Border Patrol State

 Reading Leslie Silko’s essay “Border Patrol State” certainly opened my eyes to the extreme measures that southern states, especially Arizona and Texas, are taking in order to protect the borders. I couldn’t say that I totally agree or disagree with her stance on immigration and border patrol, however. The first thing that I agree with is that border patrol agents may be getting a bit out of hand in their efforts to apprehend illegal immigrants. Yes, it is necessary to take precautions to check for correct citizenship near the border but I think the officers are getting carried away with their methods and are on somewhat of a power trip. Silko said “no person, no citizen, is free to travel without the scrutiny of the border patrol” and that “they are willing to detain anyone, for no apparent reason.” These are frightening realizations and it makes me curious why someone isn’t stepping in to resolve their behavior. Holding a gun to a man’s head or sending a drug dog on people just because they asked a question really doesn’t seem like ethical or safe behavior to me. While they are trying to keep our borders safe, they are really endangering more lives in the process. It makes you wonder, how far is too far? I really think that more people need to be made aware of what is really happening at the borders. The thing that bothered me about Silko’s essay was her relaxed stance on illegal immigrants and that it is okay for them to pass through our borders because they are destined to do so. She also doesn’t seem to think that the borders are even necessary. She says, “It is no use; borders haven't worked, and they won't work, not now, as the indigenous people of the Americas reassert their kinship and solidarity with one another.” Yes, it is true that many illegal aliens still slip through our borders everyday, so they don’t always work, but I don’t think it is right to say they are no use at all and never will be. More reforms just need to be made to improve the border patrol process, but it is definitely necessary. I welcome everyone to this country if they want to make a life here, but they need to do it legally. Our country has laws just like the rest of the world and we cant just look the other way when it comes to immigration just because certain groups feel they are fated to be here.

The Things I Would Carry

While thinking about what I would carry if I were a soldier in Jimmy Cross’s unit, I found myself stumped. I have realized that I form attachment to objects really easily because there is always some sort of memory attached to them, whether good or bad. That is always why I have such a hard time throwing things away. If I were being shipped off into a foreign country, in a hostile environment, away from everything that is familiar to me, I would just want to bring as much as possible. Even if they are just useless objects I feel like they would still give me some sense of home. The things that I really want to bring with me are my friends and family, but obviously that would not be possible. So, instead I would bring the most important things that hold memories tying me to all the people that I love and miss. First of all I would bring pictures of my friends and family. I would be able to look at them everyday, wonder about what normal day to day activities they were doing and reminisce about good memories that we shared in those pictures. It would also allow me to dream about things I want to do in the future and more memories that I want to make. The material object that holds the most significance for me is a blanket that my grandma made more me when I was born. I never let it out of my sight when I was younger and it was an important source of comfort for me. I think that it would still bring me comfort and security when I was far away from home and remind me of the people that love me the most. Finally, I would carry my ipod with me. I am such as a big music lover and I think it would help entertain me and pass the time. More importantly, I think that music has the power to change your emotions and transport you to a different world. Different types of music make you feel different things as well contain different sentimental values. Different songs are representative of periods of my life and they connect to memories of those times.

Zitkala-Sa and the American Dream

After reading “The School Days of an Indian Girl” and the background on Zitkala-Sa, I think that her story represents both the American Dream coming true, but also the American Dream hindering her way of life.  From the outside it seems as if Zitkala-Sa was living and fulfilling the American Dream because she gained a prominent education and became a great orator as well as a writer. She was able to make a life for herself, but whether or not it was really the life she wanted for herself is the question. “I had arrived in the wonderful land of rosy skies, but I was not happy, as I had thought I should be.” (430)

I think that the American Dream should be all about staying true to yourself and fulfilling the aspirations that you personally have, not being forced into what other people think is right. She was pretty much forced by missionaries to enter school and assimilate into American culture. It was apparent that she missed her Native American culture and was sad that it was slowly fading away altogether because the rest of the children in her tribe were also being assimilated. “Within a week I was again actively testing the chains which bound my individuality like a mummy for burial.” (434)

On the other hand, Zitkala-Sa’s story could also be perceived as the American Dream because against all odds and circumstances she was able to be successful and try to make a difference for the Native Americans that did not have as strong as a voice. In that aspect, I think she was fulfilling the American Dream because she was acting selflessly in order to change the country for the better and end oppression against Native Americans and possibly other minorities. Zitkala-Sa was happy when she was recognized for her oratory skills and was able to prove her discriminators wrong, however, it still was not enough to full satisfy her and it may not have been her ultimate dream. “The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart.” (438)

Hawaii's Story

"It had not entered into our hearts to believe that these friends and allies from the United States, even with all their foreign affinities, would ever go so far as to absolutely overthrow our form of government, seize our nation by the throat, and pass it over to an alien power."

This sentence is my favorite because it really illustrates the extreme betrayal and hurt that the Hawaiian people experienced from how the United States treated them. It shows that they were completely taken by surprise because they thought of the U.S. as friends of the Hawaiian people, then they were just stabbed in the back. I think what makes this sentence so powerful is the strong intense words that the Queen uses to describe the situation such as "absolutely overthrow" and"seize our nation by the throat." It makes the reader feel the same betrayal and shock as the Queen and her people.

Lost Identity

While reading Hopkins’ story and the poems by McKay, I started to wonder about the attitudes and mindsets of African Americans during these terrible times and situations. Many of them were contributing members of society (as much as they could be), and they were no longer enslaved, yet they were still treated as second class citizens and encountered so much hatred and torture. I am curious as to how they dealt with all for it and how they still had loyalty to America and other white citizens. I feel that if I were in the same situation, I would fins any way to get out or I would have a bitterness toward everyone. They were still willing to help other whit citizens and they wanted to stay in a place where people made it evident that they were not wanted. In Hopkins’ story, Stone was charged of a crime he didn’t commit, yet he was still willing to work hard and he even risked his life to save a train full of white citizens. He didn’t take out his feelings on people that didn’t deserve it and it was almost as if he pushed his terrible feelings to the back of his mind because he wanted to work for a better life. Also, in Mckay’s poems, many of them explore the idea of being unwanted and oppressed in the US, still loving it somehow.  “Although she feeds me bread of bitterness, And sinks into my throat her tiger’s tooth, Stealing my breath of life, I will confess I love this cultured hell that tests my youth!” (America, McKay) My guess as to how African Americans continued with their lives and did not have hateful attitudes was just that they had extreme hope for change in the future and that maybe they could lead by example somewhat “kill them with kindness.” Also, they might have just felt stuck in the middle of two identities because they lived in the US, but weren’t really citizens, yet they couldn’t really go back to their home of origin because they felt like outsiders in Africa too.

Moment of Insight

When I was reading “Learning to Read” and “The Wife of his Youth” I was confronted by a few realizations about things that we now take for granted or seem to just ignore because we get so wrapped up in ourselves.

“Learning to Read” made me realize how much Americans as well as myself take reading for granted. I wouldn’t call myself an avid reader unless I’m really interested in a book, but the ability is something I should be more thankful for. I have the resources to read as much and as often as I wish, but I just choose not to. In our lives we have become so distracted by our busy lives or other things involving technology and we really undervalue the gift of the written word. As a journalism major, I am constantly writing and the only things that I really read are newspapers or articles online. After reflecting on Harper’s “Learning to Read”, the difficult process gaining literacy for African Americans was called to my attention and I realized how fortunate we really are that we have such easy access to education. I feel that in order to memorialize the struggles of those that came before me, I should really take advantage of my educational resources and pass it on to others.

“The Wife of his Youth” also led me to an understanding and insight, however, of a completely different kind. Mr. Ryder’s process of struggling with his own regret and deciding what is ultimately right caused me to reflect on our own struggle with doing what is right in contemporary society. I think a lot of people today feel that we as a society have stepped away from values and morals and now just focus on ourselves and selfish thoughts. I was really surprised that Mr. Ryder recognized his own wrong-doing of neglecting his wife, by taking her back in the end and announcing it to his peers. When he explained the situation to his peers and asked for their opinions, I wondered if he would have stuck with his decision to reveal his long-lost wife if they had felt otherwise. Even though I was skeptical about Mr. Ryder’s heart and motives at first, I do think that he would have acknowledge her anyway because that is the right thing to do. That was the ultimate realization I took away from this text. We need to stop being so concerned with what others around us think, and be more concerned on doing what is right and staying true to ourselves. As corny as it might be, it made me think of the saying,” What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.”

The Contemporary Connection

While reading the introduction for the years 1865-1914, I noticed an encompassing connection to contemporary society. I felt that many facets and attitudes during this period after the Civil War related to our lives after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.  First, after the Civil War, the country was in a state of shock in trauma after the horrific event that occurred during the war. That was the same for the United States following 9/11. Americans were still in a state of panic, but at the same time we all drew closer together in order to just cope with what happened and the great devastation. Everyone suffered some sort of loss on that day, whether we directly knew someone that died or not. For many people it was mainly a loss of feeling secure in the land that we called home. From that point on we wanted to restore hope and try to pick up the pieces in order to rebuild our nation’s morale, just like Americans after the Civil War.

Another connection I made was in the theme for literature and other forms of entertainment during both of these periods. After the Civil War, authors were writing about loved ones lost, rebuilding the nation, and being courageous.  After 9/11 many others wrote about their experiences during the attacks or the experiences of other Americans, as well as many other books on how to deal with the devastation. Film and music were also affected because numerous movies have been made about the terrorist attacks and songs have been written about restoring the idea of patriotism. After the Civil War, John Greenleaf Whittier gained fame with his “nostalgic evocation of a simpler, rural world that had been destroyed by the Civil War” in Snow-Bound.(24) That same destruction of innocence and security can be connected to our post-9/11 America. We are now constantly bombarded with memories of that fateful day because of all the security measures that are currently in place in the United States, especially in regards to airport security. Our lives before 9/11 were definitely a much simpler time, but now the United States will never be the same because we constantly have another attack on our minds.

A third connection that I found was the treatment of minorities after both the Civil War and 9/11. Immediately after the Civil War, African Americans were treated terribly, possibly worse than they were as slaves. The Jim Crowe laws were enacted and they were also being blamed and brutalized by the Ku Klux Klan. Many people hated them just because of their race and did not want them in the United States. It reminded me of the treatment and stereotyping of Americans of Middle-Eastern descent after 9/11. People became very paranoid and unfairly stereotyped everyone as a terrorist just because of their race. Once again we started to turn our citizens against each other because of skin color.

Journal #8 Response to Lacy McGrath

In Lacy’s journal she discusses the similar use of Christianity in “John Brown’s Last Speech” and Jefferson Davis’s Inaugural Speech.” I thought this was a really interesting point to further investigate because these two men obviously had very different views on slavery yet they have a common bond because they are using their faith as a tool to relate and draw in their audience. Lacy said that since people’s lives revolved around God at that time, they pretty much believed and trusted something if it was in reference to their religion. These two men obviously knew what they were doing when they cited the will of God in their speeches in order to appeal to their audience. They knew that people were more likely to agree with their views if they trusted in God and felt it was their religious duty to either abolish slavery or preserve the Confederacy and slavery.

I really liked that Lacy discussed specifically what each man viewed as his duty to God. John Brown said that the Bible taught him that he should be helping his less fortunate enslaved brothers and sisters. Davis states that he feels he will be judged righteously by God and everyone that has acted in the same manner as he, will also be approved by God. He doesn’t believe that God disapproves of his actions in regard to slavery or in trying to preserve the government that our founding fathers laid out.

I didn’t really notice the similarities in using Christian references until after I read Lacy’s journal. She did a really excellent job of discussing both men’s points and beliefs and how they would appeal to the different opinions at the time. I also started think about how people in this time were really set in their ways concerning slavery and once they brought God into the matter, it became even more heated. When religion is involved people aren’t usually willing to budge in their views and it is really astounding what lengths people will go to when they believe that it is God’s will for them to do so. It is also so strange how two people can have a common religion to bind them together, but have such opposing views on what God wants them to do or what is morally right.

The Use of Imagery to Aid in Abolition

One of the elements of poetry that I think Harper and Whittier catered to the most was imagery. Both authors set the story by providing the reader with images to put together in their head. I think that it’s one of the most effective methods for a narrative, but especially if you involve social reform.  The reader has a reaction when they can hear something or feel it, but once they are able to see it, I think it has the most powerful effect.

In Whittier’s poem, “The Hunters of Men,” he uses several different images to express different emotions of the catching of slaves. “All blithe are our hunters, and noble their match, though hundreds are caught, there are millions to catch. So speed to their hunting, o’er mountain and glen, Through cane-brake and forest,-the hunting of men!” (Whittier, Lines 6-10) These lines give the reader an image of how many slaves were really caught and how many more Africans they wanted to take away from their home. It also shows that the Africans put up a fight with the catchers because they were fighting for their life. Whittier also shows a different side to the story when he describes a man that felt guilty about what he was doing and wanted to stop. “The politic statesman looks back with a sigh, There is doubt in his heart, there is fear in his eye.” (Whittier, Lines45-46)  This entire poem sets an image for the reader because it relates the capture of Africans to become slaves, to the hunting of animals. “The Hunting of Men” is very powerful image in itself because most people have an idea of what hunting animals looks like, so when you picture humans being hunted it is a terrifying image.

Whittier’s “The Farewell of a Virginia Slave Mother to her Daughters Sold into Southern Bondage” and Harper’s “The Slave Mother” both set similar imagery for the reader because they have similar themes. Both poems describe the agony of slaves leaving their family as well as the hardship for slave children. Whittier gives a painful image in reference to a young slave being whipped. “Never, when the torturing lash Seams their back with many a gash, Shall a mother’s kindness bless them, Or a mother’s arms caress them.” (Whittier, Lines 17-20) Whittier uses the image of pain to show that these children didn’t have their mother there when they got hurt to soothe and comfort them. It also makes the reader think about the manner in which slave children were treated in comparison to other children. In Harper’s “The Slave Mother” she uses the same idea of a mother, but her story is about a slave that comforted and made an attachment to a child that wasn’t even hers. There are two stanzas that I think evoke the most powerful images. The first one shows how scared the child was because he was about to be taken away from her. “She is a mother, pale with fear, Her boy clings to her side, And in her kirtle vainly tries His trembling form to hide.” (Harper, Lines 13-16) The other stanza gives the reader a lasting image of the childe being taken away and the pain that it causes. “They tear  him from her circling arms, Her last and fond embrace. Oh! Never more may her sad eyes gaze on his mournful face.” (Harper, Lines 33-36)

I think the reason that these authors employed such vivid imagery in their poems was to open the eyes of other Americans to the true terror of slavery. Many white people, especially ones that didn’t own slaves, probably weren’t aware of everything that that happened to the slaves especially when it came to children. I think that once they had these terrifying images in their heads, they were probably more likely to act and help abolish slavery.

            

Class in "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl"

             Harriet Jacobs’ “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” closely explains the class struggle between slaves and their masters. While reading her story, I found it easy to forget that it really happened to her because of the manner in which she wrote it. Also, it was somewhat hard to believe that a person actually experienced all of those struggles, even though w have discussed and read so many accounts of slavery. I found it interesting that Jacobs said at the beginning that she really didn’t know she was a slave at the beginning of her life until someone actually told her. “Such were the unusually fortunate circumstances of my early childhood. When I was six years old, my mother died; and then, for the first time, I learned, by the talk around me, that I was a slave.” (Jacobs, 771) That realization somewhat goes against what we think of as the relationship between a slave and their owner because many slave owners were not kind to their slaves and they certainly did not educate them like her mistress did. Jacobs goes on to say to that she actually enjoyed caring for her mistress so I guess she really wasn’t aware of any class distinction. Yes, she realized that she was working for the mistress, but she viewed her as a friend and did not think of herself as property or any less of a person. Eventually, she starts to think about the fact that she really is a slave though. “But I was her slave, and I suppose she did not recognize me as her neighbor.” (Jacobs, 772)

 The real issue of class does not come up until Dr. Flint comes into the picture. That is when Jacobs’ begins to think of herself as less because of the way Dr. Flint talks to her and treats her. He doesn’t view her as intelligent and he definitely just sees her as his property. He controls every aspect of her life, including who she chose to marry. “If you must have a husband, you may take up with one of my slaves.” (773) Jacobs’ hated the idea of marrying one of his slaves because it was just one more way he had control over her and set the difference between classes. Also, when she began having children, he started using them against her also. He would threaten to take them away whenever she disobeyed or spoke back to him.  In my opinion there is no lower way to tell someone you are above them, than taking control of their children; the only thing they truly have to themselves.

            The sad reality is that Jacobs’ had no control over her life until she had money, and even then she couldn’t buy her freedom. Slaves were given the opportunity to buy their freedom, but often no option to make any money on their own. The class distinctions in Jacobs’ personal accounts as well as many other instances, were primarily to dehumanize the slaves and gain as much power over them as possible.

Women and the Plight of Native Americans

            The authors of these works come from very different backgrounds, however, the theme of their writing coincides. Apess, Sigourney, as well as other writers of their time (Thomson, Wordsworth, Whitman) all discuss people that were the second-class citizens in society, women and Native Americans.

            Apess takes a more literal and direct approach in discussing the plight of the Native Americans because he had experience in discrimination since his mother was Native American. Apess does not understand why white people degrade other races and treat them as a lower class, since they are all children of God. He brings up certain viewpoints and reasoning from the white perspective talking about why they took over the Native Americans. He makes it clear that they were thought of as uncivilized and uneducated, but it was obvious that they had still had many talents that could be beneficial to Americans if they cooperated with them.  “Now, if these people are what they are held up in our view to be, I would take the liberty to ask why they are not brought forward and pains taken to educate them, to give them all a common education, and those of the brightest and first-rate talents put forward and held up to office.” (641, Apess) He states that Native Americans still have the same principles and feelings even though they have a different skin color. Apess’s main point through his writing is that Native Americans are no less than whites and should not be treated as any less. “If black or red skins or any other skin color is disgraceful to God, it appears that he has disgraced himself a great deal- for he has made fifteen colored people to one white and placed them here upon this earth.” (642, Apess) He also brings in his personal life by stating “And I can tell you that I am satisfied with the manner of my creation, fully-whether others are or not.” (642, Apess)

            Sigourney also highlights these important issues of the time with her poems “Indian Names” and “To a Shred of Linen.” Her approach to the status of women and the plight of the Native Americans is a little more metaphorical. “Indian Names” explains that while Native Americans have been killed and vanished from this country, they will forever have an imprint because they were the ones who first settled and treasured this land. “Your mountains build their monument, though ye destroy their dust.” (1205, Sigourney) In each stanza Sigourney describes he traditions and belongings of the Native Americans that have disappeared, but she ends with a line describing how their memory and culture will live on. This poem is a testament to the original settlers of the United States and how they will always be a part of our history, despite the desperate actions of the hateful white settlers. “To a Shred of Linen” is slightly more light-hearted, but still just as important in describing the status of women. This poem is written through the eyes of a woman who’s only worth is thought to be a housewife. Her husband believes that she is not intelligent and that reading and education make her disobedient. Sigourney brings in some satire by making light of the man’s thoughts “For men have deeper minds than women-sure!”, but it does not make her point any less important because women at that time were trying so hard to be treated as intelligent equals, just as the Native Americans were.

Blog #3

When I first began reading “The Wife,” I thought it was going to incorporate the old stereotype of men being superior to their wives and not caring about their wife’s opinion or feelings. As I continued to read, I was pleased to find that Irving took a different approach to his short story.

He somewhat sets the wife as the core and the base of the marriage because her husband depends on her so much for support. In Irving’s time, as well as in present day, people feel that women should just dote on their husband and obey them. Men and women must be equals in their marriage and communicate with one another on decisions. Even though in Irving’s story the wife is still portrayed as the homemaker and not contributing to the income, she still plays a large role in the family dynamic because her husband depends on her through their difficult time.

In this country we tend to gage happiness or success on how wealthy someone is because it is a value that is very tangible and Irving touches upon that in “The Wife.” Leslie is afraid to tell his wife about his income because he is afraid she will not stay with him or will be unhappy. He himself is unhappy with his lack of wealth. Most people in the United States would assume that just because someone does not have a lot of money it means they are not as happy as someone who is wealthy. However, Irving believes that having a loving family what will stick with you is worthy of happiness and tells his friend that he was richer than before.

Irving’s value also shows that even though we set a high standard on monetary worth in America, we also place a lot of value on having a family and making a life beyond our own to be happy. Irving tells his friend that he could wish him nothing better than to have a family because they can share in your prosperity, but if not they are still there to make you feel better. 

Blog #2

            This reading on American Literature sparked a train of thoughts in my head from the get-go. It made me reflect on how amazing it is that writing and print culture can have such a major effect on our culture and society. When you piece through history, you can just sift through facts with out stumbling upon important literature or pieces of writing from that time. Whether it is a government document, newspaper article, or novel it doesn’t matter because they all can give you insight into that time period and what people were thinking and feeling.

            The very first page of this introduction discusses the Declaration of Independence, which I think is a prime example of what large impact writing has on our lives. Who would ever of thought that one document filled with words and signatures would ignite the birth of our country and the land that we are so proud of? It all started with an idea and our founding fathers just put their thoughts onto paper, which caused a movement and action. Along with the Declaration of Independence there were so many other documents that influenced the American Revolution. Even newspapers were extremely essential because they helped spread ideas and information among the colonists on how to gain their freedom from the British. I really think all of those concepts just coincide really well with the idea that knowledge is power. A well informed person can certainly make a much bigger difference than a well armed one. As long as people have information and education, they can make a difference in world and have an effect on others. It doesn’t matter how big or small the problem is.

Blog #1

I think it’s hard to exactly pinpoint one definition of an American identity because it involves so many different components and the different identities, collectively, are what set this country apart from all others. However, I would define an American as a person with hope, ambition, and drive to not only better them self, but also the people around them. Americans come from all walks of life and they don’t let their past define who they are or what they want to achieve.

Through the process of reading the selections in class, my ideas of American identity were challenged in several ways. De Crevecoeur’s definition posed the biggest challenge because he kind of went back and forth between different dynamics of what it means to be an American. I agree with his view of different races melting together to become a new community and that people were taking things they had learned in the past and moving forward with those ideas to form a better society. Since this passage was written right at the birth of our nation, it is hard to be completely mindful of his narrow definition of who was free and who was important. Aldrich’s definition also somewhat challenged me because he was very opposed to America being an open door and he felt that immigrants posed a threat to the country.

My personal definition really didn’t change at all, but after reading “Let America be America Again” and “I, Too,” I became more mindful of the fact that not everyone has had a great experience as an American because they were not considered as an equal citizen, but I feel that it makes them even more of an American because they continued to dream of a better life and they weren’t going to tolerate people pushing them away.