Border Patrol State

The issues with immigration are one of the most tricky and controversial problems of our time. As an American it is easy to say that we want them to stay out and this is our country and you must meet certain criteria to get in. Which, I honestly agree with to an extent. I dont really want people to "stay out" of America- but I think that you need to be a hard worker, have a job, and achieve citizenship legally just like the majority of Americans here. Obviously how to enforce this is the hardest part. Coming to America especially from places which are in such terrible times like Mexico is the opportunity of a lifetime. As an American I know I cant even begin to understand how that must be to try and gain citizenship to the US but also I think there has to be a line that we can't start making acceptions for. Even though it is an extremely long process and very difficult- gaining citizenship is something that shouldn't be given out that easily. America is an incredible country and we cant let anyone come over illegally and then give them the same rights that legal citizens have, it just isn't fair and loses the moral of the whole application process. I do understand how Border Patrol can at times be extremely harsh and it is very upsetting for the innocent people who are getting pulled over. But, in order to help keep everything fair and equal in our country they have to stop random cars at some point. I definitely agree that I am sure there is much racism involved in Border Patrol and I think that is something that needs to be fixed. Although, I don't know that I can think of a better way to help keep illegal immigrants out of the country. It is such a hard situation and I don't think we will ever find a perfect solution to it.

The Things They Carried

O'Brien's story "The Things They Carried" really made me thankful for all the hard work our military does for us. It is hard for me even to think about what I would want to carry. We live such a sheltered and pampered life and I feel like we are always wanting more and are never happy for what we have. We complain about wanting the new iPhone or new clothes when people fighting for us overseas just want more supplies to keep them going day to day. Besides the necessities of my weapons, food/drink, and bandages I think I would bring with me things to take my mind off the situation or stress I was in. I would carry a picture of my family, my dog, and my close friends. I feel like pictures can almost take you back to that place you were at and make you happy just looking at them. I would want to be able to see their faces if I was going to be away from them for so long. I would also bring some of my favorite verses or quotes to help me keep my mind at peace and give me encouragement to keep going. I also would keep a journal to write down what I was doing and how I was feeling. Sometimes when I am feeling sad or scared, I think back on some of my favorite memories and I find myself laughing out loud and some of the best times with my family and friends. I would definitely bring a few papers with some of my favorite memories that I could think back on when I was feeling lonely. I would for sure bring pen and paper to write letters to my family and friends back home. My parents always want to know what I am up to and I think they would go crazy if I wasnt writing them all the time. This story made me so thankful for the men and women who are fighting for us and it also made me thankful for all the things that I have. It was a good reminder to be happy with the things you have now and to not always be wanting more.

Bonus Blog #2

Imperialism is the way a country expands its power by complete force and usually military power. Growing up we are taught in US and even Texas history about the expansion of the United States, different wars over land, and manifest destiny. All of these were taught in such a bright and exciting light, there was not much mention about how the people felt on the other side. I honestly didn't think much of it until this class. I knew that pushing the Indians out of their land was extremely selfish and brutal by America but I never gave it much thought after that. I was surprised at how horrible people were treated and how bad the conditions were they were living in. It makes you ashamed for your country whose main motto is equality for everyone. People used the idea of social darwinism, the thought that you are superior to someone because of race, religion, class or gender, as a way to justify all the injustice they were committing. What surprised me most was the story of "Hawaii's Last Queen." We discussed about this a lot in class, but I also had no knowledge of any of this happening in America's history. It always was stated in our history books just that "Hawaii became a state in 1959" but there was never the story behind it. It is so interesting to me to read these personal accounts from the people who were experiencing the prejudice and complete takeover by the US. It is easy to think that it must have been a hard time for them, but after reading the stories and watching the movie clips of people so emotionally distraught about it, you really feel for them. It makes you take a step back and think about not only the actions that America took to get ahead, but it also makes you examine yourself. It was a lesson to me to think about others feelings and situations while I am trying to achieve my goal, which is something that America did not have in mind while expanding their power.

How Great is the American Dream? (Journal #13)

Being an American in 2011, we see the "American Dream" as the most important goal and the way that we live our lives. It has been engraved into our minds to work hard and to achieve the most and to be the best. It is easy for us to understand now, but coming from a different culture- the American Dream may not be as great as we make it out to be.

In "The School Days of an Indian Girl" by Zitkala-Sa, there is a struggle of culture and conformity that the young Indian girl faces her whole life. She is sent to the East to get schooling, learn English, and become civilized. After three years of struggling to make changes to her culture and norms she learns some English but it not completely "civilized" as her older brother. She was very unhappy with this "limbo" place she was in and decided to go back to school to learn more. After going against her mother's will, she went to college to further her education and became a very successful speaker and won many award despite the prejudice she was facing for being Indian. To me, that is the American Dream. She struggled and went through many hard times, but all of her hard work and dedication paid off and she not only was successful, but also was a representative of her culture and people. She showed that Indian people were capable of the same things as white people and that they are hard workers and have the same desires as them too.

The American Dream, although it did come true, it may not have been exactly what she or her family thought it would be. Her last sentences were "The little taste of victory did not satisfy a hunger in my heart. In my mind I saw my mother far away on the Western plains, and she was holding a charge against me." Zitkala-Sa did achieve the American Dream, but in doing so she upset her mother and went against some of what her culture brought her up to do. The hunger in her heart was not just to be educated, smart, and to prove herself- but also it was about being truly happy with her family and friends. I think that her dream was fulfilled, she just needs to do what her heart is telling her to do and go home and be with the ones who love her, then she will be satisfied.

Hawaii and America

"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 line in "Hawaii's Story" was extremely powerful, especially in the ways that the author formatted it. It begins saying how she was very flattered by how nice and welcoming the people were in America, and it really changed her outlook on them. She says "the real American people" which is important because she finally got to meet actual Americans, not just think of them as their negative stereotype. At the end the author says "suited their selfish ends." The alliteration used at the end of this sentence makes her message stronger and more memorable. What the Americans did was very egotistical and that they didn't think about what their actions were causing because all they were looking for was the end result. 

Journal #11

Hopkin's "As the Lord Lives, He is One of our Mother's Children"was a heartbreaking story that left you almost questioning your own life. Rev. Stevens was a man of great faith and had a huge heart full of love and compassion. He stopped to help a man on the side of the road who was dying and brought him home and took care of him. The man said that his name was George Stone when in actuality he was a runaway man escaping a wrongly accused murder. He was afraid to tell Stevens what his story was because he thought that he would turn him in. But when Stephens found out he got on his knees and prayed and knew that he must do the right thing and try and protect his safety. Brown said he couldnt thank him enough and one day would repay him for what he had done for him. Years later Brown died while trying to move a fallen tree off the railroad track that had an approaching train with Stevens and his son Little Flip on it. Brown reminded me slightly of Uncle Tom because he was a very grateful and honest man and also made a strong friendship with Little Flip as Uncle Tom did with Eva. That was such a hard time in history for the black community and the people who were helping them. Brown dying trying to protect Stevens reminded me to always put myself second and to put God and helping others first. It made me thankful for the way our lives are now where there is much equality and respect for everyone.

"The Wife of his Youth"

Charles Chesnutt's "The Wife of his Youth" is a short story about two married slaves, almost 25 years after the civil war reuniting after the wife's relentless hard work searching for her old love. Even though I knew the title of the short story, for some reason I didn't make that connection until I finished reading! When the old lady walked in the garden I wasn't exactly sure what her purpose was, but I thought that she may have had something to do with Mrs. Dixon. I thought she was going to say something about Mrs. Dixon not being aloud to be with Mr. Ryder or something similar to that, I definitely did not expect her to be his long lost wife at first. When the lady first said "scuse me, suh I's lookin' for my husban'. I heerd you wuz a big man an' had libbed heah a long time..." I had to re-read that line because I thought she was saying that she was looking for her husband, who lived in the house and was a big man. Which after reading it again, that is not what she was trying to say- but I thought it was slightly coincidental that I thought those were her original words. I find it interesting that Mr. Ryder either didn't remember her name at first or didn't seem to bothered when she originally stated her name, considering he used to be married to her. I thought that he was being slightly rude and harsh when he kept on asking her many questions about her husband and slightly mocking her on searching for him for 25 years. After looking at the picture in the woman's locket for a while and then staring at himself in the mirror for a long time I began to think that he had some connection to either the woman or to her husband. I than began to think that the husband was going to be at the party and Mr. Ryder was going to recognize him from the picture and tell him about his wife coming to his home earlier, but that did not happen. Then when he was giving his toast, I thought that he was trying to relate the woman's story to his love for Mrs. Dixie, and that hearing her story made him realize more than ever that he wanted not only a wife but Mrs. Dixie to be it. But then when he began to get more personal in his toast and ask his friends what they believed the man should have done, I thought that he might be the husband, but I did not know if he was ever going to admit it to them. I was honestly shocked that the woman was in the house and he brought her out to meet everyone. He seemed so interested in Mrs. Dixie to raise his social status and to become more elite that he would be embarrassed by his former wife or he would never tell anyone about her. But I think that hearing her story of relentlessly looking for him for 25 years and having complete faith that she would find him and that he would still love her inspired him to realize what was most important in life. He reconnected with his original true love and realized that this ball, the "Blue Veins Society" and having a elaborate life was nothing compared to having someone who loved him endlessly and he could happily spend the rest of his life with.