QUOTE:
“’What do you expect us to do in return? To give back to you our homesteads?’ asked Hughes” (De Burton 96).
SUMMARY:
The Don is offering the squatters a compromise that seems too good to be true. The squatters are expecting to find a “catch” to the deal because they assume the Don has a plan to drive them off of his land.
RESPONSE:
The most ironic quote in The Squatter and the Don is probably when Hughes asks these questions. I keep expecting to read about when the squatters purchased a part of the Don’s land, but then it wouldn’t make sense to call them “squatters.” Since the squatters have the audacity to bargain for land that doesn’t even belong to them, of course they think something is wrong with the Don’s generous deal. Perhaps the Don is actually planning on sabotaging the squatters’ plans, but it seems more like the Don is just trying to make the best out of an irritating situation. However, referring back to the status of Native Americans in this “food chain,” I don’t have too much sympathy for the Don once I think about how he treats the Native Americans.
The last two authors we have read make me frustrated with history. It’s interesting for me to read, but at the same time, it makes me wish the Europeans never stole this land. I know for me to be here today, this history had to happen, so I’m torn between wanting to give the country back to the Native Americans and just excepting that a lot of shadiness has happened in the United States over time. I do, however, think going as far as building a wall on the Mexico border in the 21st Century is a really awful idea. For one reason, it makes me think of the Berlin Wall (like how many others are seeing it as well), and I don’t think illegal immigrants are really causing as many problems as people like to assume they are in their generalizations.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Journal #16 Maria Amparo Ruiz De Burton: The Right To Steal Property!
QUOTE:
“Thus the government washes its hands clean, liberally providing plenty of tribunals, plenty of crooked turnings through which to scourge the wretched land-owners” (De Burton 93).
SUMMARY:
After the Mexican War, the new laws being made in the United States protected the Mexican landowners who remained in the Southwest, but those articles were soon deleted from the treaty. Landowners were no longer protected from “squatters.”
RESPONSE:
When we first discussed The Squatter and the Don in class, I said that what happens in this story would be similar to having random day-workers from down the street “squatting” in my backyard. However, as I was saying this, I realized that they are somewhat the original inhabitants of California, at least in comparison to the Europeans. I guess it’s the same feeling I get when I think about the Native Americans who are the rightful owners of the United States, but regarding this case, the law is involved instead of just killing everyone or driving them out.
De Burton’s text seems to be an observation about the hierarchy in the Southwest during the 19th Century, and really shows how Native Americans were even considered “cheap labor” by the landed class of Mexican Americans. It makes me think of the animal food chain, such as the little fish getting eaten by the bigger fish, and then that fish getting eaten by an even bigger fish. I know what happens to the Don isn’t fair, but then I think about how the Native Americans are treated by the Don, and I start to not sympathize with anyone except the Native Americans.
After reading De Burton, I see why landowners tend to be very shrewd businessmen and women. The right to own private property is probably one of the most important keys to success in this country, and I understand why the Don is willing to give some of his land away in hopes of keeping any of it.
“Thus the government washes its hands clean, liberally providing plenty of tribunals, plenty of crooked turnings through which to scourge the wretched land-owners” (De Burton 93).
SUMMARY:
After the Mexican War, the new laws being made in the United States protected the Mexican landowners who remained in the Southwest, but those articles were soon deleted from the treaty. Landowners were no longer protected from “squatters.”
RESPONSE:
When we first discussed The Squatter and the Don in class, I said that what happens in this story would be similar to having random day-workers from down the street “squatting” in my backyard. However, as I was saying this, I realized that they are somewhat the original inhabitants of California, at least in comparison to the Europeans. I guess it’s the same feeling I get when I think about the Native Americans who are the rightful owners of the United States, but regarding this case, the law is involved instead of just killing everyone or driving them out.
De Burton’s text seems to be an observation about the hierarchy in the Southwest during the 19th Century, and really shows how Native Americans were even considered “cheap labor” by the landed class of Mexican Americans. It makes me think of the animal food chain, such as the little fish getting eaten by the bigger fish, and then that fish getting eaten by an even bigger fish. I know what happens to the Don isn’t fair, but then I think about how the Native Americans are treated by the Don, and I start to not sympathize with anyone except the Native Americans.
After reading De Burton, I see why landowners tend to be very shrewd businessmen and women. The right to own private property is probably one of the most important keys to success in this country, and I understand why the Don is willing to give some of his land away in hopes of keeping any of it.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Journal #15 Sarah Winnemucca: What I Can Do!
QUOTE:
“Oh, for shame! You who are educated by a Christian government in the art of war; the practice of whose profession makes you natural enemies of the savages, so called by you…and seizing the welcoming hands of those who are the owners of this land, which you are not” (Winnemucca 511).
SUMMARY:
Winnemucca is confronting the settlers (the people responsible for the horrible and tragic state Native Americans are put in) about the hypocrisy of their “great civilization.”
RESPONSE:
After reading this section of Life Among the Piutes, it seems like Winnemucca so eloquently explains exactly what is happening to her people and her land. She makes me want to start a movement or a rally, but then I change my mind. It’s so hard for me to read texts like this because I become torn between wanting the true inhabitants of North America to own the United States, and the idea of “what’s done is done.” I think everyone needs to read original texts from the Native American perspective though, and especially texts like Winnemucca’s, because she explains things simply and straightforward. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me to be reading Native American literature too, because it helped me decide that I at least wanted to vote for whatever Native American tribes are pushing for in this election.
I already voted for “Super Tuesday” because I’m a permanent absentee ballot voter, and I paid attention to the propositions regarding Indian Gaming Casinos. I actually don’t really care about what California gets out of these propositions; I just want Native American tribes to be happy. I looked up exactly what each proposition would mean and who is paying for each proposition to be advertised, so hopefully I made the right decision.
I guess a part of me feels guilty when I read about what was done to the Native Americans, but then I have to remind myself that I had nothing to do with it. I think possibly the best thing most people can do, is to know the true history of this country and to be aware of what is happening now in comparison to the past.
“Oh, for shame! You who are educated by a Christian government in the art of war; the practice of whose profession makes you natural enemies of the savages, so called by you…and seizing the welcoming hands of those who are the owners of this land, which you are not” (Winnemucca 511).
SUMMARY:
Winnemucca is confronting the settlers (the people responsible for the horrible and tragic state Native Americans are put in) about the hypocrisy of their “great civilization.”
RESPONSE:
After reading this section of Life Among the Piutes, it seems like Winnemucca so eloquently explains exactly what is happening to her people and her land. She makes me want to start a movement or a rally, but then I change my mind. It’s so hard for me to read texts like this because I become torn between wanting the true inhabitants of North America to own the United States, and the idea of “what’s done is done.” I think everyone needs to read original texts from the Native American perspective though, and especially texts like Winnemucca’s, because she explains things simply and straightforward. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me to be reading Native American literature too, because it helped me decide that I at least wanted to vote for whatever Native American tribes are pushing for in this election.
I already voted for “Super Tuesday” because I’m a permanent absentee ballot voter, and I paid attention to the propositions regarding Indian Gaming Casinos. I actually don’t really care about what California gets out of these propositions; I just want Native American tribes to be happy. I looked up exactly what each proposition would mean and who is paying for each proposition to be advertised, so hopefully I made the right decision.
I guess a part of me feels guilty when I read about what was done to the Native Americans, but then I have to remind myself that I had nothing to do with it. I think possibly the best thing most people can do, is to know the true history of this country and to be aware of what is happening now in comparison to the past.
Journal #14 Sarah Winnemucca: Native Americans Are Just Like You!
QUOTE:
“Our children are very carefully taught to be good. Their parents tell them stories, traditions of old times…We are taught to love everybody. We don’t need to be taught to love our fathers and mothers” (Winnemucca 507).
SUMMARY:
In this chapter, Winnemucca describes the domestic and social morals of her tribe. The Piutes are very similar to Europeans (and basically everyone) in the way they raise their children, they just use different language to teach the same lessons.
RESPONSE:
While I was reading this chapter, I kept thinking to myself, “Well, duh!” Of course the Native Americans teach their children about the origins of humans, to love their parents, and to be good. However, after our class discussion, I realize that Winnemucca is most likely setting up her readers/listeners (listeners if she was giving this chapter as a speech) to view her tribe with more empathy. If she could get a sympathetic reaction towards the Piutes, it would be much easier for Winnemucca to then hit the audience with how “shameful” their Christian nation acts.
It’s pretty hard for me to stereotype any nation or race, but I guess I can understand how most of the Europeans coming to the West had a stereotypical idea of how Native Americans live. When I try to look at the history of this country from a completely objective point of view, I only rationalize the behavior of the white people by thinking that maybe the Europeans were too terrified to accept the Native Americans and their culture. A part of me doubts that this was always the case though. I tend to look at the whole situation as the Europeans taking advantage of very generous people, and then making themselves feel better by oversimplifying the nature of all Native Americans.
Without focusing so much on how this country was stolen and sold, it’s really cool to read how Winnemucca was dedicated to educating people about her culture. It would have been great if more people were affected, or if there weren’t as many people trying to take advantage of the “free” land. I think if the Europeans weren’t trying to get as much as they could out of the land for free, everyone would have been able to coexist.
“Our children are very carefully taught to be good. Their parents tell them stories, traditions of old times…We are taught to love everybody. We don’t need to be taught to love our fathers and mothers” (Winnemucca 507).
SUMMARY:
In this chapter, Winnemucca describes the domestic and social morals of her tribe. The Piutes are very similar to Europeans (and basically everyone) in the way they raise their children, they just use different language to teach the same lessons.
RESPONSE:
While I was reading this chapter, I kept thinking to myself, “Well, duh!” Of course the Native Americans teach their children about the origins of humans, to love their parents, and to be good. However, after our class discussion, I realize that Winnemucca is most likely setting up her readers/listeners (listeners if she was giving this chapter as a speech) to view her tribe with more empathy. If she could get a sympathetic reaction towards the Piutes, it would be much easier for Winnemucca to then hit the audience with how “shameful” their Christian nation acts.
It’s pretty hard for me to stereotype any nation or race, but I guess I can understand how most of the Europeans coming to the West had a stereotypical idea of how Native Americans live. When I try to look at the history of this country from a completely objective point of view, I only rationalize the behavior of the white people by thinking that maybe the Europeans were too terrified to accept the Native Americans and their culture. A part of me doubts that this was always the case though. I tend to look at the whole situation as the Europeans taking advantage of very generous people, and then making themselves feel better by oversimplifying the nature of all Native Americans.
Without focusing so much on how this country was stolen and sold, it’s really cool to read how Winnemucca was dedicated to educating people about her culture. It would have been great if more people were affected, or if there weren’t as many people trying to take advantage of the “free” land. I think if the Europeans weren’t trying to get as much as they could out of the land for free, everyone would have been able to coexist.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Journal #13 Sarah Winnemucca: The Settlers Believe In Manifest Destiny!
QUOTE:
“[S]he said to my mother: ‘Let us bury our girls, or we shall all be killed and eaten up.” So they went to work and buried us, and told us if we heard any noise not to cry out, for if we did they would surely kill us and eat us” (505 Winnemucca).
SUMMARY:
The Piutes have heard about the Donner Party, who had to resort to cannibalism after being stuck in a storm, so they are terrified that their girls will be eaten. Since Sarah is too frightened to run, her mother buries her and her sister alive.
RESPONSE:
It’s ironic how the Piutes are frightened by savage, cannibalistic white people, since Native Americans are the ones who are supposed to be the “savages.” Throughout Life Among the Piutes, the theme of “mistaken identity” seems to come up as a main cause for the problems between settlers and Native Americans. However, the skewed views each group of people has for the other, causes the Native Americans to end up worse off. Native Americans such as Winnemucca’s grandfather were ready to welcome the white settlers, but that view was obviously not shared, and entire nations of indigenous people were displaced.
Maybe if these Native Americans were actually more ferocious, they wouldn’t have been defeated so easily. They were so ready to accept the settlers, but possibly because of certain tribes who were in fact hostile to the people trying to take their land, the white people were already expecting the worst from Native Americans. However, I do have a feeling that the settlers would have still kicked out the Native American tribes, even if it were completely obvious how kind and helpful they were, because the settlers believed in Manifest Destiny: that they had every right to possess all of North America.
This just would not fly nowadays, even though in a way it reminds me of when (for example) certain political figures think that they can go into any country and start changing things. It seems really tough to stay on track and accomplish anything when clashing cultures come into contact. That's usually why one culture is completely phased out, or becomes more of a subculture.
“[S]he said to my mother: ‘Let us bury our girls, or we shall all be killed and eaten up.” So they went to work and buried us, and told us if we heard any noise not to cry out, for if we did they would surely kill us and eat us” (505 Winnemucca).
SUMMARY:
The Piutes have heard about the Donner Party, who had to resort to cannibalism after being stuck in a storm, so they are terrified that their girls will be eaten. Since Sarah is too frightened to run, her mother buries her and her sister alive.
RESPONSE:
It’s ironic how the Piutes are frightened by savage, cannibalistic white people, since Native Americans are the ones who are supposed to be the “savages.” Throughout Life Among the Piutes, the theme of “mistaken identity” seems to come up as a main cause for the problems between settlers and Native Americans. However, the skewed views each group of people has for the other, causes the Native Americans to end up worse off. Native Americans such as Winnemucca’s grandfather were ready to welcome the white settlers, but that view was obviously not shared, and entire nations of indigenous people were displaced.
Maybe if these Native Americans were actually more ferocious, they wouldn’t have been defeated so easily. They were so ready to accept the settlers, but possibly because of certain tribes who were in fact hostile to the people trying to take their land, the white people were already expecting the worst from Native Americans. However, I do have a feeling that the settlers would have still kicked out the Native American tribes, even if it were completely obvious how kind and helpful they were, because the settlers believed in Manifest Destiny: that they had every right to possess all of North America.
This just would not fly nowadays, even though in a way it reminds me of when (for example) certain political figures think that they can go into any country and start changing things. It seems really tough to stay on track and accomplish anything when clashing cultures come into contact. That's usually why one culture is completely phased out, or becomes more of a subculture.
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