Scholarly Identity

If anything you'll find me sitting
 like this guy half the time.

To be or not to be, that is the question? Do I consider myself a scholar? Well are we not all scholars in some way? We learn at least something new of different everyday. And for me to just quote Shakespeare I guess does kind of imply a sense of being a scholar or a nerd. Well for me I do enjoy learning, and not just anything but things that seem to get my attention. I could say that I am more of a thinker and I guess that is kind of the same thing in a way. This being my first year at school has made me see myself more differently and I can say I still have more room to grow and improve myself. As well as to thank all my professors this year for having to deal with this kid, hopefully I wasn't that much of a nuisance. Well as Ornette  Coleman described his music, this is the territory and what follows is the adventure.

Discourse Community II

Los Angeles is one the most diverse cities. Take it from me, a Mexican living within the Koreatown area. And Koreatown is one of the few small communities that exist around Los Angeles. I actually took a little adventure of my own a while back where I visited the areas close to me. It was actually fun, beside the occasionally cholo asking me where I was from, but I saw a lot of communities that I didn't think were really named that way. This whole thing of labeling a community just on a race has got to change but I wonder why they keep the names the same since there are starting to be a mixture of ethnicities moving everywhere. What's even wonderful you get to meet knew people, like a close friend who is Korean but speaks Spanish likes to say he's Mexican, so I tend to identify with being Korean with him. When people ask me where do I live, I think and say happily Koreatown.  

Discourse Community I

I always saw a kind of segregation within schools. Not as me being a racist but from the observations I made in my time during high school. Everybody had a group to which they belonged to and the was even divided before I started school, basically this was going on for a while. And to top it off there were 6 different SLCs which kind of divided students more, but that was based on what they were studying. Here are some examples that was seen and I kid you not the people in these groups knew where they were and who they were. Well lets start with a large area of the quad known as "Disneyland". As it may sound this was a place where a majority of the white kids happened to hang out. Then where the black people would mostly reside was by the cafeteria so some genius decided to call it Six Flags or the Ghettos...I have no idea why. The same went for kids in music, theater, dance and although it sounds as they go hand in hand, again they stuck with their own groups. Sure it does sound bad at first, but things change. And I noticed, more people who "didn't belong" were hanging out in different spots. Times are changing and people are starting to push the boundaries which is a good thing, being different...is good.

This is it now.

The old days.

Counter Stories V

Many people think of books when you hear the word story. I think that's false. Nowadays anything around us can be a counter story. The music we hear, is the musician's way of trying to convey his emotions and message out to the people. As well as the way we interpret a song, for each person is different with their own view points and meanings. As well as art, for the arts are the way into recapture the things that make us human, the things that make us unique from other species. Surrounding us, are counter stories that haven't been told yet. The whole counter story experience has inspired me to start digging more about my family's past and to begin my own stories to tell. I think the best way to get to know the differences out there is to try to understand why things are like this. The point being you will be surprised to what you can find out.
On a lighter note I recommend to listen to this song by Chick Corea called "Spain".

Counter Stories IV

We pass by many faces everyday in our lives. Yet we sometimes forget about those less fortunate. We see homeless people in the street and we ignore them without every thinking "What have they gone through" or "Who are you". In this video we see that a man  named Marcus Malone who once was part Santana's group is now currently homeless, however with the work from the reporter somehow managed to contact Carlos Santana and have them meet  up. Their reaction's were priceless. Who would have known that a random man who was going through garbage was once part of this popular group. You can see quite how emotional both men were to meet each other once again. This just goes to show you can't judge a book by its cover. And to my knowledge Santana offered Marcus "The Magnificent" Malone a new chance by helping him out and offering him to go back with him into the studios.

Counter Stories III

There are many points in time where such sad tragic events unfolded. Sadly Africa was one of those places which repeatedly got screwed over. Then there came a man who took a trip and wrote down his experience into a book. That man was Joseph Conrad and his book, Heart of Darkness was a gateway for me to further understand what really was happening in Africa. Not many people know the dirty secrets that have been hidden away. If one were to find out what really happened it would be horrifying. What's pretty amazing is that Heart of Darkness was the inspiration for Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now which tried to follow the main story line of the book,  as well as trying to give the viewer examples of the lives of US soldiers in Vietnam during the war ( Vietnam War). Featuring quite the cast ensemble I would recommend to watch the movie or read the book, for I hate spoilers.

Twilight II

Thinking about the riots, I wonder if things are the same or different? It is hard for me to believe that it has been a little bit more than 20 years since the LA Riots began. Now I see this city differently. I can't explain it, but Los Angeles is my home and riot and all, I'll love LA. I think after Twilight I need to connect more with the people in the city. For Twilight was the voices of the people, I would want a way for the people to be heard. To prevent the problems which was the reason why many people decided to burn down their own home. However I wonder if one day all the tensions that are existing today and the many problems that many people suffer,  will too one day explode to something...bad.....hopefully not.

Twilight

I was born three years after riots. I have always wondered if my parents were affected as badly as the people telling their stories in Twilight. Listening  to the voices of those whose daily life was changed either before of after the riots is quite interesting. To think that one man, on one day,  could have unleashed years of oppression of a group of people who have suffered a lot throughout the years before. It is tragic. To see how a great was overcome by anger, ignorance, and many other negative emotions which caused the destruction and tragedies of the riots. People always seem to forget about events unless it strikes close to home, and I say we should still try to remember. The people's voices are the ones which we should listen to, to understand what they felt and what happened after.

Counter Stories II

When still talking about counter stories there are so many stories to tell. Many people and places in history have suffered greatly. Yet one group of people on one continent had their lives greatly impacted in the arrival of the white man. I am referring to Africa and its people who have been through many hardships throughout time. 

In Chinua Achebe's book Things Fall Apart, it is about the life of Okonkwo, a important leader in a village within Nigeria, and how his life is changed with certain events and the arrival of Europeans/white man. 

Throughout the first half of the story the reader sees the life and customs of the villagers through the eyes of Okonkwo, the main character. This gives an insight into how society was inside of Africa.  Rather to the claims made that they were savages, the people in the village were in fact civilized having their own form of living, religion, and government. Through this we can see customs, way of life inside of Africa and although it is foreign, it still is a simple, nice life.

However with the arrival of white men in their country and village, things fall apart. The white men brings Christianity and imposes their own government. There is always constant confrontation between the two sides, one fighting to regain their culture and land back, whilst the other seeking to convert and conquer. 

In this way we can see how greatly the  impact is when things change.  This time it is the story of Okonkwo, and how the white man came and everything changed. Through his eyes we see how he suffered and not only him but the rest of his village as well. That is why this is a counter story, showing who really was the savage, who came forcing one's belief upon another group of people. We must never forget that there is always two sides to a coin.

Counter Stories

A counter story is a method to see and observe the stories and experiences of those who didn't have a voice. In most times we are taught in our history classes of what went down through history. We learn of all the significant events, the allies, enemies, and changes that went occurred. However in the history books at school there never is a lesson in what was going on with the other side. Doesn't anyone ask: “Why does that country hate us; or why is the US is not popular in certain countries?’’ Counter stories serve the purpose to educate us; to learn the details and fill in the missing gaps which can show the reason why things happened. In class when I read Winston Churchill’s degrading statements of other races, I was shocked. In history class Churchill was regarded as a war hero in Britain, but here I saw him as just another white man making degrading comments.  Once you look at something from a different view there is a chance to understand the other side. After all there are two sides to a coin. 

Anne's Diary is an example of a counter story as seen through the eyes of a young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis. 

Reyna Grande

When I first saw the book, I didn't think I would actually like it. However as soon as I started to read the story there were so many moments which were entertaining. It is such a touching book, it had me from feeling angry, to laughing, to sad, and happy. Pretty much all over the place. One of the things the got to me was when Reyna was left with her grandmother Evila. I hate her grandmother. If there is a devil, well she fit the role perfectly. I asked myself, what could drive someone to hate three innocent children, who have done nothing to her. At certain times when they did do mischievous things like the "caca taco" a punishment is deserved, but to not properly feed them, clean them is outrageous. Family is family. There should be love instead of hate. I don't know if I could ever forgive a family member who was as cruel as Abuela Evila. Come to think of it, the first four letters of her name spell ''evil". Her story can almost seem like the voice of many  others who have shared similar experiences and I think it is fantastic that Reyna Grande has shared it with so many others.

"El Otro Lado" The Other Side

When I first heard those words to you the truth I was a small child already there. I know being born here gives certain advantages throughout the time, but I don't take anything my parents have done for granted. When looking at Reyna Grande's The Distance Between Us it talks about the dreams of trying to get to the other side (USA) for a better lifestyle which is a thing that every parent wants for their child, a better future. Many looked for a better chance and the Other Side appeared as an Emerald City to the people of Mexico. However looks can be deceiving. The journey to cross to the Other Side is dangerous and sadly there are those who don't make it. I've heard the story  through the words of my brother for he was old enough to remember when he was made the journey. Thanks to him I know see the value of everything that I have and am grateful to my parents for everything that they have done.

 This brings me to the idea of the counter story that was discussed in class. People know of the immigration situation that is in our country today, but have people cared to talk to someone who has crossed, or ask them why they did, was it worth, how was it like? People need to be aware of what is actually happening and know the stories of those who have come from "El Otro Lado", the Other Side.

When I first heard about the new readings that were to be, I at first doubted the book's title. Writing to Change the World by Mary Pipher is the first thing I saw and I seriously doubted that writing can have any impact around the world. How wrong was I. Writing is an effective tool that can be used to change the world, as well as try to reveal truths.
Mary Pipher uses it in a psychological analysis of the USA, referred as Mr. USA. This chapter caught my attention immediately. I was a bit perplexed on how an analysis of a whole country would be done within one chapter. By the end of the chapter I was nodding with every word that was written on the pages. I never knew anyone else in the world thought the same way I would. Mary Pipher did the thing that I never done, she described the U.S the way I've seen it. Now I know that writing is a powerful thing to use. With writing one can tell the world about what is really happening, and I've read things that I have never known.
In history books the U.S appears as a hero, and protector of the third world smaller countries.
There are books that tell a story from a different viewpoint. No one ever thinks that there is another story and writing has given the people a chance to be heard. Same with the U.S actual struggles. Pipher has done an analysis of the situation of the U.S and offers a treatment plan to help the nation.

I wouldn't know if any official U.S personnel has read the book but this has been an accurate description of "Mr. U.S.A" and I think others should deserve to get to know him as well.