9/21/2012
Thoughts on Native American Reservation Life
This week's reading selections forced me to consider the plight of Native Americans that grow up in harsh surroundings full of poverty and despair. In the short stories by Sherman Alexie, Native Americans are portrayed as people with traumatic personal experiences and emotions due to their upbringing. In the 'Tenth Grade' portion of "Indian Education", the narrator describes the suicide of a fellow Native American who crashed his car into a tree. Upon learning of the man's bizarre actions, the police demand to know his reasoning.
" 'Don't know,' we all said, but when we look in the mirror, see the history of our tribe in our eyes, taste failure in the tap water, and shake with old tears, we understand completely."
This captivating segment conveys a heavy burden that is placed on the shoulders of every Native American that learns of his heart-breaking history and the crushing stereotypes that others have imposed on his culture.
Most people can dismiss this behavior as completely irrational because, don't the Native Americans know? This is America, land of freedom, where change and rights will come to those who wait for them. Yet, even today, there are still Indian reservations established all over the country. To desperate Native Americans, like the one depicted in "Indian Education", their situation hasn't changed and never will.
I agree with Anita. Sadly, the Native American's situation still to this day has not changed. They are stuck below the poverty line and most have no way of getting out. Each Native American knows what it feels like to be trapped on the reservation. The police have no way of feeling what the Native Americans feel.
ReplyDelete-Stephanie Thiede
I really liked your last three sentences. They sounded really powerful! I agree with you that America shows a land of freedom and although it would be great for racism to stop, it's not something that can happen so easily.
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