journal #15

While reading "Boarder Patrol State" I found myself agreeing with just about all of Silko's arguments. Having lived in Texas most of my life I feel that knowledge of immigrants is more common than it would be in most other northern states. There is a stigma against people of darker in skin, in Houston most people with housekeepers or maids pay their employees with cash. Although this might be for convenience but most families prefer to employ on a don't ask don't tell basis. I know this is a stigma, but it something I have picked up on being raised in that setting. I have also heard many stories of boarder patrol cruelty. Anywhere I have traveled to in south Texas I have seen boarder patrol SUVs and even helicopters. Historically the Nation has one to many keenly documented instances exposing its importance on keeping it secure. Almost every race and ethnicity has faced persecution and segregation at least once in our country's history. I’m not sure why, but the land of free has never really seemed to be that free. Many phrases or ideals correlated with America or its people seem to be, more often than not, an oxymoron. I understand that we cannot have a completely unregulated civilization, the government needs control for taxing purposes ands on, but I do not believe that cruelty and stigmatism need to play such a big role in these federal issues. I can understand falling back onto this on a personal level, some people fall into ruts, mid-life crisis and other life numbing experiences that can cause a less than ideal version of yourself to become your main social output. Even though this is understandable, it is inexcusable. I think that the lack of humanity in an occupation that deals with humans on a daily basis is just another oxymoron that our country must strive to fix.

journal #14

If I was a soldier in Lieutenant Cross's unit I would probably carry something like his pebble from Mary. I would like to think I have a picture of all of my loved ones to bring, but I can't think of one single picture or moment to capture so many happy memories. This is why I think I would carry an object. I have this rubbing cross, made by my family's ranch hand. An arm of the cross fits between your first and second finger while the second arm and top of the cross are between your thumb and forefinger and the grove between them is smooth as a pebble. It’s used to rub as you’re pray, like a rosary. It holds extreme sentimental value and it think it would qualify as something superstitious I carry and something I carry because I am afraid. I also have a pair of earring I would wear on a chain. One day my dad brought back this gift for me just because he said they reminded me of him. They are simple opal earrings but that is one of my favorite memories with my father. I think my emotional baggage would be tremendous. I would carry regret around like suitcase of bricks. I can only imagine how much you wish you would've done when you are constantly so close to death. I also think hope would be a necessity because without it I could not plan all the things I would do upon my return home. I would have to carry some sort of journal. I think to not record how things were in situation such as war could result in poor psychological health. I would want to write down not only emotional experiences but also ideas that cross my mind, poems or stories, or even little sketches. I think with these things that I carry I could make it through something as terrible as war. 

journal #13

Through out this story we see the struggle of Zitkala-Sa as she is forcefully integrated into the American way of life. Her rebellion to this new culture seems to prove that this story is anti-American dream. She has little to no choice in the changes in her life. Her cultural and social norms do not align with those of the "pale faces" and she futilely tries to hold onto what she knows. This does not support what we have discussed as the American dream, being forced into a new life while wanting nothing more than to keep your old one sounds more like slavery. But in the end she is triumphant in her goals, she seems pleased with where her life has taken her but where did everything transition? I believe her story ends with an accomplished goal of the American dream and proving those around you wrong. Her dream seems to have a more vengeful twist to it than previously analyzed outcomes of the American dream and even an unfinished one at that, but none the less I think it still qualifies. Her ending sentence states that "the little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger" in her heart. I think she has accomplished her dream of an American education, but in the end she still longs for her mothers approval. I think that even though she is not completely happy in where her life has taken her, i think the motivation to prove to her mother and everyone around her that she is capable of doing whatever she pleases. This is such  strong factor of the American dream that it changes the aspect of the story in the end. She begins afraid and rebellious of this new life, but by the end turns around and takes charge of it and wields it to work in her favor. This proves her to be a strong independent citizen with nothing but her future ahead of her. This, i believe, any American would be proud to be called.

journal #12

"Fortunately the illness passed away without serious consequences; yet it seemed the first break in our festivities, and was followed by an event of a most tragical nature."

I like this sentence because it seems a good transition from her childhood memories to to future political goals and forthcomings. The wording struck me as particular, show she says the kings illness passed away almost gives it a morbid feeling but in reality it tells us the he "fortunately" survived. This sentence also ends with a morbid feel using the term tragical nature, while beginning the sentence with fortunately. I find the feelings of these words especially contradictory when used together and there fore makes its imagery stick in my mind.

journal #11

responded to Molly Zuber

journal #9

In today's economy many are trying to save their assets and plan accordingly for the future in an attempt to prevent another fall out. I find that this is somehow related to the politics of the United States after the war. The Civil War was a huge dispute that tore the nation apart and caused the people to change their way of life after it ended. This reminds me of the economic depression that our nation is currently trying to pull out of. When the economy crashed the entire nation was in a panic and everyone had to change the way they lived their daily lives. Ever since the government has been doing whatever they can to pull the nation back together and bring the people back to normal. Bailouts, new laws, new healthcare/welfare systems have been put in motion to try to get the country back to the way it was before. Similarly the industrialization and expansion was a way to bring the nation back together as a whole. After the war many had to change they way they lived. Slave owners had to adjust to life without slaves, the freed slaves had to adjust to life on their own. Many had to struggle to get an education or a job, weather it was a slave in the south unable to get hired because of their skin color or a poor white worker who could not get an education because of the schools set up solely for those freed slaves. When the nation began expanding and developing all of these new technologies, the nation grew together. This time period was so exciting for the people, everything was changing and everyone was a part of it. Today these changes are not nearly as exciting, but they are all in an attempt to try to bring the nation back together and build a better future for its people.

journal #10

While reading "the Wife of his Youth" there were several transitions into complete enlightenment of the story. There is no subtle introduction of characters, setting, or any summation of the tale; the reader is simply thrown in to the story. It isn't hard to catch on to what is happening, about a passage in and you are already fully enlightened on the Blue Vein society who were the upper social standing of that society. Once I fully comprehended the social group, I was intrigued to read on. Then I learned it was actually mulattos that were a majority of this pale group, and this put a whole new spin on my interpretation of what this group was about. The pressure to prove themselves as worthy of their class standing as an inner drive and to prove to others, of both races. When Mr. Ryder is planning this ball to propose he reads over a verse about those of mixed race, and this pressure on those who can call no place home is revealed as extremely important to him and most likely his entire group. When the small black woman entered the story it was not until the very end, while he was asking what the husband should do to the party, that I suspected it was him. I could not guess at the relevance of her story, only that it could have effected the path he chose to take when picking a wife. Surprisingly I was right in that aspect. He chose to acknowledge this woman as his, even when he had worked so hard to get where he was in society and had thrown this entire ball for a woman younger, paler, smarter, wealthier, and more beautiful than his wife of that slave marriage. I believe that he chose her to speak on his character as man of two races. I think by choosing his first wife he showed his guests that even though he looks white, acts like a upper class white businessman, and can afford a lifestyle only open to white men previously; he cans till stay true to his roots. In a way this separates him from the "superior race" that segregated and enslaved other human beings. Here he seems to be revealing what we would all hope of our citizens and future generations, to live well but not forget where you came from. Humility, as a virtue, should never die.

journal #7

Response to Olivia Caridi "A Call to Action"

journal #8

After the reading I noticed a strange connection between Brown's last speech and the segment of a Diary from Dixie. Both of these people came from opposing views, Brown being a liberal abolitionist and Chesnut strongly believing in the way of life in the south. I found it interesting that she knew the fallacies of slavery but wished there was a way to keep it going in everyday life. This contradictory idea bridge to Brown's last speech, for me, because he seemed to be a little contradictory himself. Although he did admit to helping slaves escape to Canada, it seemed he was trying to lessen the abolitionist aspects of his other intentions. The prologue to his speech made him seem more like a more violent and active abolitionist, but in his speech he claims to be doing nothing more than helping slaves escape the country. No doubt this was a way to try to gain some form of sympathy from those in the south and those in the north, but to me it seemed almost like a cop out. This man is about to be hanged and could make a powerful speech calling for an uprising and demanding people to take a serious look at what slavery is doing to them, but he seems to just give up. If I was a 19th century citizen I feel it would be moving to witness this stand against slavery. Although it was good of him to try to keep others involved out of trouble, but the entire message seemed to far less enthusiastic than I would have expected from a doomed man. 

Chesnut wrote in her Diary about the General Lee's capture and the inevitable overtake of the south by the north. Her depiction of these Yankees and how much her family and friends were troubled seems to shed no light to her awareness of the evils of slavery. She seems almost aggressive against the way of life in the north and wants nothing to do with it. She seems more enthusiastic to her views of slavery then Brown who is about to die. Even her reference to the plagues of Egypt is more powerful than Brown's speech. This related to how the slaves viewed Moses as their savior but Chesnut is changing that entire metaphor around to mean that the slaves are the plague on the civil world. This seemed like a clever blow to that form of praise for the slaves and quite brutish. 

blog #6

In "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl" Jacobs was unaware of her social standing as a Mullato until the death of her father. Her life radically changed, in terms of her class standing and racial standing, but her gender remained the same. Although it had not inhibited her life before, the fact that she was a female slave made her life that much harder. Her master constantly reminded her of her place as a slave and as his female slave. He struck her when he was frustrated with her and then would remind her it was her fault. This would not happen with male slaves; she was treated this way as woman. She was unable to be open about her relationship with her lover and her children were constantly used as a weapon against her. Their existence was constantly a tool used to threaten her, as a mother having the lives and well being of your children put in jeopardy is such a hard way to live. Jacobs seems to constantly resist her gender role, the kind of work she has to do gets done but she never accepts it. Other slave women accepted what they had to do and even dealt with sexual passes made by their master as a part of life. They accepted they had no choice, in the matter they had no political rights or in the matter they had no physical rights as a woman. Even their bodies were not in their control, and Jacobs fights this aspect of her life every step of the way. The fact that she is a woman does not stop her from seeking her freedom, even when separated from  her children. To her, the fact that she is female does not mean she needs to take an easier route to get her freedom. She refuses to buy something that is rightfully hers, this headstrong thinking would most likely be seen as masculine at this time, but then again women are known for being quite stubborn when it comes to their beliefs. Throughout her entire story she fights, fights for her rights as a slave and fights for her rights as a woman. Most would look at her unfortunate situation as a female slave and pity the life she had, but being such a strong woman I believe she truly lived.

Blog #5

When Christopher Columbus came to America he assumed the continent uninhabited. Despite the native tribes that already occupied the land Europeans saw it as their duty to civilize and Christianize the "New World". In all reality they had taken over an ancient world, one of special rituals and customs, spirituality, community, systems of trade and economics, and even a hierarchy similar to government. The Europeans only saw these people for savages with torn loin cloths and unclean bodies. The inability for these invaders to take a step back and really look at these people is what marks the early history of our nation as so barbaric. Realistically these Native Americans were not so different from the early settlers. They believed in love and family, respected the rules set by their leaders, followed a strict spiritual life, and just tried to survive on a daily basis.
Many settlers were extremely prejudice against these people and historically it is known as a big issue in our nations growth, but there were also people in those early times who recognized the hypocrisy and injustice being done. Being of Indian descent, Apess naturally sided with his ancestors and looked down upon the early European treatment of them. In "An Indian's Looking Glass for the White Man" he sheds light on the extreme hypocrisy in which the white settlers partook when segregating and discriminated against the Native Americans. Not only does he prove how wrong that part of history was, but he also brings forth the notion that the white men are in fact the inferior race. No other race has committed so many crimes against their "brothers" while contradictorily following the law of Christ who declares "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself"! He exposes the Native spirituality, how his people were one with the earth and followed what was good and true and that the white settlers seemed to declare their beliefs as righteous but were far less likely to follow them. His writing is so simplistic and obvious but to those who cannot see what they had done it was possibly eye opening. It is hard to see things you are so closely surrounded by, and Apess had the ability to take a step back and reveal what many people of that time might not have known.
Similarly, Sigourney viewed the world in terms of the Native Americans. In her poetry she is appalled that anyone can fathom the death of the Native people. They are everywhere, in the trees, rivers, mountains, and fields. Their way of life and beliefs will always be a building stone of our nation and she strives for others to recognize that. The Native Americans taught the early settlers many things necessary for survival and even if a day comes when their beliefs and way of life is no longer present, the continuation of the American way of life and the sheer geography of our country will keep it alive.

Blog #4

While reading "The Tenth of January" I enjoyed the point of view of the story. The narrator was not one of the characters, so this made the thoughts we get to hear from the characters more important and memorable. The setting and various descriptive aspects were also more explicit and detailed. This also made the information provided more reliable, a first person point of view could have meant that the character had some sort of agenda. The narrator even states at one point "I am not writing a novel, and, as the biographer of this simple factory girl, am offered few advantages" (Phelps). I also Enjoyed the narrators depiction of the charters. I know that Asenath was the main character and it was her story, but I enjoyed Del as her opposite. Asenath is married but not happy. She is not pretty and it rules her life, much like the appearance of Del. Her beauty is a big part of her life and through the narrator we see how Asenath feels sorry for her beauty but is also jealous of it. This would be harder to depict in another point of view and I truely believe that this aspect of the story made it more relatable to me as a reader in general and being a female reader. The way that Del and Asenath were perceived reminded me of how other girls often think about and act towards others. This factor of the story made it very interesting to read and I enjoyed that I could relate to that aspect.

journal #3

In "The Wife" Irving reveals the true meaning behind marriage. He shows to the world the kind of teamwork an American marriage consists of and how family is important to our country then and now. I believe that when comparing the American marriage to the British marriage it is based more on love and companionship, opposed to it being a legal transaction. Here he reveals how the wife can save the husband, his burdens are shared with her. So economically speaking the wife should be willing to do what it takes to help the husband. And if they are working as a team and have a foundation of love this is easily achieved. Irving stresses the fact that family is important to Americans and that a true and happy marriage is the basis of that family. I think that this is still true of American values today; and although things have changed quite a bit in the dating world, there are still hopeless romantics out there who just want to live the American dream we all grew up knowing.

blog #2

American literature, I now realize, is a foundation of our nation. The literature of our forefathers has shaped the country we know and love today. News traveled through the newspapers and the printing press was a huge reason the Declaration was spread to the other colonies and even to the British. I have never thought how a much a single writing could change the future. The Declaration made our nation, and therefore shaping the American dream we all strive for today. Therefore the Declaration can be thought of a blue print for our past, present, and future. Today literature is still a huge part of our country, but the interface is constantly changing. Like the printing press spread text in colonial time, the Internet makes it accessible to everyone. Hopefully this change in tools to distribute text will not cause our generation to lessen the value of it. Today popular novels are of a vastly different genre than what were the most popular works of history. I do not believe that this necessarily degrades the intellect of our nation but possibly foreshadows a less-literate future. This does not mean that the kinds of literature our forefathers used to start this nation will not survive, in fact I believe it is nearly impossible for this to dissolve as long as there are still true Americans in our nation. 

What is an American?

After the class discussion I do not believe that my definition of an American has changed, but it did open my eyes to the opinions of what others believe an American to be. To me an American is proud, opinionated, free, powerful, equal, and determined. I still believe all of these describe an American. After reading the poems in class I found that not everyone thought of Americans equally. "What is an American" written in 1782 clearly defined an American as a native born white Englishman. This definition seems to be completely opposite of what the general population today would think of an American. Being an American includes all races and ganders and allows all citizens to start off at an equal standing in our society. Other writings we discussed revealed to me that people believed that America should not be open to foreigners. America is the land of the free; a place of refuge, and to exclude anyone therefore goes against this entire principle. The statue of liberty represents a place for people to come and start anew, start a whole new life from an equal standpoint of every other American. This means that no matter their color, gender, heritage, race, or even age can stop them from a happy and fulfilling life like they were kept from in their original country. After our class I still believe my view of what an American is has remained the same, but I have learned that not everyone truly the believes widely used adjectives correlated with this view and that to me is extremely ignorant and even un-American.