Response to Amanda Hillary's Letter to Ms. Silko

Ms. Silko,
I recently read a letter written to you by Amanda Hillary. There were many points she brought up that I think are very important. Some of these points, I would like to re-emphasize to you and some of them I have a different take on. After reading your story, I got an image of border patrol that I have never really  had. I have heard many news stories about all the problems with border patrol and security. However, I have never heard a story from someone that actually went through this trouble. When you say "There was an awful feeling of menace and violence straining to break loose. It was clear the uniformed men would be only too happy to drag us out of the car if we did not speedily comply with their request"I just cannot even imagine the fear you must have had. As Amanda briefly talks about, I too can see why the border patrol employees have to inspect people coming across borders. Today, there are many problems with border patrol and the previous lack of it has hurt our country. Also, as Amanda says, there is no reason at all for the brutal treatment of people trying to cross the borders. Personally, I have not experienced any kind of hatred like this. However, in high school, I was friends with a girl who was from Pakistan. All four years of high school, the school went on a trip that involved flying. It never failed that every time we went through security at an airport, she would be the one who was "randomly searched". This really upset her and I can only imagine why. At the same time, though, it was people from the same country she is from that tore our country apart on September 11, 2001. Unlike Amanda, I believe that there are not problems with brutal treating of people trying to cross the border now, especially not to the extent that you experienced. I'm sure those who don't comply with the officials are treated a little harsher though. Thankfully, we have laws against that kind of treatment of humans now. Unfortunately, that certain level of racism involved in border patrol is still present and many people are required to be searched because of their ethnicity. I hope our letters to you have enlightened you a little bit about how border patrol is today just as your story enlightened me so very much on the horrible extent of brutal treating you received. Hopefully someday our world will be able to live peacefully and these horrible border patrol problems will be non existent.
Sincerely,
Elyse Nichols

Blog #14: The Things They Carried

      After reading the short story The Things They Carried and being asked what I would carry in my bag if I were in Lieutenant Cross's unit, I had to think a little about it. This is such a broad question. There's so many things I would WANT to take. However, there are also many things I would need to take. The men in Lieutenant Cross's unit carried a broad range of personal things. For the most part, they all carried the necessary gear needed for protection. The men also had sentimental things. O'Brien also mentions some of them brought things based on superstition. Of course, all of these men also had mental baggage they brought with them.
      Before reading the short story, I read the prompt for this writing, the first thing that came to mind that I'd want to bring with me is my Bible. After reading this, I knew without a doubt this would be something I would HAVE to bring. I cannot imagine the stress and tribulations these men had to go through on a daily basis. So many of these men had to deal with their unit members dying, such as Lavender dying and the men having to deal with this. I believe that in order for me to get through situations like this, I would need my Bible to read. There is advice and inspiration within it that would cover any issue that came my way.
        Aside from this, I would also bring the necessary equipment needed for survival, just as most of these men did. I would bring guns and ammunition to go with them to protect myself. Many of these men brought a pancho. Instead of a pancho, I would bring some sort of a thick rain coat that would serve the purpose of both keeping me warm and keeping me from getting wet. Because I am such a cold natured person and have a hard time getting things accomplished when I am cold, I would also bring a warm hat and a few extra pairs of socks. I would also want to bring a canteen along to keep water in to make sure I am always hydrated. The men also talked about bring a compression bandage. I would also want one of these just in case I got injured.
       There are also a few things that are not necessary for survival that I would want to bring along. I would bring a toothbrush. Not being able to brush my teeth is something I cannot stand. Oddly enough,  another item I would want to bring with me is some sort of candy. In the short story it says: "Rat Kiley carried brandy and M&M's candy" (O'Brien). As soon as I read this, I thought to myself that this would be me(The M&M's not the brandy!). Everyone that knows me knows how much I love sweets. I really think I would get through much day a little easier if I had a little candy everyday. I would also want to bring a picture of my family members and closest friends. I would also want to bring some letters, possibly words of encouragement, written by those I am closest to.
       As far as the emotional baggage I would carry, I am really not sure because I have never been in this type of a situation. I would obviously carry a sense of fear. I think it would be very tough knowing both myself and the people I was always with were risking their lives everyday. There's also a feeling of loneliness I know I would feel. It would be so tough being away from the people I care most about for such a long period of time not knowing if I'd ever get to see them again.

Blog #13: Response to Amanda Hightower

After reading the preface to this story and the story it's hard to determine my stance on whether or not this is one of the American Dream coming true. In contrast to Amanda's thinking, I do think she achieved the American Dream to an extent. However, I do not believe it was completely achieved...is it ever, though? 
Amanda talks about how horrible her life in this white school was. She talks about "the Americans forcing her to change". Yes, she did face many hardships in her childhood schooldays, but didn't everyone? Everyone must go through trials in order to appreciate success later in life. Also, how could a person achieve the "American" Dream without becoming "americanized"? Which is what I believe the aim of most of her school experiences were. There are still very strict private schools today that don't allow hair to be longer than a certain extent and have very strict rules. 
Also, although Zitkala-Sa often mentioned crying and being very unhappy at her white school, the short scene when she's back home over the summer involves her crying and being unhappy.. "as I sat restless and unhappy in my mother's cabin" (Zitkala-Sa 435)... "That moonlight night, i cried in my mother's prescence when I heard the holly young people pass by our cottage" (Zitkala-Sa436). This shows that is was not only her experiences in school causing her troubles like Amanda seems to think. She's crying in a place she longed to be while upset at school. 
Another thing I kept thinking while reading Amanda's article was, achieving the American Dream doesn't typically happen to children. However, her childhood experiences are what Amanda claims are proof of her not achieving the American Dream. As an adult, Zitkala-Sa says she "was the proud owner of my first diploma", "ventured upon a college career against my mother's will". This shows that she was an independent woman and able to achieve very very much, despite her trials and tribulations. She achieved much more than many Indian women during her time... including an education, which was a very valued thing. 
In conclusion, I disagree with Amanda for the most part. I do think Zitkala-Sa's story represents an American Dream coming true. Especially because I know how much she achieved past the point of the story. 

Blog #12

"I have had more calls for my music than I could possibly supply."-  Chapter LIV: My Literary Occupation
There were many sentences throughout this reading that could've been picked out as important; ranging from sad to happy. I picked this positive one because it shows the strength of a woman in the 1800's. This story was very intriguing to me because I had never learned of Hawaii having this monarchy. It's very neat to read about a young woman who talks about not being welcomed by her in laws and various struggles she had. However, she was still able to be a great family member, queen, writer, and singer. Prior to this sentence she is talking about the demand she had to be at different social events all over the world and then it goes on to talk about how highly demanded her music is. This is just very intriguing to me!