Journal #15

I agree and disagree with Ms. Silko on different aspects of this essay.  I do agree with her that the treatment of some of the illegal immigrants is inhumane.  There have been tons of stories of cruel treatment to Mexicans illegally trying to cross the Rio Grande.  Another thing that I can agree on is that the walls that our government are trying to put up to prevent illegal immigrants are probably not going to work.  There is so much border to cover and it would cost millions and millions of dollars.  Even if they were able to cover all of that area, immigrants would find a loophole.  I do disagree with her on some points because illegal immigrants can be dangerous and cause harm.  We have a ranch down in South Texas that is 30 minutes away from the Texas-Mexico border.  Since I was a little kid, my dad has preached to me about what to look out for with illegal immigrants.  We see illegal immigrants on our ranch yearly and there have been stories of trouble with them.  I have always watched to make sure that the illegal immigrant isn't carrying a bag or a backpack with him, because it usually means that he is storing drugs or guns.  I know this is an unfair stereotype, but I have always been taught that it is necessary to be safe.  I know that many illegal immigrants are coming to find a better life and I see her point about how there should not be any boundaries, but at the same time these illegal immigrants could cause citizens of the United States harm.

Blog #14

If I were a soldier in Lieutenant Cross’s unit I would probably carry multiple small things with me.  First off I would definitely carry a hatchet.  I believe that would be very necessary in many different situations.  It would not only be useful when fighting or in action, but also with just daily chores such as cutting branches when walking through the forest or also when cooking.  It wouldn’t be the lightest thing to carry around with me, but I feel like it would be a necessity to help me survive in those harsh conditions.  I think I would also carry some photos of my friends and family.  I know that the soldiers during the Vietnam War had a very hard time.  It was a very depressing scene and there was no realization of what normal life was anymore.  They went through one of the most gruesome wars in American history, and I’m sure nothing they saw was very comforting.  I would want to be able to look at photographs of my family and friends for comfort.  It would be nice to see what I was fighting for and what I have to look forward to when I finished my tour.  All those soldiers saw all day was their friends and enemies being shot and the bottom of their holes they dug to protect themselves.  I think the pictures would easily remind me of what I had back at home and remember exactly the reason I was fighting for.   I think the hatchet and the photographs would both serve me well if I had to fight in Lieutenant Cross’s unit in the Vietnam War.  

Zitkala-Sa Blog

Zitkala-Sa’s autobiographical entry in the Atlantic Monthly titled The School Days of an Indian Girl, I believe that she does in fact make the American dream come true. Although, her first writings include several instances where she is denied freedom from certain religious persecution she in the end seems to elude the Christian influence that the “paleface” people attempt to force upon her. Although her hair is hair is “shingled” and she claims her spirit is broken, later in the book she continues to reject the ideals of that missionary tried to instill in her. Although she accepts the image of the white man’s devil in a dream, she escapes him, by being gathered up into her mothers lap, almost signifying her escape from all the white religious institution had sought to teach her.  Unable to assimilate back into a transformed the transformed Indian culture she discovers when she returns from her schooling she seeks her own path, in which she embodies an American dream come true. Fitting in no where in particular, she decides to return to schooling and to educate herself, not with a sense to fit in with the white way of life, but to give herself a voice and let her speak out on the injustices that have plagued her life. Zitkala-Sa wins one of the two awards given at an oratory competition in the conclusion of her entry, despite prejudice shown in the audience towards Native Americans. Metaphorically she does not only conquer the prejudice in the room that night. This small defeat seems to lead onto what the rest of her career followed to be as she follows her American dream and voices her opinion. Her history mentions that in the last 25 years of her life Zitkala-Sa goes on to become a pivotal activist in the crusade for the rights of Native Americans. I believe in this entry proves, although being abused by white society in America, she successfully fulfills what could positively be described as an American Dream.

Hawaii Story Blog

"Trees shade its walls from the heat of noonday; its ample gardens are filled with the choicest flowers and shrubs; it is, in fact, just what it appears, a choice tropical retreat in the midst of the chief city of the Hawaiian Islands."

I picked this as my favorite sentence in the reading because of the imagery that is described.  By the way she describes her home, you can almost actually imagine the beauty of her home.  When she calls it a choice tropical retreat, it sounds like an amazing place within a more hectic area.

Blog #11 Response to Mimi Heald

I agree with Mimi that both stories definitely talked about the importance of a noble death.  In both stories, there is talk about how African American went through brutal deaths and white people would just watch and yell.  I think this is a very disturbing thought and the fact that there was no respect when the African Americans were killed is unbelievable.  I think further that the authors were trying to describe these terrible actions to make the readers cringe and understand how terrible the lynchings were that took place back during that time period.  One part that really stood out to me as well is when the man is describing to the reverand why he lies.  It really shows the fear that the fugitive man has for the terrible death that he had watched happen to his friend.  Mimi does a really good job of describing the important points of both of these readings and shows the pain that the African Americans experienced during these lynchings.  I can't imagine watching a friend go through that horrible experience, and it was an almost normal thing during that time.

Blog #9

One significant comparison that I found between the time period of 1865-1914 and today is the progression of technology.  Both of these time periods have been huge within the progression of technology. Although the innovations between 1865-1914 were a lot more important, there have been big changes in our technology as well. Between 1865-1914 the light bulb, the telephone, the typewriter, the radio, the motion picture, the automobile, and the airplane were all created.  These are still some of the most important inventions in our lives today.  I think we have reached a time period in our lives where crazy new inventions are coming out.  Some inventions that have struck me as very innovative are the iPhone 4Gs and 3D television.  The iPhone 4Gs has a computer simulated voice called Siri that you can ask any question to and receive an answer.  The 3D television is pretty self explanatory, but it is amazing the picture that you can get from it.  Although these inventions are much more technological than the inventions of that time period, they are the important inventions that are shaping our community.  Ottmar Mergenthaler invented the linotype machine in 1882.  It was a revolutionary typesetting machine that helped improve methods of distribution and help publishers produce for the amount of demand for printed material.  Thomas Edison called it the "Eighth Wonder of the World."  I could compare this to the invention of the email.  Email has made it much easier for writing to be transfered between people, and has made communication and distribution so much easier.  Without email, there would still be the process of using "snail mail" to transfer documents.

Blog #10

One point in time when I came to a significant insight in my life was when my best friend passed away my senior year of high school.  I was miserable for weeks with the thought of losing such a significant person in my life.  I couldn't go to school for a while and really had a hard time with the realization.  Over time I came to realize that I had learned so much from him and what had happened.  Although it was the most tragic thing I have endured in my life, I learned to appreciate everything that I have been given.  I have been very blessed with an unbelievable group of friends and family and I have been able to cherish them so much more through what I have experienced.  You can never take for granted all of the blessings you obtain in life and I learned to always appreciate them.  My friend, August, had tons of compassion and I have come to realize how important it is to live like that.  I have always tried to compare myself to August since he passed back in 2008.  He was the most care-free person I have ever met, and I was always the worrier.  I came to realize how important it is to do everything you ever wanted to do.  You never know when something can happen and I never want to feel that I didn’t get everything out of life.  It was the worst thing I could have ever asked to happen, but it enlightened me on what is important in life.