Creative Writing

Mimicked from My Antonia’s Chapter XII

THE FOLLOWING WEEK had brought a chill, and by Thanksgiving Day the whole world about us was glazed with white frost, and the creek that once trickled between our house and the ones behind now remained still as if to calm itself from the summer long run. The earth was cold and lifeless, with nothing more to give but a satisfying crunch beneath the feet of those who carried on with their everyday lives despite nature’s rest.
On one of these crisp afternoons I agreed to take Antonia home with me from school to help with her English. It was the first time Antonia had been to my house, and she made it more evident with every revered step. She walked about carefully, examining each small detail of our moderately decorated dwelling. It took a few moments before I could attain her attention, which I instantly regretted. When she turned to look at me she did so with an angry accusing tone, her hair still partially in her face from the violent pirouette. She said with her brown eyes still shining through the dark veil: “Why you have so many things when my family have nothing?” I remained frozen in my new place against the kitchen counter.
After a long pause Antonia opened up into a sorrowful outburst of tears: “How not you help my papi and mami and brother?” I searched my mind forever for the right words to say, but I thought it weak of myself to consider giving her my things. If I really wanted to help, I would continue to work with her on her English so that one day she might provide for her own family.
We had settled down at the dining room table and opened our books. Although Antonia had always been eager to learn our language today she seemed elsewhere, and it wasn’t long before I realized I was doing most of the work on my own. She continued with her pitiful grievances more subtly now. “My mami so sad these days. She never cook like she used to. She say the people she work with are evil and don’t treat her good, so now when she come home she is too upset to make food. She hates it here.”
“You should be thankful you have what you do,” I interjected coldly. “Your family would be much worse off if they didn’t live off our taxpayers’ money.”
“You know nothing!” she responded fiercely. “We work twice as hard in Mexico to get half what you get! My family try to make living here in America but it’s not worth it, it’s no fair!”
“Then leave. Your mama’s job can be given to someone who appreciates the opportunity. We don’t need more of your kind taking all our jobs and money.”
It was at that moment when I heard the honking of her brother’s car in the driveway. Moments later I was left standing in the doorway watching Antonia and her brother pull away into the street in their poorly kept Audi. I told my father of the occurrence later that night at dinner, and told him how I wished they would never come around anymore.
My dad chuckled a bit between bights. “They aren’t bad people,” he said, now more seriously. “You just need to be more considerate of their position. You’re right to keep from giving in to their pleas, but think of how desperate you would act if we were ever in that predicament. It pains one to see their family suffer. Now go on and eat your food, I still want the flowerbeds worked some before it gets too dark.”

American Dream Interviews

Randal Purkaple-

What do you beleive our forefathers' intentions for America were?
"Exactly what they said, to be a government by the people and for the people... that was the intention."

Do you beleive those goals have been met?
"No. I think personal greed has bred corruption within our governmental system."

What does the "American Dream" mean to you?
"When I hear American Dream I think of freedom and equal opportunity."

Do you believe this dream has been achieved?
"Every time they pass a law, it's getting taken away. The government instead of protecting the people is growing to take control of the people. Socialism. They are creating a socilaistic society... so no."

How do you think immigrants coming to America think differently about this dream?
"Compared to where they're coming from they're probably alot more optimistic, and their views haven't been tainted because they haven't been here to see how things used to be. They have nothing to compare it to but from the countries they've come from."

What is success in America?
"Success in America... same as it is anywhere, health, hope, and happiness."

Do you beleive you have achieved this in your own life?
"Yes."

How so?
"Through my Christian faith. Good health because God still heals today, a relationship with God has taught me how to have a good relationship with my wife and children which has yielded happiness, and the joy of the Lord is my strength, so my hope is always in Him."


Martina Jonsson-

What do you believe the intentions for America were?
“Originally it was meant to be a melting pot of cultures, and it’s been a dream for a lot of families over the years for financial opportunities.”

Do you believe these goals have been met?
“Yes, but as the population is growing the resources are limited so Americans aren’t as accepting of new immigrants.”

What does the term “American Dream” mean to you?
“It should mean going from nothing to everything both in a social aspect and a financial aspect.”

Do you believe you have achieved this dream in your own life?
“Yes, my family is a perfect example as they came to the US in 1993, and since then we have done very well for ourselves.”


Lisa Purkaple-

What do you believe our forefathers’ intentions for America were?
“They wanted to join together…. ‘to form a more perfect union! (singing)’”

Do you believe those goals have been met?
“No. There’s still too much governmental control keeping people in poverty.”

What does the term “American Dream” mean to you?
“Being successful.”

What does success mean to you?
“Being able to accomplish and handle all things within your life.”

Have you achieved this dream in your own life?
“Yes.”

How so?
“By being in control of my life and having a family, that’s success for me, having a family. Being in control of my job through hard work, and the like.”

Essential Questions for Revolutionary Period

What do Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine have in common?
Both of these brave men put themselves at risk of being ridiculed and accused for being against their own country in order to speak out for what they thought should be done. Also, both of these bold motivators went about their critiques in the most professional way, in that they avoiding coming off as rude or disrespectful. This, I believe, is the main reason the changes they offered were excepted so gratefully.
How do we benefit from what these men gave?
Because these men chose to stand up while all others cowered in Britain's shadows a spark was created that eventually created the fire that was the American Revolution. Without this important event in our history, America would inevitably have far less power than it does today. The revolution brought upon by Patrick Henry and Thomas Paine has ensured a better life for us and our fellow Americans.
Can you make any connections to today's political figures?
Many of the great inspirational techniques used by these two revolutionists can be compared to that of presidential candidate Barack Obama. Barack's speeches often include similar messages of hope for "a new America" and how we can make up for mistakes we've made in the past. All three men seem to have the same idea of "it's not too late to turn things around", although their primary intentions may vary.

Thomas Paine Diary Entry

Diary,
oh, how angered I am at the civil disobedience the British have portrayed so boldly before us. Their binding taxes and slave-like treatment for me and my fellow men who have worked so hard as pioneers have driven me mad. This isn't to eliminate any guilt from my people, however, for we are the ones whom have frustrated me most. It is our faults that we've allowed this injustice to continue, and now we have come to suffer for it. Although, all is not lost. It is our chance now to make up for what we've let happen, and finally take a stand against our adopted captors. I will not speak this in hypocrisy, mind you, for it is in my least objective to talk bravery and pride yet show none. I plan to write a book available to the public on my views of our political actions (or lack thereof) and how they can be changed. It's time for us to be taken seriously in the eyes of the world, and if I must be the one to inspire it, then let it be.

Thomas Paine Reflection

After reading Patrick Henry's inspriring speech it took no time for me to dive into this excerpt by Thomas Pain open-minded and ready to experience another example of revolutionary motivation. I wasn't disappointed. Thomas Pain opens up with "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman". This statement is very powerful, and to me means that it's easy for someone to stand up and be "brave" during easy times, but true bravery lies in those that will rise up against extrordinary odds. By saying this, Thomas Pain has encouraged the readers to rise up against Britain especially now, when hope is in short supply. Another excellent point Paine had was when he said "Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in ALL CASES WHATSOEVER," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God". The reason why this statement is so successful in it's diction is because not only does it expose Britain's slave-like ownership of our supposedly independent country, but it goes even further, almost sarcastically, to say that slavery is wrong. This over-achievement on Paine's behalf leaves absolutely no room for arguement, and the blatantly obvious statement he makes creates the same feeling of ridicolousness that he feels towards Britain's rule. To conclude, Tomas Paine uses great motivational techniques to inspire Americans to revolt against Britain and fight for what is just.

Patrick Henry Diary Entry

Diary,
today a man by the name of Patrick Henry addresses the house today with what I, as well as my fellow board members, expected to be yet another mindless rant. Within the first few minutes of his speech I was shocked as well as enraged that this man would dare speak to us as if we were children. I had never felt so ridiculed when one by one he pointed out all that he thought was wrong with our beloved country. However, with every sentence he spoke I began to notice not a cry of revolt from the audience, but a cry of change, or liberty, and of action. Patrick Henry was really motivating the people and before my eyes revealed his honest objective. He didn't want to hurt America's pride, but instead to empower it. His points were well-thought out and executed in such a way that the people cheered til it's end. I beleive that this can be the beginning of a new America, or rather, the American dream that had been so lost.

Patrick Henry Reflection:

Before reading Patrick Henry's famous "Give me liberty, or give me death" speech, I had thought it to be nothing more but an overly glorified rant made by a simple man. However, I now realize with what all that was said, that Patrick Henry's objective was in no way associated with rebellion or hypocrisy as I had previously beleived. Knowing this, I was better able to open myself up to what this man wanted to be heard, and was astounded. Patrick Henry, with words such as "shut our eyes against a painful truth" and "listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts", gives American legislature a cold slap of reality as to wake it up from its naive slumber. Further, Patrick Henry exposes the irony in America's efforts for peace and love, in that the military's excessive force was being used to do so. At first, this statement agitated me, for Henry seemed to imply no other reasonable resolution for international conflict. Yet, he more than made up for it when he made suggestions regarding the threat of Great Britain, proving him innocent of being another "give peace a chance" idealist of which I was afraid. Overall, this invigorating speech gave me a different outlook upon the American Revolution and what it meant for our ancestors. After reading this speech, I gained a new appreciation for public motivators and all of those like Patrick Henry, who aren't afraid to speak out for what they know is right.

Native American Literature

Ghost Warriers By Donald Hook

Shadows dance on canyon walls, They are shadows from my fire.

And from these walls Ghost Warriors call "Your history is a liar."

"Our sacred lands were stolen and this we can't forget."

"The spirits of our warriors who gave their lives for it."

But the wind whispers to me that the shadows I see are visions of when the west was young.
And the Indian danced around his council fire where prayers to the Great Spirit were sung.

They asked the Great Spirit to guide them in this their troubled time.

For the white man walked upon their land and said "This land is mine."

It was the search for yellow iron that became the red man's curse.

For the white man swarmed upon their land each fighting to be first.

And no amount of prayers could stop the coming flood.

Soon the yellow iron was bathed in Indian blood.

The Great Spirit couldn't help them they had to fight alone.

For the mountains and the desert that had always been their home.

The Indian was defeated and just seemed to fade away.

And his sacred lands were ravished it seemed in but a day.

The mountains were blasted open; the gold ripped from beneath the earth.

The wounded land lies silent now and has but little worth.

The Indian is gone forever from this land that once was his.

And no one seems to want it now not the way it is.

So now that you know their story, will you listen to the whispering wind?

The ghosts of ancient warriors are singing their songs again.

They're singing to the Great Spirit their sad and mournful prayers.

Asking Him to make whole again this land that once was theirs.

Native American Message Reflection

This Native American piece creates in me an uncomfortable feeling of guilt regarding my white forefathers every time it is read. The overwhelming shame that I experience from this devastating occurrence makes me wish that the European settlers, my own ancestors, had left the Native Americans in peace. The sorrow conveyed by the Indian's account with the Great spirit helped me to grasp a Native's view on the destruction of thousands of years of tradition. The excerpt "Our sacred lands were stolen and this we can't forget, the spirits of our warriors who gave their lives for it" holds alot of meaing to me, for before I read this line I had no previous consideration for the ancient Indians warriors who had fought for this land, nor how unjust it was that the white men could just take it all away in will. Another line from this poem that really opened my eyes was when the author wrote "The mountains were blasted open; the gold ripped from beneath the earth, the wounded land lies silent now and has but little worth, the Indian is gone forever from this land that once was his, and no one seems to want it now not the way it is". This stanza reveals the opposing views the Natives and the settlers had on what is considered valuable, for as the settlers searched frantically for gold, they destroyed beautiful land that the Indians looked upon as sacred. Through powerful diction such as "blasted open", "ripped from earth" and "wounded land", I found myself hurting with the ruined land. In essence, this poem has expanded my view on the developement of our country to such an extent that I am almost ashamed to be considered apart of it, and with the little voice I have, all I can do is pray for forgiveness.

Native American Diary Entry

Diary,
Again we hiked further into the embracing winds of the West to make way for the ever-multiplying white men. There visit has been welcomed by the curiosity of our people, but one must wonder if the expansion of their camps will ever cease. Communication between our tribes is poor. Their gestures appear friendly, but many of their actions prove difficult to accept. With every strike the earth takes from their large spoons I wince, yet the resulting yellow rock the white men gain leaves me intrigued and mystified, wanting to know more. Maybe this new way of life is the path we are to follow, however, something about it does not stir well within my spirit. As I look around at my people I see a culture being lost, as the Great Spirit and its ancestral traditions are forgotten. I assume all there is to do is to wait and watch, until a clearer day arrives.
-Screaming Bird