their need to reassure and comfort a loved one during both good and bad times. The American values regarding marriage portrayed the concept that the male must financially support the wife while she emotionally supports and comforts him in return. Not once did the story emphasize the idea of a woman working or helping out during economic hardships. Furthermore, the story described women to seem almost in need of elegant items and luxury, however, have the capability to always bring out the best in the worst situations. Irving portrayed women to have a secret ability to uplift the husband's spirits and fill their heart with enduring love. This "secrecy" is still true to this day; women can bring out the best in a man. Women can make him work harder, fall deeper in love, and enjoy life to its fullest extent. In any situation, having that comfort and companionship of a significant other can help ease the stresses and struggles of life's daily obstacles. Another American Value depicted in Irving's story is the excessive worry of economic issues. Leslie became overwhelmed and could not admit to his wife his job loss, as if it was the upmost failure in life. Perhaps being wealthy and living lavishly in society was a must during those times, though the wife certainly proved that she did not need those luxuries to be happy. Leslie discovered at the end of the story the beauty of true love, after seeing his wife still loving and adoring made him realize the important necessities in life. Love is significant in this world. It helps us get through the worst of times as well as the best moments. Maybe having money and living with luxuries could ease one's stresses, but in the end, love will always remain.

Journal Posting #2. The Impact of Literature

I never truly understood how significant the print culture is to our society. Reading about the impact that literature had on the rising colonies depicts the intelligence of America today. Many people wrote about their experiences, both captivity narratives and explorations, as well as reflections or different versions of the Bible. The Bible today still impacts many religious followers with its motivational and spiritual texts. Not only did these books, autobiographies, or spiritual texts help educate and increase the literacy rate within America during the colonial period, they have presented us with historical references that our valuable for today's societies in interpreting life during colonization and the rise towards independence. But are all these stories true? Christopher Columbus's writings, which have been found to be skewed and biased, leave me to question the credibility of these historical writings that we covet so dearly. Historians spend a substantial amount of time depicting these literary works that may be as real and factual as the Disney Princess movies. The Pocahontas movie certainly did not emphasize what really happened between the Indians and Colonists, but instead portrayed ideality of "true love" and colonial acceptance. Whatever the case, made up stories or credible facts, historical literature not only set the basis for America's impeccable education, but founded the beginning for the technological advances in today's society.

Journal Posting #1. The American Definition

My definition of being an American has definitely been challenged in many aspects. Whether it be disastrous conflicts, such as the September 11 attack, or influences from other people, American or not; my perception of what it means to be an American has been tested, but never altered. To me, being an American has three basic yet significant words: freedom, opportunity, and pride. As depicted in De Crevecoeur's Letters from an American Farmer, people traveled with uncertainty to the United States in hopes of change, freedom, and new opportunities. These pioneers shaped the symbolic importance of our country with their perseverance and aspirations. However, De Crevecoeur's portrayal of freedom was drastically different from my view. Freedom involves everyone of all race, ethnicity and gender. As known from historical context, freedom once was not granted equally to all but rather to hierarchy and men. Furthermore, Thomas Bailey Aldrich's perception of the American Identity is rather seclusive and almost demeaning, in which I oppose his view. Aldrich declares the need to be protective and selective towards "invaders" who are coming to the United States for freedom, opportunity, and pride. By being selective towards America's immigrants, how can someone from another country search for change and freedom just like our own Jamestown establishers once wanted as well? I feel that being seclusive is not a good depiction of the American Identity. To be an American is to have perseverance towards a better change, the desire for uncertain opportunities, and the belief that freedom is achievable in the "land of the free."