Journal 15 - Response to Adam Bakiera

I completely agree with what Adam’s saying about the author Silko not providing the other side of the story and how it’s not only border patrol that attack immigrants, it’s also the other way around. I’d also like to add that when she compares Germany’s “Iron Curtain” to the “10 feet high” steel wall that the US government is building. I feel those to things have nothing in common. Germany’s wall was erected to stop east Germans from fleeing to the west. This is not the reason why the U.S. government is starting to put up their wall. That reason is because of illegal immigration that is hurting our economy. Yes we are trying to stop Mexicans from coming over the border, but this is for legal reasons, where as east and west Germany were technically one country, The US and Mexico are two different countries, so if people come over to the US illegally, it messes up the whole balance of the US economy and other parts as well.

Journal 14: If I were a soldier

In Tim O’Brian’s “The Things They Carry,” There is a sense of secrecy in the soldier’s true emotions and in the meanings of the items, they carry. For example, some of the men were superstitious and carried things such as a rabbit’s foot. “Lieutenant Cross, carried his good luck pebble”(1465). This pebble had come from his girlfriend, Martha. He keeps this pebble to remind him of his life back home and of his girlfriend.

 If I were a soldier in a war, the most of the things I would bring are things that or of the necessity. Of them, I would have a canteen for water, some kind of gun, a few items of clothing and plenty of food.  I would also my Bible. This book would not only remind me of God, and how he watches over us, but also of my parents and their strong faith in the Lord. I’d also take with me pictures of my parents, sibling and of extended family and some stationary so that I would be able to write back to them. I’d probably also carry some kind of water tablets, wo I wouldn’t have to deal with all the infected water and maybe some kind of pills that could help with disease. Finally for comfort, I’d bring a small stuffed animal, because whenever it gets lonely and I get scared, I can hug that stuffed animal to make me feel better. I’d probably try not to let anyone see it though.

Journal 13: Zitkala-Sa

            I do not think that “The School Days of an Indian Girl” is a story about fulfilling the American Dream. This story is about perseverance through the hardships placed on an Indian girl by white people. If this was a story about the American Dream then the little Indian girl would have chosen to go to a boarding school and dreamt about moving up in society, but instead she was forced to go to school. Isn’t the American Dream all about choosing your own future? I mean isn’t that what people came over to American for? Sure, they came so they could become successful, but in their own way and isn’t success subjective to every person. For example one person might think he’s the richest man alive because he has the most money, but on the other hand another man might think he’s the richest man alive because he has a family. So success isn’t the same thing to every person. I think success is subjective to what that individual person wants and if something is forced on you, then obviously you didn’t want it. This is what happened to the little Indian girl. The quote “I laughed no more in triumph when thus alone. The little taste of victory did not satisfy the hunger in my heart” (438) describes how unhappy she felt after being pushed through school. She did not fulfill her dream of success, which is what the American dream is all about.  

The Overthrow of the Queen of Hawaii

“Let it be understood that I have not failed to notice it, and to be not only flattered by its universality, but further very grateful that I have had the opportunity to know the real American people, quite distinct from those who have assumed this honored name when it suited their selfish ends.”

         This quote really stuck out to me. From reading it, I think she understands that not all Americans wanted to overthrow her and the Hawaiian monarchy, at least not the “real Americans.” Only the ones who wanted control over capitalism and resources in Hawaii wanted control of it. The previous line says that most Americans are sympathetic with her and encouraged her.