On the Reservation....

In my mind I picture the mouths of Native Americans moving in slow motion
Their heads shaking and their fingers pointing to something in the distance
fear, anxiety, worry deep in their eyes, spreading across their faces


Their voices are silenced
I'm not sure why I can't hear them
I turn my head to get a glimpse of what is causing them grief


Frank Hayden stands in the distance
War hero, successful doctor, a well breed American
harmless... right?

Except... except the dark look in his eyes
there's something there, menacing and deceiving
I cannot point out what it is although its the closest to pure evil I think I've ever seen

The intuition stirring deep in my gut has unhesitatingly placed the Native American's pain with Frank.
But there's a problem

He's a Hayden
You don't question a Hayden
and you certainly don't make accusations against them

Its a rule
unspoken but possessing power so unimaginable
it is never broken 

I look back at the Native Americans
Their faces still showing the embedded pain that has scared their hearts 

Although I am sure that Frank has caused mischief on the reservation
I turn my head as the world turns their head and walk away
and as I did I passed a sign

WELCOME TO MONTANA'S RESERVATION
...... where silence is golden

Thoughts on the Reading

Figuring out what it means to be American has been very interesting. I've been trying to get the most out of the stories that I've read and piecing together all the stories to come up with some type of idea of how I would describe on American is hard.

After reading On being a Mexican American and Young gifted and Black I thought that maybe America is just not into accepting of other people's differences, but that not really true, because America is home to so many diverse people. Zora in How it feels to be colored me was fine with her differences. By calling myself an African American am I just giving in the segregation of America or am I keeping some type of connection with my ancestors like the Native American in Sacred Soil said it was so important to do? What about the boy in There Was a Child Went Forth he became everything he saw. Does this mean that if you experience American culture you become an American? Should we all just become immigrants within our own country letting our differences carry us father then blending in to society ever will as suggested by How Being an Immigrant shaped my life and follow our own drummer like Walden advised.


There's various elements to all of these stories and so many ideas floating around in my head right now. My brain is on 'What is an American?' OVERLOAD.


So here is my Definition.
An American is a person who is in America or comes to America and embraces America's unique culture while also staying true to their differences that allows them to flourish and achieve success, whatever that is for them, in a place of unlimited chance and possibility even in the face of adversity unlike other places in the world.

Reflection on Reading

In the story There Was a Child Went Forth by Whitman is talking about a childs journey through the day and how what he sees becomes a part of. So in terms of what does being American mean from this story being American would mean becoming embracing American culture and really becoming an American even if you were not born here.
Being American is not just being born here its more of a culture. If a person does embrace the culture then they should be considered American.

I've been thinking about the other stories like the story Young Gifted and Black by Hansberry and This Sacred Soil by Seattle and I 'm still thinking about those stories. I feel like what I have to say about them is on the tip of my tongue but I haven't gotten there yet. It's like the term American was coined so long ago when things were separated.......You know what I will definitely get back to you on the next blog.

Music Review

Were we supposed to be writing about a current song? I'm pretty sure we were supposed to be finding something current... oh well. There were so many songs to choose from but the song I chose was 'Just Friends' by Musiq Soulchild. The song has good melody.  It's a r&b song and its just one of those songs I've never really gotten tired of listening to. Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I like the song. Even though it's titled 'Just Friends' its a song about the beginnings of a relationship.

I am still a little blogspot challenged so I wasn't sure how to but the music on the blog so you have to go to this link sorry but its youtube so it won't play in school : (
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK7W679Onok

Jay and Nick

Before I wrote this I had to think about what defines friendship. A friend is a companion, someone you like and trust, can share things with and is there for you.

 Nick and Gatsby have a strange relationship. They probably wouldn't be talking to each other if Gatsby didn't want to meet Daisy. Towards  the end of chapter five I almost feel like Gatsby forgot about Nick. In some ways I understand since this is the first time in a long time that Gatsby gets to see Daisy but at the same time it's like Nick is forgotten because his help isn't needed any more. Nick doesn't seem to necessarily like Gatsby. It just seems like he's interested in Gatsby's mysterious ways.

 There is however something between them that feels like their going to become close friends. Nick is willing to help Gatsby and kind of supports him when he gets nervous about meeting Daisy. Gatsby tells Nick about himself and his past which he doesn't do for most people. In some ways they fit my definition of friendship. For now though I say they're more on the verge of becoming friends but haven't made it there yet.

winter poem

The feet that walk the ground they cringe
with what's left of their numb limbs
the grumble of the shovel holders and the rage of the drivers
how mother nature has taken revenge at last
putting her wrath upon us.
But wait!!!
The children they frolic in the bus passenger's devastation
as lovers curl up in the shovel's pain
when cocoa drinkers sip to the drivers rant
and is that joy spread across the caroler's faces
Is. That. Joy........
It is joy..... it is trouble
It is winter

I'm Thankful For....

In our class there are a ton a great people. I think the person I'm most thankful for is Azia. I just met her this year and she sits in front of me in the class. Azia is a really nice person. When I see her she is usually happy or full of energy and talking to someone that seems so cheerful makes you happy. I'm a quite person and someone like who can get people to talk is great. She seems like a really fun person to hang out with. We usually work together when there is group work assigned which I'm grateful for. Azia if your reading this right now thanks for being my  American lit. buddy.