Reminders: As you respond to your class’s post, review the expectations for thoughtful, valuable, and timely communication outlined in the “Discussion Forum Rubric.” Additionally, even though you are only responsible for responding to your assigned topic, we will use all four posted topics in our class discussions; as such, prepare accordingly.
Sherman Alexie mingles positive and negative school experiences, each seeming almost to grow out of the other. As you respond, first , evaluate the effect of Alexie’s narrative technique. Next, by extension, consider and share one of your own memorable school experiences—positive or negative—that taught you something important about yourself and/or others.
Sherman Alexie’s technique of incorporating positive and negative school experiences in his life helps to captivate the audience in an emotional and humorous way. Emotionally, Alexie’s difficult path of transition to an all-white high school and the stereotypes he still had to face leaves him to questioning when and if the “punishment” will end. However, he rebuts that by using humor to deal with the situations he faced. Alexie observed, in the sixth grade, that “one valuable lesson about living in the white world: Always throw the first punch” (Alexie 106).
ReplyDeleteI can recall of the time when, in middle school, all the girls would brag about having a new boyfriend almost each week. I would become quite discouraged thinking about their ‘luxury’ in life so, I made up a pretend boyfriend of my own. I immediately got the attention that was wanted but, I did not feel any different afterwards. Sooner or later, I found out most of all the girls made up their boyfriend relationships. This taught me that people will always fabricate the truth to make their side look good and that things are not always what they seem like.
ReplyDeleteAlexie effectively narrates his experience in school by intricately and explicitly describing the details and revealing his feelings regarding the event, which allow the readers to interpret and understand the larger meaning. For instance, in eighth grade, Alexie overhears the white girls' worries and intentional vomit to become skinnier. Alexie asks for their lunch because the girls often throw the lunch away. Alexie further describes how his family is always overjoyed when they receive food that "even the dogs wouldn't eat." As a result, through Alexie's specific details in the story, the readers can conclude that the Indians are in poverty and often find themselves in hunger while the spoiled white girls do not value the food that are available for them. Furthermore, the readers understand the valuable lesson Alexie wishes to convey: value the luxury we have for there are many out there who do not have such opportunity. When Alexie's artwork is confiscated by a teacher, he desperately wants to yell out "Censorship" and "Freedom of expression." By revealing his thoughts and feelings, the readers understand the injustice that he faces and sympathize for his dreadful circumstances.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to Alexie's first grade experience, I have also received my share of school bullies. In second grade, I had the unfortunate opportunity to become "friend" with a girl who was much taller and bigger than myself. Normally, my mother would often incorporate a small snack for me to have in school. My "friend" was always hungry and looking for food. Because of my kind-hearted nature, I began to share the snack with my "friend." Before I knew it, my "friend" began to become quite angry and violent when I refuse to offer my entire snack to her. As scrawny second-grader, it was especially difficult to endure the excruciating pain every time she kicked me. Unlike Alexie, I had no inner warrior to rise against bullies. However, when my mother found out about my dilemma, she became my warrior. Without any school authorities involved, my mother effectively "took care" of the situation. Ultimately, the next few days, my "friend" mysteriously stopped asking for my food and second grade became enjoyable again. Through my experience, I have learn the importance and crucial necessity in having protective parents who can become the valiant "warriors" to rescue you from abyss of evil.
Alexie uses positive and negative school experiences to portray the stereotypes he experiences for being Indian and the discrimination that accompanies it which ultimitely results in the corrupt Indian lifestyle. Indians are supposed to have long hair and his "was too short" which resulted in him being bullied by his own people. Because he did not fit the stereotype, Alexie was bullied which shows the corruption beginning from just the first grade. Other Indian kids display corruption in the Indian lifestyle. "Steven Ford sniffed rubber cement from a paper bag" and the experience was "beautiful" according to Alexie. Randy, in sixth grade, taught Alexie to "always throw the first punch." Lessons on fighting and Ford's "drug use" demonstrate corruption, especially since they are still innocent children. Even the adults live corrupt lives. His "father drank a gallon of vodka a day" which demonstrates severe corruption throughout the Indian society. Alexie experiences constant discrimination and outright disrespect such as when Betty Towle did not say "Indian" with "capitalization" and made him eat crumpled up paper. Towle exemplifies corruption in society itself through her inhumane actions of how she treats Alexie. In third grade, his rights are taken away when he is no longer allowed to draw. Alexie and fellow Indians fall victim to stereotypes throughout his life. In seventh grade when the girl was raped, all that is said is "just Indians being Indians." In ninth grade when he passes out and the teacher states that he knows "all about these Indian kids. They start drinking real young." Even when he graduates, he is placed with people who "can't read" and people who "are just given attendance diplomas." Society's failure to separate Alexie and other Indians from the "stereotypical Indian" represents society's corruption in itself. Alexie's positive and negative school experiences expose a truly defiled society.
ReplyDeleteIn third grade, I participated in a talent show where two of my friends, Felicia and Aubrey, and I sang a song. I wasn't very familiar with the song, but we had come up with different dance moves for it. There were only two microphones so I was sharing with Felicia while Aubrey had one for herself. I couldn't remember the moves and neither did Felicia, but I looked over at Aubrey and she had started doing them, so I followed her and left Felicia standing there without a microphone. We didn't know the words and even worse, the dance moves didn't go with the song AT ALL. After it was over, we rushed off stage because we were so humiliated. Looking back, however, it was a lot of fun and very funny. Like Alexie, I learned it’s okay to be different, and that by being different, you can accomplish what you would have never dreamed possible before. Alexie was different with his looks and when he left to attend an all-white school, but he ended up graduating as valedictorian with incredible opportunities before him. I made a complete fool of myself but came out with a very fun experience and a hilarious memory to share with two of my very close friends.
Sherman Alexie was effectively able to communicate his experiences in school by organizing his narrative in sequential order and separating each event by the year it occurred in. Through this technique, the reader is able to follow the positive and negative occurrences in Alexie’s school life and witness him evolve as a person. Alexie shares many incidents that the reader can connect with such as, learning to defend ones self, or to embrace one’s culture. By creating common ground between the reader and himself, Alexie allows the reader to sympathize with him and learn from his actions.
ReplyDeleteAlthough my life is school was not nearly as unfortunate as Alexie’s, I was still faced with many challenges. During my years in elementary and middle school my family was forced to travel frequently due to my dad’s job. Just in those five to six years alone I had studied at four different schools in India. Then, as a result of my dad’s next promotion, my family moved to Canada. It was here, that I faced some of the hardest challenges of my childhood years – fitting in with group of culturally diverse individuals. Even though, I did not have a problem speaking or understanding English, I was unable to grasp the Canadian culture and their lifestyle since it was much different than what I had grown up with. However, once I became friends with people from different parts of the globe such as, New Zealand, Australia, Afghanistan, China, Japan, Europe, and many other South Asian countries, I was able to feel more accepting of my own culture because every one of us brought something new to share that was of intrinsic value. From this experience, I not only learned to be proud of my own culture, but to be tolerant towards many other cultures that exist in our community.
Alexie’s use of detailed personal events shows how one should always stand up and fight for his or hers rights. His use of details allows the readers to reflect and learn valuable lessons from life. Life is not always easy, and everyone faces hardships, but with every hardship comes a precious lesson. Alexie faces many adversities in life, but instead of bringing him down, it taught him to become a stronger and wiser man in the future. For example, in the first grade, Alexie learned to stand up for himself, and to face the bully who used to torment him. Alexie further emphasizes the need to fight for one’s justice in the sixth grade with Randy. Randy was a new Indian that moved from a white town; like Alexie, Randy was also bullied, but he stood up for himself and fought for his rights. Furthermore Alexie never abided by customs he does not believe in. In the second grade when Ms. Towle attempts to force him to accept her beliefs, he resists, and continues to stay loyal to his own principles. By revealing such personal stories, Alexie illustrates the injustice and discrimination he faced as well as how he overcame them to become a better person.
ReplyDeleteFor me, when I was entering the second grade, I moved from a big and cultural city to a small town in Ohio. My new elementary school was not the most accepting school, and even though everyone was kind, it was especially hard to fit in and make friends. I started to become more and more self-conscious about myself. I tried to hide my culture and only wished to fit in with all the other children in my class. However, one day I met this girl and she taught me a very important lesson. She taught me to accept myself, that even though I am different, it did not matter what others thought; but instead what I thought about myself. From this experience I learned that everyone has insecurities, and the only way to overcome them, is to accept oneself.
By intermingling both positive and negative school experiences which seem to stem from each other, Alexie allows the reader to track his growth as he transforms and evolves as he is forced to cope with prejudices on the reservation as well as in the all-white school. As the story progresses, Alexie transforms because he is ridiculed for his cultural heritage. He is tortured by his fellow students who “stole [his] glasses and threw them over [his] head” (103). Because of his background, Alexie is treated differently and bullied by others. By including all of his experiences, Alexie shows his own growth. From the second grade when he is forced to abandon his culture and cut his hair to the twelfth grade when he lets his hair grow, thus embracing his culture, Alexie is forced to adapt to his circumstances. This method also allows Alexie to appeal to the audience emotionally by detailing the harsh circumstances which he is made to live with. Alexie as well as Indians in general were stereotyped and usually prone to experimenting with drugs. By detailing each and every experience whether good or bad, Alexie provides insight into how he himself felt in response to many of these experiences, and he also highlights his growth as an individual.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most memorable school experiences which I remember dates back to fifth grade. It was the last week of school, and my family and I were attending a graduation ceremony for me. I remember seeing my family in the crowd and feeling happy; yet I was also embarrassed because my grandma had come in a traditional sari. It seems silly now, but back then I was terrified of what people might think of me. I wanted to be “cool” and fit in with my friends. Even after the ceremony was over I hesitated when bringing my friends over to my family. As we were leaving, however, I remember one of my teachers coming over and talking to my grandma for a long time about her clothing and the tradition behind it. From this experience, I realized that it was okay to be different. In fact, instead of being embarrassed by my culture, I should be proud to be different.
Alexie’s style of mingling positive and negative experiences in one narrative illustrates more subjective and realistic experiences than a traditional style in which only positive events are described. This style allows him to inject more of his own thoughts and feelings into the narrative, such as when he describes standing up to a bully in first grade by punching him so hard that he “looked like he was wearing war paint” (104). The reference to the war paint shows that Alexie still maintains contact with his cultural heritage and the closeness of his ties to his culture is further supported by his rebellious acknowledgement of his background when he says “I am Indian” in response to the racist attitude of his teacher(104). His style allows him to reveal his inner thoughts and feelings regarding the events that befall him, his views on his own people and ultimately, his perception of himself. Alexie’s writing style is also realistic because real life is not constituted solely by good experiences; it is a mix of good and bad experiences. The experiences that Alexie describe flow together into one narrative united in the universality of some elements, such as when he contrasts how basketball “felt good…It was chemistry, biology. It was beautiful” to how his cousin experiments with drugs in order to show how there is no inherent morality in life and it is up to the individual to make healthy decisions (105).
ReplyDeleteI remember an event in sixth grade that taught me to value other people and form my own opinions. I went to a school that was quite small, with around one-hundred students per grade, so I knew most of the people in my grade. A new kid transferred from another school and was instantly made the object of ridicule and derision by most kids in my grade because he was new and a Green Bay Packers fan. One day at the beginning of the year I saw that all the kids in my gym class had abandoned the assigned activity of playing basketball and were instead beaming the new kid with basketballs. I grew tired of the spectacle and managed to break it up by suggesting a game of basketball. Later, I befriended the new kid, whose name was Patrick, and found that he was a pretty cool kid. This experience taught me to form my own opinions and value other people, much like Alexie’s experiences in a hostile environment taught him to trust his own opinions and never disregard other people.
Alexie has created an emotionally charged narrative by skillfully intertwining both positive and negative school experiences that play off one another as he grows. By breaking the story into pieces by his grade, it enables the reader to better discern the changes which Alexie undergoes and sets school as the stage on which his experiences are to be played out on. At the end of each section is a paragraph, often only a sentence in length, that sums up the mood in each section. For example, at the end of the section titled "Second Grade", Alexie writes "And I said, Yes, I am. I am Indian. Indian, I am (104)." This sentence carries the unbridled pride he has for his culture and manages to express it in only a few words. Alexie also uses symbolism to illustrate the changes he endures through the growth of his hair. In first grade, he describes his hair as being "too short (103)," symbolizing his lack of understanding of his culture. As his hair grows, so does the understanding of his heritage. But as his deep investment into his heritage grows, so does the sadness he shares with the rest of his people over the oppression and subjugation they feel. One can assume some of these people were driven to suicide after Alexie recounts an event where a completely sober man with a "good job, wife, and two kids (107)," drove his car into a pine tree. The most emotionally powerful part of this narrative comes at the very end of this section when Alexie says, "Believe me, everything looks like a noose if you stare at it long enough (107)." This sentence has been injected with all the utter sadness these people feel toward the loss of their culture and illustrates the personal feelings Alexie has as well.
ReplyDeleteMy freshman year has to be one of the most memorable years of my life simply for the fact that I was moving into high school from a small, private, Catholic school. There were only five-hundred people in the entire school which ranged from kindergarten to eighth grade. I had shared a crib with some of these people in day care. Needless to say, I came to Lake Side not knowing anyone. Honestly, I was scared beyond belief. That first day I came home and cried my eyes out to my mother, telling her about how public school is a terrible place and how terrible the people were, and most of all, how I never wanted to go back. Eventually things got much better. I had made friends who liked me for me. It taught me to be open to new experiences and look at things more positively.
Alexie compares and contrasts the privilege of some and deprivation of others to emphasize each extreme. He acknowledges that many Indian do participate in dangerous and destructive behavior, but he also depicts the academic motivations of others. He believes that the poor choices are driven by the Indian’s lack of necessities and support from other races. The Indians were given only “canned beef that even the dogs wouldn’t eat” while white teenage girls were throwing up or throwing out their lunches. They were dependent on the government and lacked sovereignty (107). Furthermore, his teacher, who should encourage his love of books instead discriminates against Alexie, calling him an “indian, indian, indian… without capitalization” and attempting to hamper his ambition to learn by forcing him to eat his perfect spelling test (104). The general self-pity from their food deficiency and lack of respect often leads to their diminishing appreciation for their lives and futures, which in turn can precipitate substance abuse. Depicting the rift between the substance abusers and the scholars, Alexie distinguishes the great dissimilarity between his craving for knowledge and his cousin’s addiction to drug abuse. The juxtaposition employed by Alexie emphasizes the reason behind the frequent substance abuse of Indians on the reservation.
ReplyDeleteI used to become competitive over everything from soccer to board games. I would practice hard at swimming for the sole purpose of beating my sister in races. I would become enraged when someone sent my Trouble piece back to Home. However, in the sixth grade, I was playing volleyball in gym class when a few of the boys were getting so competitive that they were yelling at their uncoordinated teammates. I then realized how petty competitiveness really is. Feelings should not be hurt over a game that is intended to be fun. I now value playing games and participating in sports for enjoyment, which is impossible to experience if preoccupied with competition.
Alexie's method of using his experiences to reflect his thoughts on society and his culture is a complex and interesting technique which employs emotional appeals and veiled inferences to be made by the reader. An example of this social commentary being effectively veiled as elements of a story comes from Alexie's white teacher disapproving of his hairstyle, which was representative of his culture. The defiant way that Alexie's parents brush their hair across the teacher's desk show the Native American displeasure at how they, and their culture, are treated by the Caucasians attempting to change Native American ways (104). Swayamdipto gives a good example above of Alexie's pride in his heritage with the example of references to warpaint as Alexie is beating the bully that had tortured him (104). Alexie also makes less veiled comments about white culture, in saying that it is always best to "throw the first punch" when dealing with white people (106). By this, of course, he means that white people will always trespass against you, regardless of if you trespass against them. But these negative experiences breed positive ones. The fight that teaches this lesson in culture, for instance, begins Alexie's greatest childhood friendship.
ReplyDeleteIn the same youthful vein as Alexie, I once found myself pestered as a daily affair by a bully who shall remain nameless. After about a year of this, the boy picked the wrong day to mess with a young Evan with little self-control. My aunt and cousin had been in a car crash that put both in the hospital, with my cousin in a possibly irreversible coma.The boy made one negative comment toward me, and quickly found himself with a child's fist in his eye, and the weight of my foot repeatedly coming down on his chest. I was sent to the principal's office, and was made to say a vitriolic apology which was accepted with an equal amount of fear, for we both knew what had occurred. No one else knew the reason behind what had occurred, for they had not asked. All they care about is what occurred, not if it was deserved. The boy later moved, never again saying a single word to me.
Alexie's narrative style is greatly characterized by his usage of personal testimonials. His inclusion of experiences throughout his childhood epitomizes his struggle, along with the collective struggles of the entire Indian population, with stereotyping, prejudice, and discrimination. In providing both positive and negative examples of these social encounters, an audience is able to directly relate to Alexie’s conflict of assimilation into society. For him, society includes the two different environments of the Indian reservation and the white community. On the reservation, Alexie is confronted with the issue of not being respected for his intelligence and is instead punished with the threat of censorship. It is here that Alexie realizes that he aims to depart from the stereotypical views of his Indian culture and to ultimately pursue a better quality of life by receiving a substantial education, thus securing a prosperous future. Alexie supports his decision in the narrative by referencing to the antagonistic comments made by his teacher, Betty Towle, who complained, “Indians, indians, indians” (15). Alexie points out that she said it without capitalization, illustrating her degradation of his culture. In the white community, Alexie is also unable to escape prejudice against his heritage and additionally encounters issues, such as the peer pressure of drug usage. He furthermore proclaims his disparities with his peers by documenting his choice to pursue education, instead of giving into social norms. By acknowledging these differences, Alexie allows the audience to recognize his self-consciousness. In many ways, these factors thus establish an emotional connection with the audience, providing for an effective narrative work.
ReplyDeleteWhile ethnicity was never a major hindrance to my social life, I believe that religion played a crucial role in my psychological development. In this particular case, it was the lack of religion that impacted my perspective of both my peers and society as a whole. Seventh grade, for example, provided some interesting experiences. As classmates attempted to convert me to Christianity and failed to provide legitimate reasons for why they were doing so, I believe that it further strengthened my disrespect for people who did not respect my own beliefs. While they proclaimed that I was going to hell (which I did not believe existed), I consequently came to the realization that they were not necessarily taking into consideration that my conditions were different than their own. I had not been raised in a religious family, nor did I feel that religion was necessary in my life. However, despite my degraded opinions of those who had attempted to convert me for all the wrong reasons, all it took for me to finally accept religion and make the decision to test the religious waters was one person who agreed to listen to everything that I had to say and present a respectable argument.
Sherman Alexi elicits pathos interwoven with humor, layering her underlying message of both of isolation and acceptance. Through chronological order, readers can follow his transformation, including its pitfalls and triumphs. In first grade, he stuck out like a sore thumb due to his short hair, feeling isolated from an early age, he felt that he had to prove himself in the world as a “warrior” (104). As he began to realize that he was not the archetype of the traditional Indian, he also faces obstacles of belonging at his white school. While on the reservation, the length of his hair did not suffice, among the whites, it was considered an abomination. Learning that his white teachers would never understand, he had to reassure himself with monologue “Yes, I am. I am. I am Indian. Indian, I am” (104). Alexi’s parallel structure emphasizes his arduous internal struggle when facing adversities. As he progresses to fourth grade, his efforts are acknowledged and even praised, raising his self-esteem and his expectations of himself. Although at home, he must confront and persist with an alcoholic father, he sees the opportunity that lays in his future, and awaits its pursuit. When “making” his first shot, Alexi portrays the scenario in a dream-like sense, which can be traced back to the memory he recalls it by. Regardless of his fail, he feels powerful due to “all those possibilities and angles” (105). Moving forward to sixth grade, Alexi is told the secret to having the upper hand: “always through the first punch” (106). As he progresses in school, his maturity deepens as he begins to note that his persona faces roadblocks only to strengthen itself. Even though in seventh grade he is mocked for having such an atypical name, Alexi incorporates humor through hyperboles, while keeping the purpose clear: he felt like an outsider for an immeasurably period of time. As his middle schooling wanes, his poverty-stricken family starves, while adolescent girls starve themselves for vanity. The comparisons between the two highlight the two extremes of people living in one place. This emotional appeal touches the ethical aspects of one’s nature, as we feel sympathy towards Alexi’s upbringing. Constantly being compared to other Indians, he grows contempt towards those who assume that the apple does not fall far from the tree. When he graduates as valedictorian, his previous studies and ups and downs flash before him. Alexi states that his other white classmates look toward tradition, as he looks towards the future; this contrast reminds the audience that while for the others, graduation is a mere norm, for Alexi it is a milestone from his drunken father, and imbecile ancestors.
ReplyDeleteThroughout high school I have had my fair share of pros and cons, but when I think about the most prominent, life changing times of my life, I look back to middle school. Episcopal Day School, a small, pristine school with substantial teachers and a vivid history, changed my life drastically and transformed me into who I am today. While I was studying there, I lacked knowledge of how much of an impact that building would have to me. Now in high school, I can finally see that each note passed, each lesson learned, and each book cracked open symbolize an aspect of my life that I will forever treasure. My narrative is not exactly composed of a situation or story, but the span of time in which I studied at a school which constructed the framework of my morals, standards, and life. Its slogan, “Foundations of Life,” at first, seems merely overrated, but after experiencing everything it has to offer, I could not imagine my life without it. Its commendable faculty, freedom, space, construction; everything feels like it has been lifted out of John Knowles’ A Separate Peace. As each day approached during my time there, I would look forward to learning something knew not only from my friends and teachers, but also from life. When I was there; however, it seemed like a drag, I wanted a fresh start, to meet new faces, and to grow up quicker. Realizing how fast life arrives in high school, if I could go back I would cherish each moment and savor it like it was my last. I realized that through smaller students, attention to detail, structure, and freedom, children are able to find themselves, flourish, and develop a confidence within themselves and their relationships with others. Episcopal Day School taught me that you truly never realize what you have till it is gone. Happiness is wanting what you have; that school was and remains my home and my everything.
ReplyDeleteAlexie describes his events that deal with his tribal school years, which later transfer to his off reservation school years, in chronological order. This helps show how he, as a boy, matured over time. This narrative technique of using chronological order to portray the events is very useful for the reader to help comprehend the boy's school year. Since the grade is mentioned it is possible to know why the boy's character acts a different way as he grows and matures. The language and tone that come from the boy in each section describe his certain age and do a good job at helping the reader know why the boy acts how he acts in that certain stage of his life.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in fourth grade I was part of the "cool girls group" led by the "coolest" girl at school. I will refrain from naming these individuals because some may still know them today. There were four of us, and everyday we would sit together at lunch, swap secrets about the cutest boy in class, and pretend like we were friends. Yes, pretend, because none of us actually liked each other, we all just were in it for the title of being "cool" and to please the queen bee who everyone thought was just amazing. This is similar to the movie Mean Girl, except we were 10. Anyways, I was a follower. I spent to much time obsessing over what this one girl would do, or if she would like my hair that day, or if she would choose me for a sleepover that weekend over the other two girls in our group. This "trying to please" hurt my personality, I was merely just a duplicate of this girl I did not even like and who I felt like i needed to be a part of. Finally we four got into a huge verbal fight (verbal for fourth graders) and we all went our separate ways. our "leader" even moved to a different school. Without the constant pressure of feeling like I needed to fit in I was able to become myself. I began participating in sports, my grades even improved, and my self confidence grew. But that one girl taught me a valuable lesson: I don't need to please anyone or try to fit with a group that doesn't like me for me. I realized that I am special and people should treat me with respect. So thanks girl who must not be named. I did learn something after all.
One might think that the terse passages in Alexi's narrative would not be as effective as a piece that is much longer. However, Alexi's inclusion of necessary detail keeps the flow of events moving swiftly, while capturing the attention of his audience. Alexi advances through the school system where he he is taught not only by books and instructors, but also by real life experience and others. Alexi recalls these experinces, and what they showed him as he completes each grade level. In the fifth grade, Alexi picks up basketball as a positive outlet for his time and energy. He contrasts this with his cousin who "At that same moment...sniffed rubber cement from a paper bag and leaned back on the merry-go-round." Also stated by Swayamdipto, Alexi and his cousin essentially had to make a choice. They would either use their talents for a positive outcome, or squander thier abilities and wallow in addictions and drug abuse. In almost every passage of the narrative, Alexi concludes with a sentence that expresses what he learned from the experience or a observation he has made. At the end of the fifth grade Alexi asks "Oh, do you remember those sweet almost innocent choices that the Indian boys were forced to make" (105)? Alexi expresses the fact that in the Indian tribe, boys were forced to make a decision on who they wanted to be, and that the choices would have a lasting impact on their lives.
ReplyDeleteThroughout my life my parents have instilled in me to be, as I would call it, amiable. Therefore, it has never really been difficult to make friends in whatever social circle I would find myself apart of. In my younger years, the friends I choose were most likely the other children with last names alphabetically similar to my own, for they would sit in the desk nearest to me. However, as I got older I soon realized the importance of which friends I chose and how those friends would ultimately influence me to become who I am today. It was not until high school that I really became aware of this fact. After spending my eighth grade summer sleeping, spending time with friends from church, and playing video games, I was soon placed in a school with twice as many people as I had been used to, and an aray of intimidating subjects to tackle. Because two middle schools become one high school, I soon found myself among students that I had never met. The comfort of familiarity had been destroyed and I knew that I had to choose new friends if I was going to make it through highschool. Like Alexi, I became aware of the different choices you must make when you enter these ages, and who you would associate yourself with. Alexi acknowledges that he had a choice to be like his cousin who abuses drugs. However he chose not to because it would lead him to a better, more fulfilling life. I feel very fortunate that through my ambitions to achieve a worthwhile education at Lakeside, I have found myself amoung the most influential and intelligent people my age. I then knew that it was these people that I wanted to surround myself with in order that I might be influenced in the most positive way.
Alexie employs many narrative strategies including terse sentence structure, vivid imagery, and illustrating situations that are familiar and specific to him and his past. One who hadn't read Alexie's work might think that his point could not be portrayed effectively by applying such a succinct writing style but the "short, sweet, and to the point" feel of the story makes it more relatable to all audiences. Alexie is successful in creating dynamic mental pictures for the reader while telling his stories and even though he uses an extensive vocabulary, the context clues he provides make his story understandable by all. In the popular movie "Never Been Kissed," Drew Barrymore plays a newspaper reporter that is sent back to high school to write an undercover story. The movie includes her quest and growth as a writer but throughout the movie, she is told to "write what she knows." Alexie does a wonderful job staying true to his past, his tribe, and himself. In the "Sherman Alexie on Writing" section, he elaborates on the criticism he received for not sugar coating the truth about poverty, alcoholism, and despair that is faced by many Indians living on reservations. Alexie believes that lying about these problems would only make him a hypocrite and it is more important to Alexie to write what he knows..."If I write it, it's an Indian novel."
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in middle school, I was a very shelter and naive child. Half of the time when my friends were talking about boyfriends and all the cool things they would do when they got to high school, I was completely clueless. I have always been very close to my mom and came to her with all the problems I'd ever faced. But in eighth grade, my best friend took her first sip of alcohol and I was immediately forced to snap out of my naive, dreamlike state. She was my best friend and I felt as though it was my duty to help her. I contemplated what actions to take for a couple of days and then I decided to write her a note. In the note, I explained that I loved her so much and that I didn't want to see her throw away her future. I wanted her to know that I respected her decisions and I did not want her to think of me as a prude who was telling her what to do but I just cared about her so much that I had to try my best. I also explained to her that these types of things were the differences that would ultimately drive a wedge between our friendship, because drinking is not my idea of a good time now, and it definitely wasn't in eighth grade. When I gave her the note, after she read it she hugged me and cried and said that she was sorry and that she wouldn't do it again. But then two months later, the same situation occurred again. I decided then that I was still going to try my best to let her know that I cared but I just couldn't subject myself to that kind of behavior. We are still best friends to this day but I have realized that I can only go so far to save someone from themselves. They have to step in sometime and make the conscious decision to better themselves.
Sherman Alexie’s use of positive and negative school situations allows his readers to experience the circuitous road he traveled, proving he could accomplish greatness. Through out his education Alexie struggles with his teachers and his peers as they discriminate against him for his ethnicity, living on a reservation, and diabetes; but by rebutting each of his negative experiences by a positive experience, Alexie creates a moral for his readers to discover. The divisions of the concise stories give the reader time to stop and reflect on the events of the passage as they ponder the different morals that could be embedded with in Alexie’s essay. In this particular essay Alexie’s moral is to be happy with who you are, for Alexie “is Indian. Indian, [he is]” and there is nothing that he can do to change that (104). In the end he was able to make something of himself even though his peers and teachers doubted him. His story is inspirational to many young adults, explaining that you decided your destiny, for your destiny cannot be decided for you.
ReplyDeleteAs a seventh grader I won the state championship and the southeastern championship in March of 2007. With these wins I qualified for nationals and that summer my coach and I flew to Minnesota so I could race. Though I was excited, my mind set was completely wrong, for I though that since I was the fastest in the states Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee I would not have any trouble with the competition from the whole nation. I was wrong, the girls were incredibly fast and I ended up not placing. After that meet I had an epiphany and realized that no matter how hard I train, there will always be another swimmer some where in the world that is better than me, or striving to become better than me. With this realization I knew that I had to be content with myself and my times to race at national and international meets, for if I am not satisfied with myself there is no way I will be satisfied with my times. I learned to be proud of the person I am and content with the places swimming will take me, even though I do not know where I am headed.
Josh brings up a good point in how the short nature of each story of Alexie's life serves a important purpose in its keeping the story moving fluidly, and not allowing the reader to sink too far into the story to see the reason why it is being told. Also, Josh makes a very good analysis that skipped over me about Alexie's mentioning of the boys' choices about their futures. But perhaps this statement meant more than Josh proposed. By saying that the boys' decision was forced, Alexie is likely implying that his peers had little choice in their following a path of addiction, as their environment only provides this path. Alexie seems to be the only member of the tribe that escapes this fate, possibly resulting from his being removed from the reservation school to go to the more advanced school later in his scholastic career.
ReplyDeleteAs I was reading these comments posted by my peers, I noticed that it was often said that Alexie's method allows him to grow. Although this is true I think that Swayam, Rachel, and Evan bring up good points. Like Rachel says, Alexie's method does allows us to see the two extremes of life so we can see the challenges which he was faced to undergo on a daily basis. Perhaps Alexie does this so as to invoke an emotional response from within the reader and thus allow the reader to connect with the story on a deeper, more meaningful level. Another good point was brought up by Evan who says that each experience serves to inform the reader of a lesson Alexie learned. As Swayam points out, by including positive experiences Alexie is able to inject emotion into the narrative and also make the entire story seem more realistic. But perhaps, the positive experiences themselves have a deeper meaning. They may symbolize that in life there are always two sides to everything. One cannot have all the good or all the bad. It is a mixture of the two which allows us to live, grow, and learn from our experiences. There is always a hope in life because although we are going through bad times now, we know that in the future we will once again achieve happiness. It is this hope which makes Alexie's account more believable to the reader because although Alexie suffers daily, there are times when he finds his life manageable and even enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteAs stated by Swayam, Evan, Rachel, and Mihir, Alexi portrays growth as an individual in different stages and shades of life. Ranging from positive to negative, Alexi depicts to the readers that there are indeed grey areas in life, for it is not all black or white. Additionally, Josh makes a point that the purpose of Alexis short sections, to illustrate lessons learned, are not diminished by lengthy paragraphs of flowery language. Concise and brief, Alexi’s interwoven dilemmas of both Indian culture and all-white cultures exemplify his identity, which is a fusion of both. Although he is stereotyped, according to Winnie, he shows both extremes of being an Indian: Scholarly works and alcoholism. Furthermore, as Alexi looks into the future, scared, he takes with him the basic life lessons he learns in his schooling, which will further strengthen his bright future. The layers embedded within Alexi’s grades and shades of good and bad represent the idea that life is an inevitable cycle of creation and destruction and by pursuing through these obstacles; Alexi finds the light as he walks to graduation as valedictorian, awaiting his promising future.
ReplyDeleteUpon reading the posts from my peers, I have come to realize that many of us stumble on very similar life challenges and difficulties. Perhaps, in my opinion, three of the most profound and insightful posts are of Emily, Ritu, and Rachel.
ReplyDeleteWhile Emily and Ritu's personal experience are the complete opposite of each other, they both arrived at the same conclusion and learned a significant lesson. Ritu had always lived in communities where the cultures are very similar. When she moved to a place where it is culturally diverse, she found it challenging to fit in at first. However, she eventually learned to accept her personal ideology and belief through this very diverse community. In the case of Emily, she moved from a "big and cultural city to a small town in Ohio" which was "not the most accepting place." In such a restricted area, it is understandable that such a cultural-distinct individual cannot fit in. However, miraculously, she found her own paradise and, similar to Ritu, learned to appreciate her unique culture.
Rachel provided an essential and strong correlation between racism against Indians and substance abuse in Alexie's narration. Perhaps between the lines of his story, Alexie meant to tie in racism and stereotypes of the Indians as the cause for their substance abuse. As Rachel had point out, because of the deprivation of their culture, Indians became disheartened and they felt at loss. As a result, their depression lead to their fatal substance abuse.
Essentially, in all three posts, culture remains the important and influential aspect that makes up one's life.
(Josh Kienzle)
ReplyDeleteSherman Alexie incorporation of both positive and negative experiences from his childhood helps keep the reader attention and connect with them on a deeper level. His shifting from positive to negative experience keeps the story from becoming repetitive and boring. By keeping his story interesting Alexie is able to captivate the readers and connect with them on a deeper emotional level. Alexie allows the readers of his story insight into both his cherished school memories and depressing school nightmares so that they may see what life is really like for someone who is undergoing a huge life change. Alexie’s combination of both negative and positive experiences also shows the readers that no matter how bad a situation seems that a good thing will eventually happen, but also that if life is going well and it seems like nothing can bring you down you still better be prepared for an unfortunate event to occur.
I can remember a situation from my freshman year that did not particularly make me happy but it allowed me to grow as a person. It was my first year in high school and my first year trying out for the high school tennis team. I was very nervous about tryouts considering i knew most of the players there and that there would be very limited space left on the team. After some initial nerves went away i cruised through the tryouts without losing a single match, however I still did not make the team. I thought it was unfair that I won all of my matches and still didn’t make the team. I realized soon after that the spot on the team that I thought would be mine had gone to a senior who also had won all of his matches. I still think I should have been able to play him for the final spot but i realized that sometimes seniority is a deciding factor. I was upset that I didn’t make the team but I refused to let it get me down i practiced hard and made the team the next year, with ease I might add. I learned that as stereotypical as it seems that it is very important to never give up if you really want to accomplish something.
I like that Swayam says it is up to an individual to make healthy choices using Alexie's description of basketball and the sniffing of the rubber cement to contrast the two and illustrate a healthy choice and an unhealthy one. Really, though, it is up to an individual what their entire future will be. Alexie applied himself in school and as a result, he graduated top of his class. He did have to deal with discrimination, but as Mihir says, you cannot have all the good or all the bad. Alexie had to let both in, and along the way, he learned to stand up for himself and separate himself from the stereotypical Native American. His accomplishements allowed him to be proud of who he was as shown when he told his teacher "Yes, I am. I am Indian. Indian, I am." He says it in different ways going from "I am Indian" to "Indian, I am" because he can be proud in every sense of the word "Indian."
ReplyDeleteEvan brings up the point to always stand up for oneself in his personal story. Similar to Alexie, he found value in standing up for himself, a point that Alexie greatly emphasizes. Throughout Alexie's childhood he has learned to stand up for his beliefs. For instance, in the second grade, Alexie continues to go against Ms. Towle's wishes even if it meant punishment and in the first grade, Alexie mentioned the importance of fighting back.
ReplyDeleteWinnie stated that Alexie lived in two different
environments, one in the Indian reservation and the other in the white community. No matter where Alexie attended school, there was still discrimination against him. Only after he moved to the white community, did he realize that no matter where he goes, there will always be someone that will judge and discriminate. It is more important to accept oneself, than to conform to society
Upon reading the comments posted by my peers i realized that it was mentioned several times that Alexi style of writing is effective in showing how he grew in different stages throughout his life. Also, throughout the posts it was mentioned that, although Alexi was often shifting from positive to negative aspects of life, there are often times in life that are neither good nor bad but somewhere in between the too. Josh also makes the point that Alexi’s use of short sections allow the reader to connect more deeply with Alexi’s growth because they are not distracted by over lengthy paragraphs. Swayam also brought up the brought up the fact that Alexi’s shifting from positive to negative allows the story to seem more realistic than if it was either all positive or all negative. Mihir stated that Alexi’s use of meaning could also have a deeper meaning however, he could be insisting that there are always two sides to everything, which is true considering that no ones life is perfect and always full of bliss yet at the same time no ones life is truly a black abyss filled with nothing but darkness, there is always a combination of the two. -Josh Kienzle
ReplyDeleteMihir, Winnie, and Evan chronicle Alexie’s search for a cultural identity. He is caught between the White and Indian cultures. As Mihir states, he continually faces discrimination at the all-white school he attends. His culture is not respected by any of the other students, who laugh at his last name. His teacher tries to annihilate his Indian heritage, but, as Evan states, Alexie’s parents will not allow this destruction. However, his parents and his teacher share resemblance because they both try to force culture on Alexie. Alexie’s parents, along with the rest of the tribe, shun him after he becomes involved in a relationship with a white girl. Alexie embraces the best of both cultures. As Winnie states, he pursues an education at an all-white school. However, he is proud of his heritage, illustrated by his long hair style. Alexie does not isolate himself from either culture. He transitions from being trapped between cultures to being a member of both.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mihir’s response in that Alexie’s narrative visibly shows how much Alexie changes as he is forced to deal with prejudice and a bad environment. I think it is important that Mihir acknowledges prejudice within the reservation which Alexie faces in the earlier years of his life as the other boys viciously prey on him because they perceive him as weak and not Indian enough relative to them. Alexie’s hair seems to be a symbol of his cultural integration as at this point his hair is short. Over time, Alexie starts to accept the fact that he is an Indian and eventually becomes proud of his heritage, displayed when his hair is at its longest length in twelfth grade when he graduates as valedictorian. The difference between Alexie and his peers is that while they allow the past to hold them back, he accepts his background and looks to the future, a point that is made quite clearly in Shefali’s response. I also liked how she shows how Alexie’s experiences elicit strong emotion from the audience as they are taken in by his struggle to maintain his autonomy in Indian culture while struggling with maintaining his background in white culture, a universal struggle stretching across the broad spectrum of American society that is valid to this day and somewhat illustrated in Megan’s personal story.
ReplyDeleteMary makes a good point when she states that Alexie’s sadness grows along with Alexie’s hair as he learns more about his culture and the evil nature of human beings. Alexie is faced every day with tough decisions and strenuous struggle everyday but these struggles only make him stronger and allow him to yearn for success. Mary also states that Indians utter the sadness of their people and their feels toward the loss of their culture, saying that Indians were destined to end up as unsuccessful individual. Both of Mary’s statements make valuable points about the sadness of the Indian people, but Alexie did not let this sadness affect him for in seventh grade he “felt the good-byes [he] was saying to [his] entire tribe”. By saying good-bye Alexie does not let his determined faith get in the way of him striving to become the best he can be with the resources has, for he goes on to graduate high school as valedictorian of his class. He proved all of his racist teachers wrong and did not let the sadness of his people dampen his dreams.
ReplyDeleteJosh--aka "momo"--I am glad you were able to post. Mrs. Weaver
ReplyDeleteIts apparent that we all find some of the same issues in our personal lives that Alexie outlines in his stories of his childhood. Specifically, from Alexie, Mihir, Megan, and Emily, you can see that we all share a subconscious need to fit in, but when educated through our experiences, it can be found that one should appreciate their culture and natural traits. Alexie shows pride in his culture by his defiant proclamation of "I am Indian. Indian I am." Mihir also shows pride in his culture after learning that his grandmother's sari was not something to be ashamed of. Both Emily and Megan disregard what is said and expected of them, and are proud of themselves and where they come from to express their potentials more fully. All of this relates to Alexie, as he shakes off the prejudice he receives at the white school to later become the school's valedictorian.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I like your comment that "Alexie does not isolate himself from either culture. He transitions from being trapped between cultures to being a member of both." Assimilation into any culture is challenging in and of itself; however, to feel "membership" and acceptance we must embrace and enteract in the cultural norms of each population, ethnic group, belief system, etc., in which we live. Mrs. Weaver
ReplyDeleteI find Rachel and Josh's positions very similar to many of the ongoing struggles in Alexie's life. Alexie was constantly troubled by the contrast between the white teenage girls throwing up their lunches and his people eating dog food, as well as the contrast between Alexie's first shot at basketball and cousin Steve's first shot at sniffing inhalants. People often engage in behaviours that are less than desirable, whether it be an overly competitive nature or a lack of social get-up-and-go. Rachel realised that she had to have fun when she saw the intensely pissed-off guys playing volleyball; and,similarly,when Josh was all of a sudden in high school and surrounded with new faces and a different and much larger workload. While Alexie may not have felt these exact feelings, he saw that he should eat the food and be grateful for what he had. Likewise, Alexie had made the proper decidion by playing basketball while his cousin was lost to the twisted world of drug abuse. In order to surmise obstacles like those of Alexie, one his or her bad habits.
ReplyDeleteDineise and Rachel mention how the Indians were willing to eat food that “even dogs wouldn’t eat” but, the white girls would throw up and waste all the food intentionally (107). Through this event, Alexie differentiates between the two cultures and reveals what each group of people value. The Indians appreciate all that is giving to them where as, the white girls take advantage of it. Hannah and Rachel also make a note of the time when Alexie’s teacher referred to him as and “indian…. without the capitalization” (104). This exposes the prejudice and corruption within society and compels us to sympathize with Indians. As a result of such discrimination however, Alexie learns to “throw the first punch” to defend himself and Swayam make a good observation about the war paint and how it is able to connect Alexie with his culture (104). Therefore, throughout his narrative, Alexie’s major purpose is to illustrate how discrimination in society actually strengthens the bond between him and his culture, which allows him to discover and build upon values that are rooted within him.
ReplyDeleteWell I just got back from a basketball tournament, so sorry that this is posted a little late. Shefali, I really like your personal story and how you talk about how EDS shaped your life and morals today. It brings me back to my memories of prep when I was in elementary school and middle school! It is some what sad to look back and think how simple it was those days and I too miss my time in a smaller environment and think that if I had cherished it more and had not been in such a hurry to grow up then maybe I would have learned more. Alexie seems to want to grow up quickly too in portions of his story and maybe if I werent so tired I could present quotes to support my claim. Mary, You too share the similar path Shefali and I took in our younger years. You experienced a small Catholic school and so I found that interesting that we three have that in common. Evan, I feel bad for that guy's eye! Josh, I admire how you compared yourself with Alexie by saying quote: "Like Alexi, I became aware of the different choices you must make when you enter these ages, and who you would associate yourself with." Who you associate yourself with is a very important thing to consider in this life.
ReplyDeleteThere are many insightful points that I would like to comment on. Specifically, I connect the most with Paige, Ritu, and Mary's views on this excerpt. In regards to Paige, I respect her perspective of society, which she mentions fails to separate stereotypes from reality. In many cases, including Alexie's, stereotypes can be a hindrance to one social development. Stereotypes most often label individuals with negative traits and provide a generalization of a population overall, narrowing judgments down to what we might deem an "epitome" of that group of people. By doing so, we allow the corruption of society to limit our image of others, consequently leading to strained relationships between people and the lack of new relationships being established due to our provincial mindsets. A solution to this, however, is to expose ourselves to situations that subject us to the unfamiliar. This, as Ritu mentions, increases our tolerance, whether towards other ethnicities, other religions, or any other distinguishing characteristics. Mary, on the other hand, also brings up the issue of the effects of being victimized by discrimination. She quotes, "Believe me, everything looks like a noose if you stare at it long enough" (107). This quote reveals the emotional connection that Alexie seeks with his audience by divulging his own pessimistic views of his environment. Together, I believe that an increase in tolerance in accompaniment of recognizing the hindrance of one's background can ultimately be utilized to provide an indirect source of encouragement and motivation for one to succeed. Alexie aptly illustrates this motif by relating his own acceptance of his Indian heritage and individuality to his pursuit of a more prosperous and opportunistic lifestyle.
ReplyDeleteMany of us have targeted the emotional context of Alexie's experiences and similarly related his struggles to our own. This shows that his experiences, though not always a direct representation of the obstacles we encounter as well, are always relevant in some way or another. In integrating his personal thoughts and opinions of both his environment and his peers, Alexie thus establishes a timeline that marks his social development and acceptance of his heritage. In correlation, we often find a bit of ourselves in his life, displaying the power behind Alexie's usage of emotions.
I really identify with Mihir's personal experience about being embarrassed of his family and his culture when he was younger. Even though I am Caucasian and ethnicity was not what embarrassed me, my family has always been different from others in that they ALWAYS say what is on their minds. When I was in elementary school and my aunts and uncles would come to watch me in various school plays, talent shows, etc., I would always pray that they wouldn't speak to my teachers or friends in depth because I was scared of how their blunt personalities would come across to other people. Even though this is nothing like the discrimination that Alexie faced, it is the same concept just on a much more miniscule scale.
ReplyDeleteI also like Rachel’s comment on how the white girls waste food while the Indians are willing to eat “canned beef that even the dogs wouldn’t eat.” This shows, through Alexie’s point of view, the difference between the values of the white girls and of his Indian family. He was taught his whole life not to waste any opportunity he was afforded yet these girls who essentially have everything they could ever want are perfectly fine with wasting food that could be eaten by some poor starving child that is not as fortunate as they, but more grateful.
Upon reading the posts, especially Emily, Swayam, and Mihir's, I found a common theme of how Alexi uses his positive and negative experinces to illustrate how he evolved and matured. I like this point of view because it makes it more "realistic," as mentioned by Swayam. Mihir presents a good point of how Alexi's hair is a symbol of his maturity. therefore, it grows to full length in the latter years of his education, when he embraces his culture and can revel in success. Also, Winnie and Evan mention that Alexi faces hardships in assimilating to different cultures. Alexi moves to a white school in hopes to attain a better education, leaving behind family chained to addictions and a seemingly hopeless future. This move proves beneficial, but certainly comes with its own set of challenges. Through predjudice and discrimination, Alexi learns to accept his culture, though it is flawed, because it is who he is. Upon doing this, he accepts that he his Indian, but also who he desires to be.
ReplyDeleteAs I look back on the comments made by my peers, I realize how they are able to connect with Alexie's story on a multiple number of layers. I, myself, was able to connect with Alexie's story of not being embarrassed of one's heritage, but some of my peers were also able to interpret and connect with Alexie's story in different ways. For example, Katherine was able to learn to be satisfied with yourself. Megan was able to learn that it is important to be yourself and take pride in who you are. You cannot change nor should you change simply to please the whimsical demands of the so-called "cool" kids. Many of the other postings regarding coming to terms with who one truly is. Both Dineise and Evan are able to learn that it is important to stand up for yourself and your beliefs when they are called into question by others. Not only should you stand up for yourself, it is your duty to do so. I believe that the versatile nature of Alexie's narrative and its powerful central message of facing prejudice with self-confidence allows humanity, in general, to connect with it in a number of different ways.
ReplyDeleteEmily, Do you think your cultural perceptions and mindset would have been different about your culture or anyone else's if you hadn't met that girl or your friend?
ReplyDeleteKendyll, Can you clarify for me what you mean about your culture's mindset on other ethnicities.
ReplyDeleteLast Words: After the discussion in class, I've discovered that society has gravely corrupted the true meaning of being hero. As in "A Crime of Compassion," the nurse is a true hero because she had enough bravery to overcome society's influence and do the right thing. Unfortunately, she was harshly criticized by numerous people who thought of her as a murderer and can't accept what she did. As a result, the term "hero" is only used when we accept and approve of others actions, despite the ethics behind their deeds (whether it is right or wrong).
ReplyDeleteThrough class and blog discussions, I've come to realize that we, as human beings, are not that much different from each other, despite popular belief. As we embark on our journey, life throws at us many similar difficulties and challenges. Consequently, these hindrance shape our beliefs and thoughts, and make us who we are, human beings. For example, almost everyone experiences discriminations and stereotypes, except in different forms. As Alexie was stereotyped as an Indian who drinks and abuses drugs, Megan found herself being a "duplicate" of stereotypical popular girls in school. As a result, we ascend beyond these generalizations and learn to express and accept our true selves (As in Mihir's experience of accepting his own culture and Emily learned how to appreciate her cultural differences). Furthermore, we also learn how to stand up for ourselves, in one way or another, to triumph over many of life's cruel aggressors (As in Evan's fiery and exciting combat against his aggressor). Overall, as human beings are continuously "molded" and shaped by life. Consequently, we find ourselves experiencing very similar circumstances and adversities.
ReplyDeleteThrough reading each of the short narrative stories and discussing them in class, my peers and I have learned about our selves as individuals and each other as an AP Lang community. Though each story has a different effect on each member of the community, we all recognize a life lesson we learned from our pasts. As I look back, the most prominent lesson we learned was not only to have faith and believe ourselves, but also to be proud of where we came from. Barbara Huttmann had to believe in her actions and her heart to end Mac’s life and Amy Tan learned to be proud of her culture, while Alexie learned to believe in his ability to exceed his advisors expectations and Angelou had to learn the difficulties that came with her ethnicity. Huttmann and Alexie are a parallel just like Tan and Angelou and both of these pairs are linked with the common message of finding one’s self and one’s place in the world. As teenagers it is easy to go through high school not knowing who you are or where you are going, but by being content with the person you are and the person you are becoming the journey will be smoother and more beneficial.
ReplyDeleteLast words: I realized that just because you win something, it doesn't necessarily change your role in society. In "Champion of the World," Angelou uses Louis as a representative of the African American race. However, even after he wins and their race is known as the "strongest" in the world, you could still find, on the same night after Louis's victory, "a Black man and his family...caught on a lonely country road." Louis's win is just a small victory for the African American race, and they will face a new fight the next day.
ReplyDeleteLast words: After our discussion in class I realized that Alexie and Tan’s purpose of the narrative was to reveal how one’s culture defines WHO you are. They both struggled due to their culture but in the end, their various experiences lead them to realize that the only way to ease their efforts to fit in with society was to learn to accept themselves first. Angelou and Huttman however, did take pride in who they were but they each had something to prove to the community. Angelou grew up in a time when African Americans were discriminated therefore, it was important for them to prove to society that they were just as good as anyone else. As the entire African American community came together to support one of their own, the reader was able to witness the unity within their culture and how in the hardest of times, they were still able to come together and celebrate the small things in life. Huttman on the other hand, had to prove to her audience that she was not a murderer. Although, Huttman knew that she had made the right decision, she struggled to overcome the legality of the matter. But in the end, all four authors are able to teach us one important lesson—to always believe in yourself and everything that makes you the person you are, including your culture and your traditions. Society may turn its back on you but, in the end when all else fails, it is your own community that will accept you.
ReplyDeleteFinal comment- In "Fish Cheeks" Amy Tan tackles the current problem of the devaluation of a culture by second generation members when they compare it against prevailing social norms. Tan is embarrassed of her Chinese heritage in front of the white minister's son to the point that she fails to see that her mother has prepared all of her favorite foods, showing the blinding effects of irrational fear springing from perceived violations of societal standards.Tan's message is that individuals should take pride in their own culture and embrace their heritage, much like Alexie does in "Indian Education".
ReplyDeleteAfter participating in the class discussion and reviewing my peers’ posts, I have come to the conclusion that the stories in this unit are all connected by their relevance to the human condition and basic purpose of the authors to elaborate on an idea or try to explain cultural phenomena. One common theme seems to be the ability of the individual to make decisions and define themselves in a world where common societal views are force-fed to each person. The independence of the individual is true from the fierce pride that Alexie has in his Indian culture in direct defiance of the disdainful white perspective of Indians to Amy Tan’s mother trying to make her embrace her Chinese heritage in a environment where aspects of it go against the prevailing cultural standards. It also rings true for Huttmann’s impassioned argument in favor of euthanasia, an idea that is extremely controversial, and in the African-Americans’ efforts to define themselves in a way independent of the white man’s perspective by believing in and being inspired by the example of Joe Louis. The central theme especially applies to the lives of teenagers because they are constantly struggling to find their unique identities in a world where independence is combated by social dogma.
ReplyDeleteLast words: All four authors have prevailed even through their toughest times. Angelou and the discrimination her culture faced, Tan and her Chinese customs, Alexie and his hardships throughout school, and Huttmann and her moral conflicts. All four authors adhered to their beliefs and customs, to grow and learn from their pasts.
ReplyDeleteBy reading these narratives along with my peers’ posts, I have learned that it is not the events we live through that shape us, but more so how we dealt with our experiences. People can either learn from their hardships, or they can be scarred by them. Dineise and Evan chose to fight back to their aggressor, Swayam chose to befriend and help the new kid and Mihir chose to accept his culture and customs. Angelo, Tan, Alexie and Huttmann all shared some hardships throughout life, but they took those bad experiences and chose to learn from it. As we all continue living our lives, life will continue to test us, to challenge us, but the way we handle these experiences is what makes us who we are today.
Last words: Too often in modern society do we focus on "fitting in" with the popular crowd. We go to extravagant extents to assimilate into our society. We mirror the characteristics of our peers and we place our own culture behind the all encompassing curtain created by a society which focuses too much on creating a homogeneous population. It is our society, in part, which fosters our fear to express ourselves. The constant thought of rejection and ridicule linger within our minds and like puppets we act only to please our master, which in this case is an overly influential society. In order to publicize the fact that we place too much attention on assimilating into our surroundings, Angelou illustrates the pride which she places in her own culture. Unlike Amy Tan and Sherman Alexie who describe their embarrassment at their culture, Angelou proudly supports her culture and wishes for its advancement in society. The primary purpose of this story is to highlight the fact that instead of worrying about society's perception of our traditions, we should enjoy and embrace our culture to truly discover ourselves. Only by embracing our culture can we truly remove the mask that is forcefully placed upon us by society thus revealing to the world who we truly are.
ReplyDeleteThrough individual experiences and the class discussion, I realize that we all struggle to overcome the obstacles that attempt to defeat us in life, and do so in a positive way so as to set ourselves apart from society. Alexie was always viewed as a "stereotypical Indian," but he breaks through the stereotype countless times including when he leaves to attend an all-white school and when he graduates valedictorian. Alexie set himself apart through his success in school. Tan overcomes her embarrassment of her culture; she learns to embrace her culture and to take pride in the fact that she is different. Angelou must conquer the constant discrimination she faces for being an African American. Huttmann must characterize the difference between right and wrong as she faces persecution for her decision to let a suffering patient go. However, she stands by her decision, setting her apart from society.
ReplyDeleteLast Words: The discussion in class Friday brought up several different beliefs we as classmates possess, but it showed several commonalities we share with one another as well. The topic we discussed that was most interesting to me was Do we as human beings have the right to intercede with the death process? Is it possible to change God's will, his plan for each individual? Now, depending on what one believes this answer could vary several different ways, however, I being a Christian believe that everything happens for a reason in life. There must be some purpose behind each action that occurs in our every day lives, and when one dies there was obviously a reason behind it. Now, my dad is a doctor and his job does require him to do everything in his power to keep the patient well and alive but in the case of A Crime of Compassion, I think the Doctors should of been able to let nature take its course and release the patient of his misery. The question "do we have the right to die?" came up, and in the medical field it seems like the patients do not really have a choice of whether or not they want to live. But Towards the end Huttmann did the right thing by allowing this man who was barely breathing on his own to be released into the next life, finally putting him out of misery and pain.
ReplyDeleteAfter participating in our class discussion regarding these narratives and reading the posts made by my peers, I have come to realize that in order to truly live our lives to the fullest extent we must embrace who we are inside. Each of these stories focuses on coming to terms with one's inner persona. Alexie, Angelou, and Tan all realize that they must embrace their cultures. Each of these authors presents a story to which we can connect to today. These stories inspire us to greatness when nothing less will do. It is the message provided within these stories which allow us to embrace the qualities which make us the people we are. From traditions to cultural heritage, it is what we choose to embrace that will define us in society. We must choose to be unique. At the same time, we must also be understanding of the cultures of others. These stories urge us not only to be proud of our own culture, but also to create a hospitable environment in which everyone can be proud of their cultures. In her story, Huttmann attempts to address the question of the hero which haunts our community today. What is a hero? What qualities define a hero? In our class discussion, we came upon this question and several more like it. I believe that a hero is defined not only by his actions at one specific time, but by his actions throughout the course of his life. We can not choose to be selectively heroic. Being a hero is not a halfway characteristic; either we are heroes or we are not. In her story, Huttmann portrays the doctors as the heroes since their revive Mac from death 52 times, yet the nurses are the unsung heroes. The nurses are the ones who care for Mac on a daily basis not just when he is in needed of resuscitation. Through her story Huttmann is able to identify which the people in our society who are often overlooked. It is these people who are caring and considerate on a daily basis who define our society, and they should be recognized for their valiant efforts.
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing the narratives and discussing them amongst my peers, I have come to realize the crucial stress our society puts on individuals to “fit in.” This consistent need to assimilate into society’s culture often strays us from our own. In both Alexi and Tan’s narratives, embarrassment is portrayed, for they feel like outsiders. On the contrary, Angelou exuberantly supports her people and strives for their advancement in life. Often we forget to recognize that our culture is who we are. For example, in Fish Cheeks the narrator completely forgets that the meal that “disgusts” her is actually her favorite. We all have a constant fear of rejection and isolation, causing us to second guess our identities rather than flourishing from our differences. By embracing culture, individuals give themselves the chance to exceed, grow, and discover. Alexi’s narrative highlights the importance of overcoming social barriers, for obstacles can either be overcome or can halt progress. Instead of becoming an alcoholic, Alexi proves himself as a scholar, brilliant with ambition and pride. In Huttman’s narrative, she faces the dilemma of life and death. Although I believe she does what she feels Mac would have wanted, she feels a legal guilt. To this hero, life is measured by quality, rather than quantity, justifying her actions. She illustrates the medical team as robots who work their miracles and leave, but personally, she grows to love Mac and his family and empathizes with their situation. Those who call her a “murderer” fail to see the other side of the story, in which she feels each ounce of pain Mac feels. To her, he is not merely a patient, but a person. In society, people such as Huttman are overlooked and often considered “meddlers of God’s work.” When a person is constantly battling, suffering, and agonizing in pain, is that not a sign from God that time of death has come? Who are we to take that away?
ReplyDeleteAfter my peers and I have had discussion on the narrations we have read, my initial beliefs about humans having an innate need to fit in have been reaffirmed. This lies not just in the need to fit in with the culture of those around you, but also with what those around you deem moral. This seeking of moral equality comes from Huttman's attempts to justify her actions by going on a talk show, or simply by writing the story. If she felt no remorse for her actions, she would have brushed the whole event off, but her need to fit in compels her to right herself with the world. The desire to fit in with the surrounding culture is obviously shown in "Fish Cheeks," in which Amy Tan clearly lets herself forget her culture while wanting to fit in with a typical American boy's.
ReplyDeleteFinal Comment from class: I disagree with Josh K.'s opinion of what Alexie's comment about throwing the first punch. This was more a comment about white culture being very aggressive, as Alexie prefaces the need to throw the first punch with this being "in the white world." It is not a far stretch to assume that Native American culture has not forgotten all the horrific things done to them by white people over the course of our history on this continent.
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ReplyDeleteIn the study of the narration mode, I have found how writers write about barriers that come from their ethnicity, their upbringings, or their morals. Huttman shows how she, despite the doctor's orders, did what would be the best for Mac; Mac had to die rather than suffer through the pain of being continually resuscitated. Huttmann defied authority for a greater authority, for she believed that it was Mac's time, and who are the doctors to say otherwise? In a parallel manner, Alexie grew up into a well-rounded being because he made good choices despite his pitiful surroundings. From choosing basketball to the final look to the future, he leaped miles ahead of his peers who chose drugs and a look back to tradition. Like Huttmann, Alexie was at a crossroads between the people on the reservation and those at the country school in which he later became valedictorian.
ReplyDeleteMuch like those two, Maya Angelou presented a victory for her entire race in the actions of one man. The crowd in the country store were very proud that night although they were afraid to leave because they did not want to be hurt by angry white people. On the contrary, Amy Tan was shameful of her culture, from the appearance of the food to the custom of burping to express gratitude to the chef. Tan's humiliation with her culture overshadows the fact that her mother had made her favorite foods, and that she had given up what she should be most proud of to impress someone else. It has been said that we should do things in life for us, not just for others.
As for my final comment from Friday's discussion, I believe that one should always do for others with more urgency than what they would do for themselves. Huttmann worked against the doctor's orders and let Mac die because she thought it right to let him go rather than possibly cure him. While curing cancer is a wonderful thing, it was not in Mac's best interest. He was suffering horribly and needed to just end it.
Josh makes a good point about the short and quick writing style that Alexie uses to continue the flow of the story. I also like how Josh says that, "he is taught not only by books and instructors, but also by real life experience and others." I think that captures one of the underlying purposes of the story quite nicely.
ReplyDeleteEvan- I know the experience you posted about is not a pleasant one, but I find it interesting because it is so similar to the story. I always think it is fascinating when people can relate so much to a piece of literature and I believe that connection is what makes an ordinary story extraordinary.
Last words: Opening A Crime of Compassion was the word “murderer.” In the literal sense, Huttman does murder Mac. However, the negative connotation of murder does not exist in this instance; by murdering Mac, she saves him and his family. She relieves them of their intense suffering and constant torment.
ReplyDeleteThe class discussion and the blogs of my peers have illuminated a common theme amongst the stories; that is, each author questions culture. Alexie wonders why Indians are so cruelly stereotyped, attempting to find the reasoning behind the prejudice. He realizes that although Indians face deprivation and reliance on the government, they have the ability to overcome their obstacles through education and hard work. Amy Tan questions if her culture alienates her from Americans, especially a boy who she has a crush on. Tan later appreciates her heritage, understanding that it is a part of her. Maya Angelou speculates that if African Americans were in a position that was superior to Whites, they would subjugate the Whites in the same way. She comprehends that the struggle of her race is not a fight for superiority, but for equality. Huttman, the author of A Crime of Compassion, questions if our culture affords humans have the right to die. After watching Mac, she realizes that medicine does not always work miracles; sometimes, it causes a torturous nightmare. The authors question their cultures, which are the product of the people that they consist of.
Through this study of the narrative mode and our class discussion I have realized humans will go through a great deal of trouble to make sure the 'fit in' to there surroundings. In both Alexi and Tan's stories the protagonists started out being ashamed of there culture. However, by the end of both of the narratives both characters had come to the realization that they are who they are and they should embrace that. In Indian education Alexi struggles to embrace his culture but after he does he stands proud at his graduation ready to go into the world and live his life as a scholar.The protagonist from Fish Cheeks also struggled to accept her culture. She was so embarrassed in the begging that she was not able to enjoy her favorite foods. In the end of the story she had matured enough to realize that she never should have been embarrassed of her culture in the first place.In A Crime of Compassion I learned that you must remain confident in your decisions no matter what anyone else thinks.Huttman had to make one of the hardest decisions any one person could make she had to decide whether a patient should live or die. Her decision to end his life however was clearly the right decision even though the law does not deem it as such. She has to remain confident in her choice to end his life because in the end she saved him from having to suffer through several more relapses into unconsciousness.Overall through this study of narrative stories i have learned one universal truth, confidence is key.
ReplyDeleteLooking back on the narratives and class discussions, I found that everyone has a choice. One can either suppress the fact that they intrinsically hold cultural characteristics or choose to embrace these characteristics and let them mold him into the person he wishes to become. For example, Tan spends the whole dinner being repulsed at how she thought her food would be perceived by the minister's son, while disregarding the fact that the foods were her favorites. These foods are characteristic of Amy. They make her who she is. In Angelou's narrative, young Maya observes the family tradition of gathering around a radio to listen to the boxing match. She describes in great detail the scene in which the people gather. Her attention to detail shows how the gathering is sacred, also proven by how quiet it gets in the store during the fight. Angelou accepts that these are her people. This is a tradition held by the people that she identifies with. Therefore, she too can identify with it. "Indian Education" is an example of how breaking from tradition can be positive. Many of the Indian people in Alexie's tribe abuse drugs. Alexie observes this at a young age and decides that he would not participate in it. After graduation, many of Alexie's friends go to participate in drinking at the local bar. However, Alexie condemns this as he looks stoic for the cameras. He is a seasoned individual, well-versed in negative and positive experiences that shape and evolve him into a mature man, a man who does not have time to waste his time dabbling in addictions, but pressing on toward his goals.
ReplyDeleteIn our class discussion, we entertained the question of whether Huttman was justified in her decision to let Mac die. In order to accurately assess this question, we must determine at which point we deem death a more favorable option than daily suffering. Also, a member of the audience on the talk show Huttman participated in mentioned how we should not assume the role of God. At which point do we have the right to intercede between the force that ultimately leads to death?
The unfortunate quality of society today lies with the fact that our relationships with others often define our individual identities. As mere human beings, our opinions are easily swayed by the outside opinions of our peers, ultimately shaping our perspectives of morality and of ourselves. Through both positive and negative influences, these external experiences essentially reflect our psychological development, such as in the montage of Alexie’s childhood events or in the defining moments of Tan or Huttman’s lives.
ReplyDeleteThese stories collectively show the corrupt and restricting hold that society’s views have upon our lives. While individuals are occasionally glorified by their good, “heroic” deeds, human nature more commonly focuses on the faults that we subconsciously exhibit, whether it is an absence in virtue or lack of compassion. These perspectives that we unjustly hold, however, can contribute to ungodly acts of discrimination, an issue we frequently find in these excerpts. By relating personal experiences, my classmates and I have similarly and more easily connected to the struggles of these authors. One experience we are all familiar with in particular is the one mentioned in “Fish Cheeks” and “Indian Education.” In both reflections, the narrator encounters two differing cultures, one in which he is defined by his ethnicity and one in which is defined by his environment. In this situation, we find that we are pressured by our peers to either shame and hide our identities or embrace them in order to embody our internal instincts. For instance, Huttman, when publicly criticized for her controversial actions in allowing Mac’s death to occur, held strong in her views, even when verbally attacked. In doing so, Huttman asserted her stance, believing that her own values were essentially more important to respect, instead of giving into peer pressure. This confident characteristic should instead be the defining trait of a “hero,” as we discussed in class, rather than the adventitious deed of one person at a particular moment. Like my peers have mentioned, heroes should be qualified by their eternal characteristics. In correlation, we as individuals should be qualified by our intrinsic nature and identity, which can include both our ethnicity and our heritage.
Truly, Sherman Alexie wanted us to read his story and examine ourselves afterwards in comparison with him. Also, he wanted to show the effects a good/bad childhood can have on you in a way.
ReplyDeleteReality shows are all the hit with not only teenagers, but children as well in society today. They provide us with entertainment because essentially, reality shows are people making fools of themselves. However, these "reality" shows often contain an excess of violence, sexual content, and unnecessary vulgarity throughout. Children watch and become accustomed to seeing these things on television and often think that it is okay to act as these people do on TV. Reality shows encourage violence, sexual activity, and vulgarity amongst our youth today. Often when kids get in fights at school or begin to use curse words it is because they have seen it on TV. Although reality shows can be inappropriate, sometimes they are educational and entertaining without the impropriety. They can provide us with knowledge about fashion or just a fun program to watch with the whole family. Nevertheless, reality shows are an easy gateway for children to be quickly introduced to violence and other similar accommodates that can hurt a child’s future in the long run. After all, the people our children of today’s society look up haven’t gotten very far with their lives. More often than not, they are people without jobs that can keep them financially stable and most likely jobs that they do not enjoy. Reality shows can be very entertaining; however, we should still monitor what children of today watch.
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