My discussion question:
Is there a line and where is it between not enough and too much pride in ones people and culture. What are the negative effects of both of these?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
I Am Joaquin
I Am Joaquin, written by Rodolfo Gonzales, is an inspiring piece of literature that goes through all of the emotions of a human torn from his roots and trying to find a home in a new place while holding on to the pride and history of his people.
When I tried to pick one word to describe the tone of this poem I could not, for I realized that the speaker's emotion changed constantly and sometimes very quickly throughout the poem. This poem, I believe outlines the feelings and struggles that many races, not only Mexicans feel as they try to assimilate into American culture, without losing their past. The biggest dilemma as Gonzales expresses is succeeding in American society, without giving up your cultural pride. He states,
"My fathers have lost the economic battle
and won the struggle of cultural survival.
And now! I must choose between the paradox of
victory of the spirit, despite physical hunger
or to exist in the grasp of American social neurosis.
sterilization of the soul and a full stomach."
Here, in the beginning of the poem, the beginning of his thoughts, he expresses his confusion on what to do. He is torn. All throughout the poem, the speaker shows an immense sense of pride and this pride cannot be completely satisfied. If he holds on to his culture one hundred percent, not allowing America to erase his past and his roots, he will not fit in American society, he will not be able to climb up the social ladder to success. However, if he does the opposite and "exists in the grasp of American social neurosis," he has succumbed to what he believes to be the "sterilization of the soul." A bitterness is expressed as he sees "a country that has wiped out all my history and stifled all my pride." This is a struggle of many immigrants, as they strive to succeed in America, but not get lost in the melting pot and lose their identity.
After expressing his confusion on how to survive in America and still hold on to his culture, the speaker spends the majority of the poem expressing an immense pride and connection to the history of his country and people. He relates himself to the strongest rulers and princes, the most courageous revolutionaries and martyrs, down to the lowest and weakest peasant who plowed the earth and toiled under the rule of tyrants. There is a constant theme of unity and possession, expressed strongly with bolded words and phrases; "MY OWN PEOPLE," "THE GROUND WAS MINE." Even though everything seemed to be taken from his culture, they still had each other and they knew in their hearts that the earth was theirs.
The theme of this poem seems to me a cry to Mexican Americans to hold on to their pride, to remember their past, and not reject their mother and father and their roots. If everyone who belongs to a particular race bands together, and remembers their past, they can hold on to their pride without sacrificing their culture.
When I tried to pick one word to describe the tone of this poem I could not, for I realized that the speaker's emotion changed constantly and sometimes very quickly throughout the poem. This poem, I believe outlines the feelings and struggles that many races, not only Mexicans feel as they try to assimilate into American culture, without losing their past. The biggest dilemma as Gonzales expresses is succeeding in American society, without giving up your cultural pride. He states,
"My fathers have lost the economic battle
and won the struggle of cultural survival.
And now! I must choose between the paradox of
victory of the spirit, despite physical hunger
or to exist in the grasp of American social neurosis.
sterilization of the soul and a full stomach."
Here, in the beginning of the poem, the beginning of his thoughts, he expresses his confusion on what to do. He is torn. All throughout the poem, the speaker shows an immense sense of pride and this pride cannot be completely satisfied. If he holds on to his culture one hundred percent, not allowing America to erase his past and his roots, he will not fit in American society, he will not be able to climb up the social ladder to success. However, if he does the opposite and "exists in the grasp of American social neurosis," he has succumbed to what he believes to be the "sterilization of the soul." A bitterness is expressed as he sees "a country that has wiped out all my history and stifled all my pride." This is a struggle of many immigrants, as they strive to succeed in America, but not get lost in the melting pot and lose their identity.
After expressing his confusion on how to survive in America and still hold on to his culture, the speaker spends the majority of the poem expressing an immense pride and connection to the history of his country and people. He relates himself to the strongest rulers and princes, the most courageous revolutionaries and martyrs, down to the lowest and weakest peasant who plowed the earth and toiled under the rule of tyrants. There is a constant theme of unity and possession, expressed strongly with bolded words and phrases; "MY OWN PEOPLE," "THE GROUND WAS MINE." Even though everything seemed to be taken from his culture, they still had each other and they knew in their hearts that the earth was theirs.
The theme of this poem seems to me a cry to Mexican Americans to hold on to their pride, to remember their past, and not reject their mother and father and their roots. If everyone who belongs to a particular race bands together, and remembers their past, they can hold on to their pride without sacrificing their culture.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)