Blog #24

My favorite poem was "Innocent Traveler" because its really intense and contains strong emotion. The poem itself shows how chance can really affect what happens in a persons lifetime and how we don't ever really know what lies ahead of us. It tells the story of how a whole family was created but if one change had been made, certain members of that family would not be there. Sharing those experiences. It sends a bigger message of greatness and thankfulness. While reading the poems I began to understand the real struggle of making s life here in America and trying to become part of the american dream. All of the poems together explained the struggles of immigrating to America. Immigrants had the chance to make better lives for themselves and families but it definitely wasn't easy, in fact it was the opposite. Tears were shed when family members died trying to make it to the shores of America. Even when they got here, many didn't feel at home because of the absence of acceptance they received from the American people. Still they worked to make their lives better as they had planned, they took pride in their heritage and kept their cultural traditions strong within the family. Poems send the same messages as memoirs and autobiographies because they all tell personal stories. Each of them compile emotional experiences into words to share messages and experiences with their audience. Poetry is often shorter then memoirs but it can still get the same points across in fewer words. 

I agree with the statement “He is neither a European nor the descendent of a European... Here individuals of all nations are melted  into a new race of men." because America is the melting pot. When immigrants came to America they brought their cultural traditions along but they also took in new experiences from other cultures, melting together both cultures. It's almost as if when immigrants came to America they had additions made, they didn't stay exactly the same. In America many nationalities blossom and you can easily find people from all different backgrounds. Over time they began to mix together and instead of having just Americans or just Italians, there became Italian Americans. Nationalities were combined in America to create German Americans and Mexican Americans. America has changed over time in the fact that the melting pot isn't the same. Today immigrants aren't freely relocating to america as they had been before. Now there are more restrictions and racism between cultures. In some cases immigrants felt the need to "fit in" with the american ways instead of embracing their own culture and bringing traditions here. I still think of America as a canvas, all of the paints represent the cultures blended together to create unique pictures and stories to tell. Each picture made has a different story, created with different colors. No two paintings would be the same, just as no two people are. Paint can be added and mixed to create new colors just as cultures can be mixed to create new people. 

Blog #23 Here's Herbie

The way we see other people can strongly impact the way we see ourselves. Wether it's insecurity or overconfidence, we always have our own self image. The main character in the story has his own conscious battles with himself. He gets good grades, he's handsome, smart, athletic and many people love him for who he is as a person. The speaker views himself a little differently, every little difference or imperfection is considered a huge flaw. His life isn't terrible but he still finds things to be depressed about such as his allergies and his mothers illness affecting him. He considers himself psychosomatic so even when he doesn't have any real problems he makes his own within his mind. He compares himself with others around him which creates a tug of war cycle. He believes that people will view him differently so he holds back on doing what he wants to do. The speaker is so insecure about the smallest things that he's scared to embrace the simple accomplishments and gifts. How ever once the train incident is over I feel as if the speaker is more carefree and limitless. He realizes that his worst critic is himself and that he needs to let go of his insecurities in order to do what he wants to do. I can relate this story to my life just as any other teenager can. There's always that time where you compare yourself to others or feel as of you don't fit your own standards. You bring yourself down when there are so many things to be proud of and so many simple things to enjoy. 

Blog #22

Not only would it difficult to grow up in a whole new country with a father you never really knew, but it would be even harder growing up in a new country without your mother that you've lived with forever. Being a natural born citizen it would be hard to understand the struggles that Nicholas Gage went through when coming to America from a Greek village. His mother was killed as him and his siblings were sent to live with their father, a man that they hardly knew. Not only did Nicholas have to find his place in a whole new country, but his family was always switching houses  and schools as well, which made it even harder to fit in. At the time schools didn't have special classes for students that didn't know the English language, Nicholas and his sister were put in the mentally retarded class because of this. Throughout the various schools he attended there were many different students with different standards. Some were richer with better clothes and some seemed smarter, the comparison of himself to others was also difficult for Nicholas. 

Eventually he learned English and he used his new knowledge as a talent. Within his writing he expressed his culture by describing experiences back home and why he came to America. Each piece of writing showed improvement, enough that multiple were recognized and awarded. His father was a large influence being there for support as well as his teacher who motivated him to write from the start. In my life I have my mom by my side to encourage me and support all of my decisions. Whether its academics or athletics shes always my number one fan. She has always been a strong positive influence on me to always push myself to do better. 

Blog #21

Earth and I Gave You Turquoise 

Suburban Indian Pride 

The poem "Earth and I Gave You Turquoise" is a poem in which the speaker is talking about his dead wife. He displays his sorrow with the words in the poem describing the sad songs they sing as he waits to see his wife again in the afterlife. The descriptions of the writer,  gave the illusion that the speaker would be an older man that speaks of his wife's death and how he prepares to join her after he too passes away. The second poem "Suburban Indian Pride" describes all the days in the speakers childhood when they had pride in their Indian culture. The child speaker is playing back these memories to her mother, these memories were strongly linked to their Indian heritage and pride. The poem describes that being part of the American Indian culture comes with pride as well as fear. It says "Be proud that you are Indian, but be careful who you tell." Which sends the main message to the reader that being an Indian in modern times is almost like living two lives and keeping one a secret. 

I preferred the poem "Earth and I Gave You Turquoise" because it demonstrated stronger voice and emotion within the descriptions. The theme made the poem more powerful to the reader by describing the strong connection that the speaker had shared with his wife that passed away. The words were not exactly straight forward and clear with the message that they were conveying. Instead the writer used figurative language and descriptions to explain the feelings and events. The poem includes the lines "we have not spoken of you, but our songs are sad." It explains that the man sings about the loss of his wife and how he misses her. I enjoy how the lines of the poems flow together naturally as one thought goes to the next, connecting the ideas. 

Adventures of an Indian Princess

The Rapier family took their Indian foster child on an adventure to an Indian trading post area. They claimed that she would feel at home because she would be with her type of people. It's ironic that the Rapier's knowledge of Cherokee culture is described as sophisticated because it is actually inaccurate and misguided. The family based their so called knowledge of Indians off of old John Wayne movies and tv reruns of "The Lone Ranger". Instead of finding actual facts and relevant information about the different tribal cultures the Rapier family based their judgements off of general stereotypes. There was a man that was supposed to be dressed as a Cherokee Indian but instead of portraying how a real Indian dressed he was wearing clothing and designs from many different tribes from all around the country. The Rapier family was so interested in the man and how he looked like a real live indian in their eyes, but Arletta knew that no respectable indian would actually wear what he wore. Just because he wore feathers and had tan skin didnt mean he was a real Indian. Another example of irony in the story is the authenticity of the "genuine" Indian goods in the little store. The beads of the jewelry were uneven and the headdress had no real significance when compared to the real Indian headdresses. On the back of the medallion it said "made in Japan" and in real Indian tribes they make their own jewelry and clothing. 

I think the author uses irony within her story because it explains her point of the story a lot stronger than just making serious statements. The irony helps show how the character, Arletta, really feels without being dull and straight forward. The irony used within the story adds humor and keeps the reader interested in what's going on. It helps to strengthen the main point of the story which is that people think they know more than they really do. People base their knowledge off of movies and stories they've heard but they don't always find the real facts. The main character, Arletta, uses her emotions and anger within the story to show the reader how ignorance or lack of intelligence can be offensive. The Rapier family claimed they knew all the facts about the tribes and cultures while Arletta was frustrated by all the things they didn't realize and understand. 

Blog #19

Victor and Thomas have a relationship that's based off of childhood memories and old family ties. They don't seem to acknowledge their relationship in front of others but Thomas isn't exactly affected by it. Victor can recall any times during their childhood when Thomas helped him when he needed it. There had been a time when Victor got his foot stuck in a wasp nest and sure enough Thomas was there to help. Eventually they lost the connection they had because Victor beat Thomas up for no reason as a result of drinking. The story basically shows their relationship as a give and take system. Thomas gave everything he had and Victor simply took everything without giving back. Victor would never even listen to a simple story that Thomas wanted to tell. Even after everything that happened throughout their childhood, Thomas still lends Victor money for the trip to Arizona. Thomas went along for the trip and their relationship developed more of a stronger connection. I think their relationship is acceptable because they both know what they've been through and how close they are. They don't have to broadcast their connection to everyone for them to know that they're friends. 

Blog #18

After reading the essay, I strongly believe that Indian characters should not be used as mascots for sports teams and schools. Although it is not always intended to be offensive it is greatly disrespectful to the Native American people. The word Indian is meant to describe a race or culture, not sports teams. Many of the teams and schools owning these mascots are not even familiar with the real meaning of some of the terms they call themselves such as Chiefs, Redmen, Braves and Redskins.  These names we're actually made during a time of racism against the Indian people. The article states that "The American Heritage Dictionary defines Redskin as offensive slang. The same phrase they use to define nigger and spic." (P. 367) The term Redskin comes from a time in history when the murdering of Native Americans were promoted.  During this time bounties were placed on the scapls and skin of he indian prisoners, the scalps were like a type of receipt to get a reward for those who killed the Indians. In my opinion schools and teams should  not be representing mascots with words that they don't fully understand. 

While these stereotypical labels were being given out to public schools and teams, many native Americans themselves were not attending schools because of the racism and torment. Throughout all of this Native American people are still portrayed as aggressive fighters, which is yet another reason Indians should not be used as mascots. It is not ethically right to have students dancing around wearing headdresses while the opposing team chants "Scalp the Indians". The headdresses and feathers are honored spiritual symbols the Native American culture that should be respected, but at games and school events they are simply props used to mock and discourage their culture. Although in some cases its mot meant to be disrespectful, the ignorance creates disrespect. In part of the story it says "I began a long walk down the stairway that ends up just behind the backstop. People booed, hissed and yelled "get a job" "hey chief" and "get a haircut"."  (P. 371) This is another example of how disrespected the Native American culture is. If citizens cannot respect the real culture of a group of people, they should not have the right to display mascots and banners representing that culture or traditions.