Journal # 15

After reading "Border State Patrol," By Leslie Marmon Silko I found that I agreed with many points she had to say.

In the past Silko explains how Natives were free to travel where they please. She states, "I used to travel the highways of New Mexico and Arizona with a wonderful sensation of absolute freedom," but over the years that had changed greatly. Border patrols were practically everywhere and they only stopped dark skinned people. They would humiliate them and search their cars, detaining Natives for any reason they could. It is sad to me that America had went through this change because Americans thought that white were so much more superior than any other race. She says the patrols not only stopped natives but people who appeared to be clergy or chinese too.

When Silko explains they German Shepard dog that searched her, I think she brings a lot of emotion to her story. By saying she "[could not] forget the expression in the dog's eyes; it was as if she were embarrassed to be associated with them," she portrays the border patrol men as monsters and creates a great amount of sympathy for her and other native travelers. I agree with Silko when she says that many Natives were shot and killed by the border patrol because how can anyone know what actually happened on those dark, lonely nights. And if Americans were as racist as history shows, I have no doubt that they acted violently towards Natives.

Silko says that borders are "no use," and that they will never work. I believe that this statement is somewhat true even though America created border patrols, the  "Iron Curtain," and a fence between Mexico. America can use its power and can make it difficult for Natives to travel into the US or throughout the US, but with all the connections that people have, it would be impossible to keep all of them out forever. Just as Silko says they not only have the connection of language. commence, and cosmologies. I also have realized many Americans even have Native blood in them themselves; I am part Cherokee. I have never thought about it in this way before but when she says human beings are a "natural force of the earth, just as rivers and winds..." it really makes sense to say that stopping Natives or minorities from traveling into America is not possible.

Journal # 14

If I was a soldier in Lieutenant Jimmy Cross's unit I would carry many things with me.  In his story, "The Things We Carry," O'Brien says men carried many objects that "varied by mission" as well as rank, superstition, and necessity.  I find it practical that everyone would carry items that fall into all these categories.  I would first want to make sure that I had the proper uniform on to protect me and camouflage to blend in. Weapons for my protection would probably be my top priority so I would have a way to defend myself. I would make sure I always have a canteen on me for water, a compass if I ever got lost, and tools such as a pocket knife or mosquito netting. These objects would fall into my necessities. I would also carry with me some sort of lucky charm, just as Lieutenant Cross carried his pebble from Martha. I think having something like that gives people hope in a certain way and so having a good luck charm would help bring a positive outlook. I would also carry sentimental things, as did Cross when he carried Martha's letters and pictures. I would have a picture of my family and significant other. I believe these sort of objects would remind me how important they are to me and give me  motivation to continue on through the rough times of war. Although I would try and not focus all of my attention on them unlike Cross did because I wouldn't want it to distract me from my job, being a soldier.  I would bring a Bible with me to also help inspire me if things got hard. Lastly, I would carry with me a positive attitude. Although it is intangible, I think it is probably the most important aspect that I could carry. Having a positive attitude can make all the difference because I believe that happiness is a choice.

Journal #13

The American Dream is one of that thousands of people dreamt of. Everyone who lived in America or moved to America had hoped of oppurtunity to start fresh and prosperity to become successful. I belive in Zitkala-Sa's story The School Days of an Indian Girl, she did not live the "American Dream."

The reason I believe Zitaka-Sa did not experience the American Dream is because she was forced away from her home native land to the "Land of Red Apples" as she calls it. If you were forced to leave your home to be civilized by the American people and educated and raised the way they wanted, than that is no where near living the American Dream. Zitaka-sa should have been able to choose her own future, isn't that what the American Dream is all about? She should of been able to decide whether or not she wanted to go to school and leave her hometown. She was humiliated throughout school, and felt very out of place. At one point she says, "they took their forefingers out of their mouths and pointed at my moccasined feet...this embarrassed me, and kept me constantly on the verge of tears." She also got her long hair cut off which made her "[lose] my spirit." Zitaka-Sa had every right to keep her long hair, for it completed part of her identity. The fact that these Americans were forcing her to change and causing her so much pain is why I believe she did not live the American Dream.

Yes Zitaka-Sa was given these oppuritunities to go to school and become educated and civilized which may appear to seem like she did live the American Dream, but truly, I believe that the American Dream was meant for people to prosper in their own way but in Zitaka-Sa's case, that was not true. Instead she was constrained, humiliated, and overcome by these Americans people who forced her to live their American Dream.

Journal #12

"I, LILIUOKALANI of Hawaii, by the will of God named heir apparent on the tenth day of April, A. D. 1877, and by the grace of God Queen of the Hawaiian Islands on the seventeenth day of January, A. D. 1893, do hereby protest against the ratification of a certain treaty, which, so I am informed, has been signed at Washington by Messrs. Hatch, Thurston, and Kinney, purporting to cede those Islands to the territory and dominion of the United States. I declare such a treaty to be an act of wrong toward the native and part-native people of Hawaii, an invasion of the rights of the ruling chiefs, in violation of international rights both toward my people and toward friendly nations with whom they have made treaties, the perpetuation of the fraud whereby the constitutional government was overthrown and, finally, an act of gross injustice to me.

This was my favorite quote from Liliuokalani's story. The formal language that she uses not only portrays how respectful she is to other people, but also conveys her courage and the true ambition she has to stand up for her native land and all the people that live there. She states that for the United States to take control and rule Hawaii is a "violation" towards the Hawaiian people but also says it is a violation towards her. I think the last sentence where she says, "injustice to me," has such an strong message because by including that it will effect her personally makes her argument much more influential.  By explaining how this "invasion" will be detrimental to herself, Hawaiians, and other nations connected to Hawaii, I believe she creates an exceptionally admired argument and really shows her passion for her native colony.

Bonus Blog # 2 Imperialism

Hawaiian Islands

The definition of the word "Imperialism" is described as "the policy of extending the rule or authority of an empire or a nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding dependancies." But the word imperialism goes much deeper than just an empire ruling over a colony. Imperialism is not just connecting two different places by political status, it is when an empire changes the ways and culture of the new land they acquire; they influence the currency used, sports played, crops grown, and resources made.

The British Empire was one of the most successful empires throughout history; it was kingdoms from India, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Scotland all put togther. America also became an empire when it joined with Puerto Rico, Guatemala, The Philippine Islands, and certain parts of China.

After reading about the Hawaiian, Queen Liliuokalani, and her story of Hawaii being taken part of the American Empire it altered my views on the effect it made on these smaller countries and the people who lived there. The Queen was against becoming part of the new empire because she believed that it would be detrimental to their native islands which had such great independence. At one point, after America had successfully succeed Hawaii to become a part of their country, she says, "those poor Hawaiians, strangers on their native soil." She believed that their "crown lands" were not made to be for sale. I agree with Liliuokalani. Although what has happened in the past we cannot change, I think it was unjust for larger, more powerful countries, such as America and Britain, to take other dependencies and make them part of their own and force civilization on the people. Those people should have a right to do what they want and live as they please. But when a greater force comes in and conquers their land, the people have no choice but to adapt to the new lifestyles forced upon them. It is sad to know that many people, including Liliuokalani, we're distressed by this process and I wish that they could of kept their own identity and could of stayed independent as they hoped.

Overall, reading experts from this story has shown me new light to imperialism and how it changed our world from what it once was. Although Hawaii, and many other smaller colonies were succeed into larger empires, I hope their will always be a way to express their true native culture.