"Boarder Patrol State"

I think that Ms. Silko had very valid points about racial biases when she discusses her experiences and stories with the boarder control.  In many countries this is the norm, people are judged based on appearance by national security.  I know I have heard stories before like the ones Ms. Silko point out in her essay.  I agree with her in that these people are making assumptions based on race and the biases that each person brings to the table affect others.  My parents lived near Mexico for a few years and I remember hearing so many board control stories. One time, we had crossed the boarder and we went into Mexico to shop and then when we were crossing back over into the United States, we were stopped by the boarder control because it was summer time and my older sister has long dark hair and is very tan.  They asked us a series of questions and we were able to drive through after awhile, but as Ms. Silko points out, people initially look at outer appearances and make judgments.  Even though I think this is not the best method, I do appreciate that United States is watching the boarders closely and not letting just anyone in. Being cautious and careful is better than not.  Having said this, I can honestly say, that as a Caucasian in the United States, I have not personally faced being discriminated against because of my race so I do not know exactly how Ms. Silko feels.  I know that these situations that Ms. Silko bring up are very valid, but I cannot think of a solution because I think everyone naturally has some type of biases, whether that be against a race, religion, or gender.     

This summer, when I traveled to the Middle East, I experienced for the first time what Ms. Silko describes in her essay.  I was on the receiving end of racial bias.  I traveled to Israel and customs as an American trying to enter Israel is more difficult than I ever imagined it would be.  It literally took at least four hours to get through the boarder, while it took other individuals from certain others countries no time at all.  So many questions were asked and they treated us very poorly.  As an American, it was as if we had a huge red target on our backs going through the boarder.  The boarder control assumed many things and asked so many questions.  Like Ms. Siko points out, they do not care about your time; they are on their own schedule and they think they can do whatever they want with you.  It was a unique experience and I cannot imagine having to deal with that in a country I call home.  This experienced definitely opened my eyes to different biases people have and has taught me to not treat others in this same manner. 

Bonus Blog: "Double Consciousness"

W.E.B. DuBois idea of “double consciousness” means looking at oneself through the eyes of others.  This is particularly present in immigrants as they came to make a life in the United States.  Immigrants brought their cultural identity with them while also wanting to conform to the white American culture.  It was hard for immigrants to have one identity with the pressures of the new American way.  Sui Sin Far, Onoto Watanna, and Mary Antin each write about their experiences as immigrants to America and the stories share similarities and differences. 

Some of the similarities between these stories are seen through the white man’s uncaring spirit toward immigrants’ culture.  This is displayed “In The Land of the Free” by Far when the American customs officer says, “ Seeing that the boy has no certificate entitling him to admission to this country you will have to leave him with us” (299).   They are taking this family’s son away from them and the attitude of this custom officer does not seem to care; it is natural for this to happen because they have seen it so many times before.  Because this family is immigrating, the white man does not seem to even notice that they are taking the family’s most prized possession-a life! In the same way, Antin’s story, “The Promise Land,” she states, “with our despised immigrant clothing we shed our impossible Hebrew names” (491).  The family shed their own names in a way to culturally be more accepted by the white man.  It is as if, Americans would not have cared about them or would have treated them differently if they would have kept their given Hebrew names, so therefore, the family changes each of their names to fit in better.  In both of these stories, it is obvious to the immigrants that the white man does not truly care about them and their culture.  The white man wants immigrants to conform to American ways. 

There are many differences present between the stories that can be seen.  The immigrants in “In The Land of the Free” by Far do not have a strong desire to be American like those immigrants that are described in “The Promise Land” by Antin.  The mother in “In The Land of the Free” does not have a strong desire to be in American because she does not have her child.  This directly foils the father in “The Promise Land” because he has a very strong desire for himself and his family to be in American to receive an education and a chance at a better life.

Immigrants during this time struggled with having an identity because of the “double consciousness” that was present.  They could not simply embrace their culture while being in a new nation.  Now, I think this has changed and immigrants can more easily keep their culture and be American. 

The Things I'd Carry

If I were in Lieutenant Jimmy Cross’s unit I think there would be many things I would carry depending on the different situations and missions like the other men did; however, I think there would be a few items that I would be important for me to always carry.  The first and most important item that I would carry would be my Bible.  God’s Word is vital to my life and I need it everyday to live.  My relationship with the Lord is the most important aspect of my life and without His living Word, I would not be able to have the relationship that I have with Him.  His Word allows me to know God more and God uses His Word to teach me and speak to me.  The Bible would be an imperative item to carry because it would help me get through the bad days as well as the good days.  The book is filled with stories, lessons, and words or encouragement for anything and everything I have to face in this life.  The Book of Life would be my crutch if I were a soldier.  The words of God give life, hope, joy, and peace unlike any other book. 

Along with my Bible, I would bring a journal to so that I would be able to write things down each day.  I would use this journal as a way to record different things that happened along the journey, memories from each day, and different things the Lord is teaching me along the way.  The last valuable item that I would bring carry would be photographs of my family and friends.  The people that are in my life are so important to me and I know that if I were a soldier, I would miss them terribly.  I would have to have pictures to remember them and the fun times we spent together.  My Bible, a journal, and photographs of family and friends would be the three items that I would carry with me at all times because they represent the most important aspects of my life.        

Bonnin's American Dream

I believe that Bonnin’s story is displays the American Dream coming true, even though the American way of life was forced upon her at a young age.  She resisted the American Dream and wanted no part of the white man’s civilization when she was younger.  She did not understand the language, customs, or way of life for the white man, but when she was forced to go to school, she eventually learned the white man’s culture and the idea of the American Dream.

            The American Dream is surrounded by success and the chance of achievement of a better life and education in this world is a big way of achieving the American Dream.  So many benefits come from a good education.  In today’s time people cannot usually be as successful in achieving the American Dream without the proper education.  Education is crucial!  The American Dream for Bonnin came true by way of her receiving an education.  She explains, “at the close of this second term of three years I was the proud owner of my fist diploma” (437).  This statement displays her ownership and pride in her accomplishment of receiving an education.  Even though this was against her mother’s will, Bonnin pursued a high education and succeeded.  I believe her story displays the American Dream coming true because of her academic achievement and chance at a better life because of her education.   I also like that Bonnin makes a point to say "first diploma."  This leads me to believe that she went on to further her education and received more degrees.  

Quote from Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen

“It is not easy to explain its origins to those alien to our natural life, but it seems perfectly natural to us.”

         Culture defines so many aspects of life, from the small little traditions, to the major life changing decisions.  It is fascinating that the world is comprised of such a variety of cultures and that each culture has unique characteristics; as an outsider, traditions in different cultures can seem strange, but to that culture, everything seems completely normal because that is the way it has always been.    

A Perplexing Question

         I enjoyed reading Hopkins’ “As the Lord Lives, He Is One of Our Mother’s Children” and loved that Rev. Stevens saved Stone’s life, even after he read the poster with the $1,500 reward.  This made me think, if another person had found Stone in the river, would they have later turned Stone in for the reward?

         I think this is an interesting thing to ponder because do you think Rev. Stevens just saved Stone’s life because he was a man that served the Lord and read the Bible?  Did other factors play into his decision to let Stone live?  Did race have anything to do with it, since Stone looked white? 

         I think this is a hard question to answer and honestly, I think if another Christian man would have found Stone and then read the poster, he would have been more likely than not to turn in Stone and get the reward.  I say this because I think back on past readings, such as The Narrative of Fredrick Douglass and the instances where the Christian people are the ones that are the most hypocritical and treated African Americans the worst.  I wish I could say that I think most people would not take the reward and would have chose to save Stone’s life, but I think that many people in this time would have turned him because of the societal view that African Americans are bad.  Most people would not have gone straight to Stone like Rev. Stevens did and ask for the facts; people would have assumed the worst after finding out he was an African American and supposedly was running from the law.

         I think the end, when Stone risks his own life for Rev. Stevens and his son, displays the kind of man Stone was; one of integrity, honor, and thankfulness toward Rev. Stone for all that he had done for him.  He was willing to give up his own life for Rev. Stevens and his son.  This also leads me to question what would have happened if Stone had not been there to save Rev. Stevens and his son?   

The Aha! Moment

When reading “Learning to Read” by Frances Harper, I had an Aha moment just in the realization of what a privilege it is that I learned how to read at such a young age.  I cannot imagine starting to read at the age of 60!! Harper explains, “And said there is no use trying, Oh Chloe, you’re too late; But as I was rising sixty, I had no time to wait” (1389).  I learned to read when I was 6 years old and I do not know how I would have gotten through life without this skill.  I just remember when I was younger having to learn and complaining about having to read for school, so it is amazing that Chloe had such an inspiration to read.  Reading allowed her to have a better life, even at the age of 60.  It was worth it to learn no matter how old she was and she was determined to learn so that she would be able to read the Bible. 

I realized after reading this poem, just how many little things in life that I take for granted everyday.  I have never thought of being able to read as a privilege because I learned at school, just like everyone else, but the reality to it is that I have been blessed in so many ways.  The time period in which we live is a major factor that has influenced reading.  Literacy has come such a long way since the time when this poem was written in 1872, especially for African Americans and women. 

I learned by reading this poem just how thankful I need to be for my education.  I am receiving a great education at TCU and I cannot lose sight of that, even when school becomes overwhelming.  The fact that I am a woman, I can read, and I get to go to college would have been crazy to think of during the time period in which this poem was written, but for me it a reality.  I need to be thankful for the little things in life and never lose sight of how far we have come from the time when these things were not an option for everyone.