English Blog # 15

Immigration is nothing to new to America. Christopher Columbus discovered a land he thought to be “A New World” however; this land was not new in fact it was a land that had been settled on for many years. He documents his voyage saying that he found a group of people known as the Native Americans.  Ever since this time period people from all over the world began migrating to America. As I was reading this article I was reminded of one of our class discussion trying to define “What is an American?” In my opinion there is no clear answer to that question because America has become such diverse nation. For example, the TCU campus is a diverse setting. You can find a wide range of students from all over the world.

While America maybe a diverse nation I feel that America inequality still exists. Ms. Silko said, “While [she and her companion] were stopped, [they] watched as other vehicles whose occupants were white were waved through the checkpoint” (Border Patrol State).  Why are Ms.Silko and her companion being investigated? Had they done something illegal? The answer is even today citizens of America are still being discriminated against because of their skin color.

Ms. Silko describes an incident, “In El Paso, a high-school football coach driving a vanload of his players in full uniform was pulled over on the freeway and a Border Patrol agent put a cocked revolver to his head” (Border Patrol State). Interesting enough incidents such as these are common. Our nation has had a problem with inequality ever since the first settlers arrived. One example is the Native Americans who were originally settled in America they were forced out of their homes and into reservations. These Native Americans were forced to assimilate to the American culture. Another example would be the African Americans who oppressed for so many years. In today’s society Hispanics are suffering from discrimination. Our society today uses words like “alien” to describe immigrants. By using words like “alien” our society is dehumanizing other people.

Immigration can only help our nation not hurt it. Our nation is a land of immigrants. It would be boring if the people of America were all the same. Diversity allows for growth and understanding of the many cultures in the world.  

Bonus Blog # 3

Edith Eaton used the pen name Sui Sin Far as a way of asserting her Chinese identity. Her sister Winifred Eaton on the other hand used the pen name Onoto Watanna assuming a Japanese persona. Both Edith and Winifred assume these pen names to show their readers that they are not just American citizens but more importantly immigrants from other countries.

Mary Antin writes about her experience as an immigrant adjusting to the life of an American. Antin’s family began changing themselves in order to become American citizens.  In Antin’s “The Promise Land” she describes how her families “real names had no pleasing equivalents they ruthlessly discarded,” (The Promise Land, 491). Her family is forced to lose their identities in order to assimilate and become American citizens. Today it is different because diversity is celebrated not discouraged.

In comparison, Sui Sin Far gives readers a surprise twist in “In the Land of the Free”. After many nights Lae Choo is finally reunited with her son after being taken away. Surprisingly the boy is reluctant and clings on to the white woman. The boy tells his mother to go away because he seems to have forgotten her. I believe that this story can be seen as an allegory. The boy’s mother could represent his culture and the white woman could represent his new identity as an American.  And just like in Antin’s story the boy is forced to lose his identity and is forced to forget his culture.

In Onoto Watanna “A Half Caste” the characters are identified by their dialect. For example, Ki-Ku has a dialect that is different from other characters in the story. One example is when Ki-Ku says, “That’d you’ fadder!” Her white father responds by saying, “You must be mistaken!” It can be assumed that Watanna gave her characters are given different dialect in order to show the difference between a foreigner and an American.

These authors are able to show readers how the immigrants were forced to lose their identity in order to become American citizens. The authors all write about the life of an immigrant. The characters in each story deal with “double consciousness” as defined by DuBoise because they will always be Americans that emigrated from other countries.

English Blog # 14

 If I were a soldier in Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s unit one of the tangible items that I would carry would be the religious charm that I wear around my neck. On the front of the charm is cross and on the back it says, “Fear not for I am with you”.  This charm is special to me because it was given to me by mother who has been my strongest supporter. Also, the religious charm would be a constant reminder that God is always with me even during battle and could inspire me when I have lost my will to continue on. 

Another tangible item that I would carry along with me would be pictures of my family and friends. The pictures would help remind me of the people I love. I would also carry along a Bible to read in order to stay connected with God.  I would bring my iPod and headphones.  Music is important because it can inspire people and can conjure up healthy emotions in a stressful time.

Because I am a soldier I would be required to carry certain tools such as a knife, a gun, and ammunition for protection. I would also wear a flak jacket. Another important tool that I would carry is a flashlight. Whenever I need to see in the dark I could use the flashlight.  I would also carry a water canteen in order to stay hydrated. Also, mosquito netting would be important to carry along. The netting would prevent any diseases that are contracted by a mosquitos bite.

Just as in “The Things They Carried” by Tim O’Brien I would carry some intangible items too. One of those intangible items would be fear. I have always been fearful of fighting in a war and losing my life. The second intangible item would be the lives of the soldiers in my unit as well as my own. When you are in a unit you depend on one another for support and protection.

My hope is that these items would not get in the way of my mission as they did in the story. Because Lt. Cross was so concerned with Martha one of the soldiers in his unit lost their lives. Afterwards Lt. Cross carried around a guilty conscience. If I were a soldier in Lt.Cross’s unit I hope that I do not allow these items to get in the way of my mission.

English Blog # 13 Response to Danielle Hecker Blog # 13: To Achieve or Not to Achieve

Zitkala-Sa had the opportunity to partake in the American Dream. However, she makes it clear that it was not her choice. Zitkala-Sa says, “And though my spirit tore itself in struggling for its lost freedom, all was useless,” (430).  It seems that Zitkala- Sa was unwilling to assimilate to the American way of life.

Throughout her time at White’s Manual Labor Institute Zitkala- Sa is forced to lose her identity as an Native American. One example is when Zitkala- Sa is forced to cut her hair. Zitkala-Sa explains how the importance of having long hair in the Native American culture. Zitkala- Sa says, “Our mother had taught us that only unskilled warrior who was captured had their hair shingled by the enemy” (431).  Another example would be when Zitkala-Sa says, “My moccasins had been exchanged for shoes,” (431). Zitkala-Sa was not allowed to decide whether or not she wanted to give up her culture. Instead, she was forced to learn the ways of the American society.  While receiving her education Zitkala-Sa seems to have lost her identity as a Native American. When a person loses their culture identity they lose a part of themselves.

What would have happened If Zitkala-Sa never attended the White’s Manual Labor? Would she even consider leaving her home in order to attend college? Americans today are given the opportunity to decide for themselves what they want in life. Zitkala-Sa on the other hand was forced to have an American education and follow certain practices that she did not believe in. I definitely agree with the statement you made “The American Dream is something that people made a conscience decision to achieve, they knew what they wanted, and knew how to achieve it whereas Zitkala-Sa is being forced into education and what the white man views as the American Dream while sacrificing her beliefs, culture, and ways of life.”  

English Blog# 12

 “So it happens that, overawed by the power of the United States to the extent that they can neither themselves throw off the usurpers, nor obtain assistance from other friendly states, the people of the Islands have no voice in determining their future, but are virtually relegated to the condition of the aborigines of the American continent.”

This sentence from Hawaii’s story by Hawaii’s Queen I felt was important because it focuses on an idea that we have discussed all semester. Let me explain, as we have looked into the early settlements of America we saw that the Native Americans were forced to learn a new way of life and as a result the natives to lost their identity as a culture. On Tuesday we discussed the concept of Imperialism and the connection with America. We saw the picture of the Philippine boy being washed who is resisting this bath. America never gave any of these cultures a decision in whether or not to accept the American way of life instead it was forced upon them.  “The people of the Islands have no voice in determining their future.” There is not only one right answer. Early America believed that the only correct way to live life was their own and I believe that is incorrect.

English Blog #11

Although, the war had ended African Americans were still facing troubles in America. Claude McKay discuses one of the problems Africans Americans faced which was lynching. The first four lines of McKay’s “The Lynching” seem to have made a connection to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

First, “His Spirit in smoke ascended to high heaven” (The Lynching). As I was reading this I made the connection to the scene where Jesus says, “Into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).  Second, “the cruelest way of pain” which is referring to the hanging and burning of the man being lynched (The Lynching). I was reminded of Jesus’ cruel death. He was beaten with a whip, was mocked, had a crown of thorns placed upon his head ,stripped naked and forced to carry his cross, and was nailed to the cross. Third, “His, father had bidden him to his bosom once again;” (The Lynching 2-3). I believe the father represents God. I think lines two through three are describing God welcoming the man back into heaven. Finally, “the awful sin remained still unforgiving” (The Lynching). I was not able to make a connection with the fourth line. Could McKay be referring to Original Sin? What is the unforgiving sin?  Just like Jesus Christ African Americans were forced to be persecuted. I cannot understand what African Americans did to deserve such cruel and unusual persecution. After the Civil War they were granted the freedom they desired only to be segregated against, and lynched.  

However, I really enjoyed McKay’s poem because it does a good job of allowing readers to feel like they are witnessing the lynching. McKay’s describes the aftermath of the man’s death “Hung pitifully o’er the swinging char. The ghastly body saying in the sun. The women thronged to look, but never a one Showed sorrow in her eyes of steely blue; And little lads, lynches that were to be, danced round the dreadful thing in fiendish glee” (The Lynching 9, 10-14). One thing that really surprised me was the way the children who were present were reacting. He describes the children to be happily dancing around the burned corpse. I was disgusted that children were present at the lynching let alone dancing around a burning corpse. Why are the children happy about the man who was burned and hung to death?

I feel that McKay uses such strong language so that some emotion would be stirred as American people read this poem. As a class we have learned about the lives of the African American people. I can’t help but to think that the lives of the early African American people had not improved much after the Civil was no oneWar. Why was no one standing up against this?

English Blog #10

In “The Wife of his Youth” Mr. Ryder who is preparing for his ball gets an unexpected visitor named Liza. Liza tells Mr. Ryder of her long journey to find her husband Sam, who promised to one day reunite with her. The “aha!” moment came when Mr. Ryder said, “Perhaps he’s outgrown you, and climbed up in the world where he wouldn’t care to have you find him” (The Wife of his Youth). Early on in the reading the author describes how Mr. Ryder “had come to Groveland a young man, and obtaining employment in the office of a railroad company as messenger had in time worked himself up to the position of stationary clerk,” (The Wife of his Youth). Also the author describes Mr. Ryder as someone who “was economical, and had saved money; he owned and occupied a very comfortable house on a respectable street’ (The Wife of his Youth). These passages describe how Mr. Ryder himself had moved up in society.  I could also sense distress from Mr. Ryder after the visit from Liza when “he went upstairs to his bedroom, and stood for a long time before the mirror of his dressing-case, gazing thoughtfully at the reflection of his own face” (The Wife of his Youth). I knew that Mr. Ryder was indeed the same man Liza had spent twenty five years searching for.

Another “aha!” moment came when I saw the determination displayed by Liza who spent twenty five searching for her husband. I could see that no matter what Liza was determined she would soon find her husband. It was clear when Liza said, “Sump’ns be’ tellin’ me all dese years dat I’s gwine fin’ Same ‘fo I dies” (The Wife of his Youth). I was reminded of Frederick Douglass. In his narrative Frederick Douglass is determined to accomplish two goals. The first was being able to read and the second was to become a free man.  Liza however, was in search of her husband. Neither person gave up on accomplishing their goals. Frederick Douglass would trade his food with young boys in exchange for lessons on how to read. The determination shown by both characters was the determination that our class has been discussing when regarding to the early African Americans. During early years of our nation African Americans were determined to one day have their freedom. As a result of the war African Americans were able to have their freedom; however, equality wouldn’t come till much later. For example, even after African Americans had been given the right to vote literacy tests were set up in order to prevent African Americans from voting. Determination shown by African Americans and those against slavery would impact our nation forever.