Journal Entry 15

In the story "Border State Patrol" by Silko tells of her experience driving the highways in New Mexico and Arizona. She is treated very poorly by patrolmen who believe her to be an illegal alien invading America. It's very hard to say you agree or disagree with what happened to her that fateful late night on the highway shoulder. I feel a natural compulsion to say I agree with her in that border patrol is somewhat unnecessary because human power is the strongest natural force on Earth and it is impossible to keep the migration of humans out of a given area. However, I see the logic behind the American policy of immigration, which is rather restrictive upon those who wish to come across the border. To create a fully functioning government which runs upon the taxation of its citizens to create goods and services for its people, and if there are people coming into its country using its programs and goods on whats called a "free-rider" effect, which means they use the benefits of what others pay for. Silko tells a story of a time when the system failed and the patrolmen were going after the wrong people, seeing as Silko and Gus, her companion, were both American citizens and she was an author out promoting a book. The officers went too far in using the german shepard to search them and in how they treated them in automatically assuming the were criminals by not responding to Silko and Gus' attempts at asking what was the matter. What happened to them was a mistake of identity and the officers over reacted and impeded upon their rights as Americans a bit, but I'd say that as an American I prefer my government to uphold the law, but I dont want the unjust treatment and prejudice that these officers so quickly showed to her.

Journal Entry 14

In "the things they carry" what the soldiers decide to carry with them says a lot about who they are and what they hold to be important in their personal lives, because in such a hectic life of a soldier you can only afford to carry around so much without being overburdened. You have to choose well what you will take because it will be all you have while you are on a tour of duty. Personally, I think this would be a very hard decision, I don't really know what I could take that really means that much to me. I think I would be similar to Jimmy Cross in that I would hold letters from home to be of high importance. Maybe not necessarily holding them to pretend there is a relationship or love, but from family, friends, or just loved ones who cared enough about me to write a letter. Letters are perfect I think, they are light, easy to carry, they can fit in any pocket or crevice, and they have a very personal message to you that can be a love letter, maybe news from the outside world, or just what is happening in my absence. Another thing that i would like to have although i dont really know how you could get it in a time of war, but i would like a newspaper every now and then to get news of politics and stories of what is happening in other areas of the world. Now, my first though of what to take would be a book or books, but they thing is if I am in Vietnam, it is almost always going to be raining, and some books are rather large, especially when you are living in a situation where every ounce matters. Im trying to think of which book i would take if I only could take one, and the only one that really pops out as my favorite is the Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas. It has been my favorite book since I was in elementary school. I've read it many times and it continues to be exciting. I would also be similar to Dave Jensen in that I would carry extra hygiene materials such as soap and a toothbrush and etc. I have to have my hygiene, without it I cant really function. So thats what I would take, i would like a steady stream of imformation from a newspaper or something, my favorite book, and cleaning supplies like soap, toothpaste, and and a toothbrush.

Journal Entry 13

    Zitkala-Sa is a prime example of the American dream. I would define it as the pursuit of a better life, and that could be by any means. For her, she was of mixed ethnicity being pulled in two ways by her white and dakota ancestry. She got herself a good education and was well learned in societies ways and culture, and she fought for indian rights. She found a calling in her people and fought the rest of her life as a crusader in DC pursuing education reform on indian reservations, citizenship, and the right to indian territory and property. She was the definition of the American dream; she was young and realized you cant make a mark on society without education, so she got it from top universities in the country, she saw what the problems with America were and she made it her goal to reform this flawed government, and she had a moderate amount of success. She left her mark on her people by what she helped them get back and achieve and she made her mark on the American government and people because she helped show how to fix the injustice and that the indians were being mistreated and scrutinized for the pride of their people.

Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen

In Hawaii's story it tells of how Queen Liliuokalani ascended to the throne of the tropical Hawaiian islands. She tells of her upbringing, her marriage, and the impact of the white man on her islands. This where my favorite sentence comes in, "Perhaps I may safely claim even less, admitting the criticism of some intelligent visitors who were not missionaries, – that the habits and prejudices of New England Puritanism were not well adapted to the genius of a tropical people, nor capable of being thoroughly ingrafted upon them." Now the Queen was a very intellectual and scholarly woman, she spent much time as a child and through adolescence in schools receiving an education. This sentence speaks to me because it rather challenges the imperialistic ideals of the American people, because here is a woman adaquetly running her country who is a fit and honorable leader, and Americans still want to come in and intrude on their rights. It shows that maybe America is here for their own benefit instead of to "better" the Hawaiian people. It shows the strong prejudices and arrogance of the American people, that maybe they don't have all the best and correct answers. The people o the Hawaiian islands had a well ran society and established communities. One thing that I think is very important and to not be overlooked is how well the Queen writes and uses the English language. She weaves well written sentences and uses the English language better than I would say most Americans at this time. She saw the truth in the situation, and her islands being victimized, and she stepped up to diplomatically and peacefully resolve these issues, which says a lot about her character and leadership abilities.

Journal Entry 11

It seems that lynching and prejudice and the overall evils committed to black people is a shared theme among “As the Lord Lives, He Is One of Our Mother’s Children” and Claude McKay's poems. THe question I would like to explore is "why continue to write about the atrocities done to an entire race even though much time is passing. Stories about lynching and persecution of African Americans seems in the distant future, but it really isnt. Slavery was only truly abolished about 130 years ago, that for some of us is just a few generations away. It would seem like the world that isn’t African American wants to just move on, but it is important to remember what happened so we are not doomed to repeat it to anyone else. Claude and Hopkins write  in a time where they never personally saw slavery, they were born and lived into the 1900’s where we would like to think is a time where we would be above racism and persecution on the basis of one man’s skin.  In Hopkins story about Stone, he is a truly innocent man who is educated, well brought up, and a good man, but he is on the run because there is an allegation or rumor basically that he killed this man that essentially made his life hell. Personally, I wouldn’t have blamed him if he had killed him and ran, racism is wrong and morally impermissible. I just don’t understand how people of such a recent time period and not that far from ourselves could have such blind hate in a time where we attempt equality and liberty for all. But I think this is why these authors write, to remember what happened to their family and people. To live on with pride and show how good overcame evil, and that even in a dark oppressive time, there were still people like Rev. Mr. Stevens, who looked beyond what the law might have said, and made his own judgments on the subject of race and took action to prevent crime to an innocent man.