The Ceremony discussion point

What does the spring symbolized in Ceremony?

The spring is a source of the water that is so essential to the drought-wracked Laguna land. In the novel the author referred to Josiah first shows Tayo the spring which even during the most severe of droughts continues to produce water. In this way, the spring symbolizes that nature always provides the means to survive through a drought. The author describes in the novel that Tayo as a teenager remembers the stories Josiah has told him about rain ceremonies, and he goes to the spring to create his own. It works. In this instance, the spring represents the ancient sacred places of the Laguna, and Tayo's ability to use them. Tayo returns to the spring as he and Harley ride through the desert. At the spring, he recovers from heatstroke and, remembering his earlier visits, regains hope for the future. The continued existence of the spring over the years Tayo was away at war, symbolizes the ways in which nature ignores the individual traumas of any one person's life. The spring's ability to give Tayo hope for the future also symbolizes nature's resiliency and the cycles in which the rain comes and goes and comes again. The question here is, is spring the only source to survive or is there more other sources to survive? Let me know what is your answer.

How does alcoholism affect the people in the novel?

Although parts of the novel are set during Prohibition, alcohol is always readily available in bars along the reservation line. The fact that none of the bars are situated inside the reservation marks alcohol and alcoholism as problems imported by whites. The men who are most affected by alcoholism are those who have returned from fighting in World War II, which reaffirms the idea that it is not a problem indigenous to the Native Americans.

Without any effective cure, either from the white doctors or from the old ceremonies, for the anguish created by the meeting of white and Native American cultures, especially in warfare, many of the Native American men self-medicate with alcohol. As Tayo explains, alcohol dulls some of the pain and anger the veterans feel. However, alcohol is not a viable solution to the problem. For women, it is part of the slippery path into prostitution and destitution, as in the cases of Tayo's mother and of Helen Jean. For men, it is an agent of internalized racism and of deadly apathy, and it is an enabler of violence that inevitably turns on themselves. Alcohol repeatedly is presented to Tayo as a distraction from his ceremony. While he is eventually able to leave the bars, his buddies are not. The result is deadly for each man involved. I personally think that it is the government mistake to let alcohol play a role in those military camps. Without alcohol there will be no violence and other problems occurring. So I should say give the government the blame. What is your opinion about alcohol for soldiers during war time?

The French vs. Indian Wars courage ( The Last of the Mohicans)

I need to mention that four years ago, I had already watched the movie on TV. My comments on this movie are related to what I have read in the literature. The good characters of the film are truly good. I see that the morality and the nobility are highly exalted. Unfortunately, the author (James Fenimore Cooper) of this book had not understood in my opinion that in this world most people dislike war. There is so many pain and difficulty ongoing which are not yet solved. Reading this book, the author describes romantic passion which could solve the problems at least temporary ,which I don’t agree with. I agree with the following saying of my grandfather. “Every season has its time, you can’t force a season to hurry up.” In my understanding there is a purpose for all manners that occur in its time.

Another saying of my aunt was “when the time of working arrives, don’t run away, otherwise you will not earn your wage.” I also agree with her. In other words, don’t be lazy and work hard, even though hardships are frustrating. Seeing the movie “The Last of Mohicans” makes me understand that whatever you sow is what you reap. Almost everything people put their effort into it will succeed. The French vs. Indian Wars ended with term of conditions, that British will no longer have to fight the French. In a war there are always people killed and people persecuted. Also you have people who are brave and fight through difficult moments. However, I already saw the movie and I’m waiting to read what happens when a major of the British army escorts the two daughters of Colonel Munro to the fort where the Colonel stays.

Alexander.

“Bluest Eye” discussion point

Reading this book gave me the idea that slavery still exists. I know that it's just a book. The author of this book described some characters that will give the reader an idea of how things were in the past. For instance, attention to Pecola who admit herself of having no value. Her mother thinks that she is an ugly and unattractive person.

It is difficult for a child to have trust in parents when the child could not even have relief in life or being accepted. The doll that Pecola has and its eyes of blue color makes her think that white people are more pretty than her.

It is only in Pecola’s imagination, but her original love of having a beautiful brown color and that beauty is found inside of herself and not only on outside of the skin is not truly mention through the author. I find it regretful that the author did not pay much attention to that.

My other comments on the “Bluest Eye” is that there is a lot of sexual pages in the text which is sometimes disturbing and not linking to the subject what the author is trying to explain. There are more flashbacks and this makes the text sometimes confusing.

Finally, in the “Bluest Eye”, religion plays an important role. The author wants the readers to participate with her. For example, to those who are atheist and have nothing to do with religion, it might be disturbing reading those pages. After all the suffering that is described in the “Bluest Eye”, I think that the author wants to deliver a message concerning equality, freedom and hope for all colors. It could be that I’m wrong. My question to you is, what is your opinion that author Toni Morrison would like to bring over to the reader with the title “The Bluest Eye”?

Identity of where you belong too

Reading the schedule for this week about identity was on the one hand difficult and on the other hand I think it’s a part of life for some people. This subject was already discussed when I was studying tourism.
The teacher said that: ``Identity is a symbol of where you belong too``. I disagree with her saying that, because children of mixed culture have difficulties of where they belong in a society. I think that identity is a choice that some people make to decide in which group, community or society they want to belong too.

However, around the globe, some people have the intention of feeling, to belong somewhere in a society or community that gives them confidence. For instance, President Barack Obama wrote in his book “The Audacity of Hope” that he founds his identity through visiting the church. The people of the church accepted him and he feels also being accepted by that community. He knew all the Sunday hymns from the top of his head and was completely sure that this was the place where he belongs too. After I read this book, it made me sad that racial issues are still having a huge impact on some people´s life. Even though most of people know that Barack Obama is a mix of color, it does not mean that people have to choose for a community or for equal colors.

My opinion is that people are supposed to think in which way the problems of the world can be solved, such as poverty, diseases, war, inhumanity etcetera. So identity of where you belong to is not a great issue. For myself I find identity not important. Identity doesn't improve my personal life. Identity is for me just like a choice that people make of where they think to belong to a society or community. What do you think about identity of where you belong too?

Xenophobia: Racism is not in me

Hello over there, you all know me.

In the last lecture of Emily, I had a presentation about immigrants from another country. Today, I will discuss the topic of racism in my family and my own life. I love all kinds of colors.

First, I will mention something about my childhood. When I was a little child of seven or eight years, my parents thought me to be friendly to everyone.
The reason why is simple. According to my parents, everybody is equal. Most people on earth breathe the same breath and also have the same red blood in their veins.

However, after I came to Europe, Europe had taught me about racism. To be honest, I fought with boys and girls at primary school and college in Europe, because these guys were calling me nicknames which I dislike. I regret using my hands for fighting instead of using my mouth to talk. After all these experiences, I still love all colors of peoples.

When I´m angry, it´s only temporary for that individual case. After that you can called me the old Alexander. I have many friends of many colors, including Europeans to Moroccans. I don´t know what I will reach by having a racist thoughts in mind. Racist thoughts don´t get me paid, or give me neither food nor clothes etcetera.

So I listen to many friends who have had several conversations concerning racism, but I always explain to them that they should be able to let racist conversations and the racism in their thoughts go, because it doesn´t benefit them. These friends listen to what I have had to say. In my entire family there are no people that I know who have racist behavior or talk about it. Part of my family is married to white British and American people and other part mixed with other colors.

Even on family days, I don´t hear anything on the table that my family talks about racism or having thoughts about it. These have influence on me and change my way of thinking and behavior. Because of all this, I notice that racism is not in me. I hope to keep it in this way for my entire life as long as I leave on earth.