Out of Class Essay #2: History and Poetry

The Losing Voices in California

            There are a lot people who migrate to California every day from all over the world. All immigrants believe that California is a wonderful state; it has beautiful beaches, fascinating landscapes, and great career opportunities. But immigrants forget about the obstacles that they have to face once they move in. Immigrants experience many struggles because of their poor English skills, and some lose their voices and California dream. Native Americans have also lost their voices in California since they have been forced to move off their own land. For them, the California dream is different compared to the immigrants; all they want is to live their own lifestyle and pass on their culture. Many people have been tortured and smothered while trying to achieve dreams that they have in this land. In “Indian Cartography” by Deborah Miranda and “Yuba City School” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, both poems have shown that by taking away the voices of the protagonists, life in California is suffocating and unwelcoming to immigrants and Native Americans, depriving them of their California dreams.

At the end of the 15^th century, the naïve Native Americans helped the Europeans explored the treasure land: California. For most Native Americans, their land meant everything. They used everything from nature in their daily life, and their dream was contained in the relationship between humanity and nature. Unfortunately, Europeans betrayed them by taking control of California and forcing them to move out of their homeland, and for the Native Americans, taking away their land meant taking away their voice.  In “Indian Cartography,” the father mentioned, “the government paid those Indians to move away, he says; I don’t know where they went.” The Native Americans tried to fight the Europeans to get their land back, but the Europeans had strong weapons. So many Native Americans died during the war, that they had no choice but to leave their homeland behind in order to survive. Native Americans lost their voices since the Europeans are had the power to control their land. The father in “Indian Cartography” had a harsh childhood from watching his homeland being taking away, and by observing the missing lands on the map, he knows that he has lost everything; his people, home, culture, and that there is no way he can get his voice back ever again. Same thing happened for Neeraj and his mom, both of them have also lost their voices in this dreamland.

In “Yuba City School,” the young boy Neeraj and his mom moved to California for a better life, but things did not go as well as they expected. Neeraj feels insecure while he is at his American school, and “All week the teacher has made him sit in the last row, next to the fat boy who drools and mumbles, picks at the spotted milk-blue skin of his face, but knows to pinch, sudden-sharp. When she is not looking.” Neeraj has no choice but to sit in the last row in his class. He is also scared of the American kids, since he cannot speak English, making it really hard for him to make friends. American kids have also bullied Neeraj, and when he is at the playground “invisible hands snatch at his uncut hair, unseen feet trip from behind, and when he turns, ghost laughter all around his bleeding knees.” Neeraj’s mom wants to talk to the teacher but she cannot stand up for her son because she does not speak English either. “She will pluck them from me, nail shut my lips. My son will keep sitting in last row among the red words that drink his voice.” There is nothing Neeraj’s mother can do since her voice has already been taken away, and for her and Neeraj, having their own voice is equivalent to being treated the same as the other Californians.

For the Native Americans, their California dream is to reunite their lost tribal lands and people. Compared to immigrants, their California dream is to find good opportunities, have a better future, and have their voices treated the same as Californians. Both of their California dreams are difficult to accomplish, and the people that want it really have to work hard to get their own voices back. The immigrants and Native Americans are really having a difficult time living in California, and it is also depressing that a lot of Californians are treating the immigrants and the Native Americans unfriendly. Some Californians feel that it is unfair that Native Americans get more benefits in education, but, even though they have more educational benefits, they can never get their voices back because they cannot get their land back. Some Californians also dislike immigrants because they are taking more job opportunities away, but all immigrants just want is to be treated as equally as everyone else.

Immigrants can feel the pain of the protagonists in both of the poems because almost everyone loses their voices when they first move to California. I understand the hardships that the protagonists have gone through. The father in “Indian Cartography” suffered to leave his homeland. Same thing happened to me when I first move to California, I missed my homeland China so much because I grew up in that country, and it is bound so deep in my blood that I will never forget all the memories that I have about it. It is even harder for the father because he was been forced to move out off his own home. For Neeraj and his mom, both of them feel unpleasant living in California since they could not speak English. Neeraj has to sit in the last row in his class, is bullied by his classmates, and his mom cannot help him out because she does not know how to talk to the teacher. I totally understand their situation because it took my parents about three and four years to learn English, and for me, I also had a hard time in my English class because I was afraid that my classmates would laugh at my “Chinglish.” But luckily, I got back my own voices because I stood up for myself, and even though people laughed at my accent, but I never gave up and kept asking more questions.

Many people lose their voices when they first move to California. In order to get their voices back, people have to stand up for themselves and push themselves harder to get out of their comfort zone. I used to think that American teenagers were arrogant and unfriendly, but time after time, things turned out differently than I thought. After about six months, I began to understand more English and I found out that American teenagers were very nice and that they are welling to help me out with my English. People feel insecure when they are move to a new place, and are scared of their new environment and the new people that they have to deal with. It is difficult for people to live in a place where they do not speak the native language, but the only way that people can get their voice back is to learn and study. People have to know that the reality is always unpleasant, and when people are stuck in a bad situation, they have to know that the only person that can help them out is themselves. In Neeraj’s case, he has lost his voice because he cannot speak English and has been teased by his classmates. No one can help him out, not even his mom, only himself.

            Sometimes, people have to push their own limits, and instead of losing their voices, they have to stand up and protect themselves with their own voices. “Indian Cartography” has shown that for Native Americans, taking away their land is the same thing as taking away their voices. The only way that they can get their voice back is to live a better life in their own land: California. They should remember the past but also move on to the future. In “Yuba City School”, Neeraj and his mom have lost their voices because they were been treated unequally comparing to the others. The only way that Neeraj can get his voice back is to get himself out off his own comfort zone, learn how to speak English, and to talk to his classmates, so that he can protect himself; he should also teach his mom more English. People need to be fearless to face their struggles, find their own voices, and know what it means to them.

In-class Essay #2: Propositions/Fallacies

Vote “No!” on Prop 34

California is a wonderful state. It has always gives people hopes and dreams. Even though, California has the beautiful sunrise, beaches, and fascinating landscapes, yet, nothing is perfect in this world, and same as California because there is always a downside of everything. Since 1968, there are about 3 person have been killed in California every single month. Over 44 years, around 729 people have been convicted as murderers and putting on the death row. The statistic has shown that those murderers have brutally killed at least 1,279 people, and there are 230 of them were children. At least 211 of them were raped, and 319 of them robbed. 66 victims were killed execution style, usually bound and shot in the back of the head. 47 victims were tortured. Proposition 34 has clearly stated that instead off putting those murderers on the death row as punishment, it will be replaced as “life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.” It guarantees that no innocent people will get killed. But are those criminals really innocent? Why should someone who has committed to a terrific crime be able to live? There is no good reason. Proposition 34 has definitely presented several false and mislead arguments to persuade voters to pass it and abolish the death penalty in California.

Since the death penalty reinstated in 1968, there were only 13 inmates have been executed over 729 in the pass 44 years, and a lot of them die from old age before the execution. There are still 716 of them left on the death roll. According to “Connections Health Care Costs”, it stated that “Heath care costs for older inmates are much higher than for younger inmates. Current estimate (2004) suggest that it costs about $70,000 annually to incarcerate an inmate over age of 60, where are younger inmates costs $22,000.” In this case, Proposition 34 has ignored the increased medical costs for aging inmates. The costs of life imprisonment has far exceed than what California can afford. Under this proposition, it would be more costly for California.

Furthermore, California’s Governor Jerry Brown does not believe that there are innocent people on death row in California. He explained in a debate in 2010, that the death penalty is “working according to the Constitution to the United States, I can tell you that. That requires highly competent counsel and expert witnesses to be hired and all the rest of it.” Governor Brown added, “As Attorney General, I think the representation was good. I think people have gotten exquisite due process in the state of California. It goes on for 20 or 25 years and to think that they’ve missed anything like they have in some other states; I have not seen any evidence of it. None. I know people say, ‘Oh, there have been all these innocent people,’ Well, I have not seen one name on death row that’s been told to me.” Brown’s statements are very genuine because in order to qualify one on the death row, the crime must be a first-degree murder, and there are must be special circumstances in the case like murder during rape or sexual assault; murder of a child during and act of sexual abuse; torture murder, or serial murder etc. Also, according to California’s court system, it has includes the trail and appellate process to ensures innocents are not executed.

            On the other hand, in September 2011, the voter’s opinion towards keeping the death penalty was higher comparing to 2000 (63%), and the range has changed from 63% to 72% for registered California voters. In “The Field Poll” a survey of public opinion established in 1947 has mentioned that, “Very large majorities of both Republicans (81%) and non-partisans (70%) support keeping the death penalty as a punishment alternatives. But smaller majority of Democrats (57%) also favors its continuation.” Clearly, those in favor of abolishing the death penalty are not in majority and their efforts to convince voters to join their “winning side” are based upon false statements.

            There is another wrong argument in Proposition 34, which is it requires people who found guilty of murder work and also pay restitution into a victim’s compensation fund. The truth has stated in the SAFE Act, Section 3 that restitution applies only “where the prisoner owes a restitution or restitution order.” And many people on the death row have no such order. In many cases, “restitution” is like a bribe for victims, which is irrelevant and meaningless because inmates only earn $0.08 to $0.37 per hour. Their maximum monthly earnings at highest available rate are $56. These killers are responsible for the death of 1,279 victims, so the average for each victim would be $383 per year. If this amount has to divide by the number of family members for each person killed, the amount is meaningless. And for the most of the victim families, money is not necessary, because they have already lost their love ones. 

            Mary Lou Canady, whose daughter Linda Ann Canady was brutally raped, murdered and dumped in a drainage ditch in Imperial County in 1985. On May 1^st, 1992, 19 years old Jason White was killed in the shooting at Lindhurst High School. May 16^th, 1996, 12 years old Michael Lyons has been tortured within 10 hours and murdered. Many victims family suffers daily, and there are still a lot people are not been fully aware of the crime that the inmates sitting on the death row have committed, and voters really have to invest their time to think before they make their decision. All these innocent victims have been brutally tortured and killed, and in the same time, there family members are not going to give up to stand up and fight for their lost loves and the only justice for them is the death penalty.

            We need a safer California, and we also need a capital punishment to provide that, “life imprisonment with impossibility of parole “ is not a guarantee.

Out of Class Essay #1: Images of the Dream in Music

A Dream with a Price

            The song that I have chosen is “Sinaloa Cowboys” by Bruce Springsteen. I want to do a close reading for this song because it interprets a different point of view towards the California dream. The lyrics of “Sinaloa Cowboys”, tells a story about Miguel and his brother Luis come to California to search for a better life. In the end, Luis passes away from the exploder acids, and Miguel buries him and leaves with ten thousand dollars that they had made. In the second stanza of the lyrics, their father says, “My sons one thing you will learn; for everything the north gives it exacts a price in return” and the “price in return.” In this case is Luis’s death. This quote is the most important part of the song, because it predicts the future for Miguel and Luis that there is always a “price” that they have to pay in order to live their dream come true. The main purpose for this song is that people has to make sacrifices in order to achieve their dream goal. People who want attend top colleges have to sacrifice their time to study hard instead of spending time with family and friends; international students move to California, they have to be independent and apart from their family. For people who want to achieve their dream, there is always a trade-off that they have to make, because in order to get what they want, and for the dream that they want to accomplish, something has to be given away

“Sinaloa Cowboys” is a song with the broken dream, and for Miguel and Luis, their California dream is incomplete. The song starts off with “Miguel came form a small town in northern Mexico; he came north with his brother Luis to California three years ago; they crossed at the river levee when Luis was just sixteen; and found work together in the fields of the San Joaquin.” The lyrics gives the audience an image of two young teenagers from Mexico who crossed the river, come all the way to California when they are only sixteen, and now they are working in the fields. Everything seems fine for these two brothers until they start working in a factory in Sinaloa. Luis passes away from the exploder of the acid inside of the factory, he and his brother Miguel’s dream breaks just in that moment. Through out the U.S. history, there were many immigrants who moved to California in the late 18^th century, they became farmers or factory workers. Even though they belong to a different nationality, they have one thing in common, is the “California Dream.” Just like Miguel and his brother, they left their hometown and came to work in California, all they want is to make more money and have a better life in the future. But unfortunately, Miguel and Luis were not lucky enough to carry out their dream.

            Irony has also plays its rule inside of the California Dream.In end of the “Sinaloa Cowboys”, the author mentioned that “There in the dirt he dug up ten thousand dollars all that they’d saved; kissed his brother’s lip and placed him in his grave.” Miguel and Luis have saved ten thousand dollars from all the hard works that they have done. But, does Luis’s life only worth ten thousand dollars? Does he have to offer his life as an exchange to his dream? He does not have to, but it is too late for him to recognize the reality. The author has used the quote of the father with “Price in return” in the beginning of the song, it foreshadows Luis’s death and it has also creates an ironic feeling for the audience towards the end of the song. The author of “Hotel California” has used the similar strategy, instead of mentioning the irony in the first two stanzas; he puts it in the end. “Hotel California” is also a very interesting song. It has formed a great imagery for the readers begin with “On a dark desert highway; cool wind in my hair; the warm smell of Colitas; Rising up through the air.” The song starts with a girl who is stuck on a dark highway; she feels cold and tries to find herself a place to stay over the night. She sees the shinning lights and the warm smell of Clolitas coming out of from “Hotel California”, the girl gets in to the hotel, and she is surrounded and also experienced with all the wonderful things, but in the end, she becomes a prisoner of “Hotel California”, who will never get chance to leave. “You can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” This girl has enjoyed her life in “Hotel California”, and as a “price in return,” she has to stay in the hotel forever. People always have this California fantasy in their mind, and they just forget about the harsh reality and this is the sad part of the California dream. People made their decisions to move in to California, and when they are ready to achieve their dream, suddenly everything turns out completely different compare to what they thought it would be and they were just lost inside of the California dream.

            My father is one of the lost California dreamers. He had his California dream when he was young, and has always been dreaming of the Californian life style, the gold, the beach and sunshine. My father moved to California about nine years ago. Like all the immigrants, my dad did not know English, and had a hard time finding jobs. As a “price in return”, my father has sacrificed a lot of things for his California dream. He has stayed in California by himself for six years to get his green card, and within six years, he cannot go back to China, and my grandmother passed away two months before he got his green card. My father has made a huge sacrifice, and he was really lost in his dream and he did not know what to do in his life after my grandmother’s death. But everything got better after me and brother moved in with him. Just like Miguel has lost his brother Luis, my father has lost his mom.

            “Sinaloa Cowboys” is a song that would make people feels depress towards to the California Dream. However, most of the California dream stories are very positive; they are always very motivating, and tell people to work hard and never give up. “The Silicon Boys” has starting the story with “The meek didn’t inherit the earth- the geeks did.” (Pg 13) This quote motivates the audience and makes them want to be the “geek” who inherited the world. But “Sinaloa Cowboys” was totally different; it brings people out off their Californian fantasy and sees the cruel reality. “Of Cholos and Surfers” has made some similar interpretations comparing to “Sinaloa Cowboys”. In the story, Lopez’s father had a difficult time finding a job, he has suffered because he was an immigrant from Mexico and does not speak English very well, and he could not find himself a good career. Parents like Lopez’s father really has sacrificed a lot of things, because they have to work really hard and only received the minimum wages, they moved to America not only for themselves but also for their next generation, they wish their children could have a better future compare to themselves. So people really do make sacrifices in order to live their dreams. 

            People migrate to California from all over the world, and the California dream still exits for most of them. But there is one thing they have to remember, that there is always be a “Price” they have to pay as an exchange of their dream. A lot of the immigrants still believe that California is place of opportunities and dreams but only a minority of them has achieved that dream. People should not live their California dream inside of the fantasy, instead moaning the harsh reality, people have to face failures and overcome obstacles. Although different people have different interpretations and perspectives on California dream, but as the California dreamers, we must keep our strength and faith inside of ourselves. Even though we know that our dreams could be broken down at any monuments, we do not to give up; the pressure to succeed has become our motivation and kept us overachieving.

In-class Essay #1: California Dream

California Dream

            My dad moved to U.S. in 1993, and after traveling through America for years, California has become his final destination. He said, “ as soon as I landed on California, I knew that I was in a place of opportunities and dreams.” And not just my dad, a lot of people have felt the same way about this wonderful state. Different people have different perspectives and definitions on California dream, and as Californians, we have strength and faith of being who we are right now. Even though we know that our dreams could be broken down at any monuments, and failure has always been our best friend, we do not like to give up; the pressure to succeed has become our motivation and kept us overachieving.

            “California Dream is simply a vision of good life,” (Pg 23) mentions Rawls in his article. But why California? What elements make California so special? While I was living in China with my grandparents, my parents would always call me and tell me all the good things about California. They told me that the best part of California is the clean and beautiful environment, and because of its population, the state is far away from pollution. I did not really believe them at the first place, but after I moved here, I was really fascinated by the beautiful landscapes. In China, buildings are built up because of the high population, and the factories pollute the green part of the country. In comparison, California really has an amazing natural environment.

            The other reason that keeps California attracting people from all over the world is because of the job opportunities. Spooner mentions in his article, “a lot of people came down to California from Iowa because they want to escape from their community, and search for a better life” (Pg 45). In California, businesses produce more income compare to the other states, and also California boats two world-class cities: Los Angles and San Francisco, and no other states have that. Indeed, that does create more opportunities for all the California dreamers.

On the other hand, not all the people were fortunate enough to get a job. In Lopez’s story, he states that his father was very disappointed when he was not able to get a job when he first moved to America (Pg 7). That altered people’s expectations on the California dream. It is really hard for people to find jobs with high payments if they do not have a college diploma and also cannot speck English very well. My parents have faced those problems too when they first moved to California. They had a hard time learning a new language, and also struggling with their jobs, but they never give up, because they still have that dream lives inside of them.

            There are a lot people came to California with high expectations, but got very disappointed when they find out that how hard it is in order to achieve that dream. However, the California dreams still exist based on my own personal experience. My close friend’s sister Linda, a current engineer in Apple. Linda moved to America in 1998, she lived in Oklahoma for nine years and after all the hard works she eventually become an engineer; finally, she decided moved to California in 2007. She told me that as an engineer, Silicon Valley really is the best place for her to find a job, and she did. Right now, she has working in Apple for five years, and she is also planning to have her own business in the future, and this could be her second California dream: an African style restaurant.

             California is not just a county with warmth, sunshine, gold, and beaches. It contains dreams and opportunities. Almost everybody has the California dream that they could have their own mansion, driving a super "dope" car, to live their life in paradise. But, no one can achieve dreams that easily. People have to work hard and harder in order to live out their dreams.