These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.'
Sunday, October 4, 2015
WEEK FOUR BLOG ENTRY
As you start to read Tortilla Curtain, choose one line. Write the line here and discuss why that line stood out to you.
“In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, ponte pared, make like a wall. That is, you present a solid unreachable surface, you show nothing, neither fear nor despair, and you protect the inner fortress of yourself from all comers.”
This line stood out to me because it's something anybody can keep in mind when confronting a difficult situation. This line of advice was given to Cándido by his father and it is clear that Cándido followed it and used it throughout his life. It's almost as he built a wall, figuratively speaking, between himself and the rest of the world in an effort to push through all of the misfortune he has had. When you're an immigrant and struggle to find food for not only yourself, but your pregnant wife as well, you have to be tough like a wall. He faced constant misfortune, and if it wasn't for this advice, He probably would've given up a long time ago. Cándido was a really hard worker, and I don't know if I would be able to continue if I experienced everything he did. I found the advice to be highly motivational and, for me, it will be the most memorable part of the book.
Your interpretation of that quote gave me a bigger picture of what his father meant. I feel when I read that I got the message he was trying to convey, but reading your thoughts behind what it meant provided a little more.So thank you. Overall, I have to agree that as a great quote.
I agree with what Shannon said. I understood the gist of it, but it became a bolder statement when you went into depth about the meaning. Somehow I overlooked this line while reading, and now I feel I need to go back and reread it. It is a very motivational line. I feel as if I have become a wall at times too. It is necessary sometimes to get through the worst times. Thought, my worst times are nothing compared to Candido's and his wife's. I can only imagine that kind of struggle. I'm glad you wrote about those lines.
Glad to hear you both feel the same way I did about this quote. It really stood out to me when I first read it and made me really think about the situation Candido was in. When times are tough you sometimes have to form a wall between you and the rest of the world to get over those difficulties. Thanks for the feedback, and I can't wait to see what quotes you guys found to be the most memorable.
"A gabacho sat on the sidewalk with his long hair and begged for change and the sight of him struck her with unholy terror: if he had to beg in his own country, what chance was there for her?"
This line stood out to me because of how it made me view the homeless in our country in a new way. Of course, I know that many of the homeless are legal citizens of the United States, but I never really paid attention to that fact specifically. It caused me to think about how it is possible for someone born in this country with parents and family growing up around them to end up on the streets begging for money. Illegal immigrants cross our borders often with little belongings and little to no family on the other side to support them. They are expected to face a tremendous amount of hardships along the way. It never occurred to me that they could come across a homeless man that was born and raised in this country, and it would cause them to lose hope for themselves. It made me think about how much we do for the homeless. How much do we really help them? How much do we help immigrants? People come to this country for an American dream and a better life. We take so much pride in our country, but we choose to turn our backs to, not only outsiders, but also the middle-aged man down the street who lost his job and then his home.
Hi Carly, I agree with your post, many of us become numb when we see people begging on the streets. This quote brings an important issue about the homeless and immigrants. We choose to ignore the homeless because we often judge them and criticize their lifestyle, but we do not think about their struggles and the sufferings they face every day. I now see things differently after reading this book, because it made me realize that every person should be given an opportunity without being judged or discriminated. I enjoyed reading your post.
Hey Carly! I noticed this line too. Even in a book so clearly focusing on the issues of illegal immigrants, that one line was able to point out such a huge problem in our society. People that grow up hear in the "land of opportunity" end up with latterly nothing. Many times we look pasted them just as we look pasted the suffering of illegal immigrants and assume that it was their fault they are in that situation, but maybe a better way to look at it would be to see a fellow American or better yet a fellow person in need of help! Thanks for sharing that line with us!
Hi Carly, I just have to say you chose a pretty interesting quote from the book. I too never really thought about how seeing a homeless person that was born and raised in this country would cause immigrants to lose hope for themselves. When I think of the homeless, I assume they became like that because they made poor decisions, but that's not always the case. Anything can happen in life regardless of where you are born, and that is something immigrants should think about when they come here seeking a better life. This was a great line from the story; glad this quote stood out to you.
Hi Carly, that is a very good line. I agree with you and I do think its sad to say but we really do chose to ignore homeless people and block them out. We don't really think about them as a normal person with a family. Very good points!
Hi Carly, I just have to say you chose a pretty interesting quote from the book. I too never really thought about how seeing a homeless person that was born and raised in this country would cause immigrants to lose hope for themselves. When I think of the homeless, I assume they became like that because they made poor decisions, but that's not always the case. Anything can happen in life regardless of where you are born, and that is something immigrants should think about when they come here seeking a better life. This was a great line from the story; glad this quote stood out to you.
This is one of my personal favorites as well. I feel that he shed light on the fact that America is looked at as this land where everyone is free from stress and everything comes easily. When in all actuality that is not always the case. I agree with you when you said you wouldn't never think that a person could see a homeless person from our county and lose hope for themselves. I think a lot of time we out cast homeless people and do not take time to get to know their story or attempt to help them. Its really sad.
This is one of my personal favorites as well. I feel that he shed light on the fact that America is looked at as this land where everyone is free from stress and everything comes easily. When in all actuality that is not always the case. I agree with you when you said you wouldn't never think that a person could see a homeless person from our county and lose hope for themselves. I think a lot of time we out cast homeless people and do not take time to get to know their story or attempt to help them. Its really sad.
I see why America was shocked to see an American citizen homeless, but it can happen to anyone. What is shocking is that we live in the land of opportunity, yet homelessness is a prevalent issue. People are focusing on immigration issues, gay community, and yet there are people/ children living on the street. I can go on forever with this, so Ill stop her. I truly enjoyed your blog
“And where was Cándido? Where was the room he’d promised her, the bed, the shower? This was shitty, really shitty. Worse than her father’s house, a hundred times worse”.
This passage stood out the most because América realized that running away with Cándido was the worst mistake she had done in her entire life. América was suffering too much because she was pregnant, hungry, and without a home. All she wanted was her own personal room where she could eat, shower, and sleep. Living in the United States, was nothing like she had imagined and she recognized that living in Tepoztlán, was better than living in constant fear of something happening to her or Cándido. Even though América realized that her decision of leaving her parents was wrong, she could not blame anyone for her misfortune, because she believed that she could have the things that people from the movies had; América was suffering the consequences of coming to the United States. América could of have overcome the difficulties of living in the United States, but Cándido’s misfortune was always interfering with their dreams. This passage is really important because many of us in the United States, have the same struggles that immigrants or legalized people have. Some of the struggles are finding a good job that would provide enough money for our family, and for the dream house everyone wishes for. Like the dreams and goals that Cándido and América wished for.
This is such a good line. It like I can here Candido talking to America about all the great things in the land of the north. All things she could have, everything he could give her, only if she could come with him. She was just not prepared for the disappointments that seem to cling to Candido. Yes, this is a classic line. It speaks to how hard it really is for immigrants. Thanks so much for sharing.
Hey Yesica, I am glad that someone brought up this line. This is what many immigrants expect when they come to the United States. They expect guaranteed wealth and happiness.
I agree with your statement that most of us here have the same struggles that illegal immigrants face. It is difficult finding a good job with good pay that doesn't require you risking your life. It is a risky and frightening situation to be placed in. If America had known of what disappointments may come about, I am sure she would have stayed with her father.
Hi Yesica, I agree with you, America could not blame anyone for her misfortune. In situations such as hers all someone can do is try to survive until things come together. Unfortunately, this is a life that most immigrant families have to live.
She grinned and made a muscle with her right arm. “I can do anything a man can do.” This line stood out to me, because América told Cándido that she was going to go and look for work to provide them some money for food and somewhere decent to stay. Even though Cándido was still hurt from the accident and couldn’t work, América still took care of him. She was willing to take on any risks and danger, so that they will be able to eat that night. Meanwhile, Delaney’s wife, Kyra went to work for Mike Bender Realty, Inc. She also worked, while Delaney was a stay home dad and writer for a column in the newspaper. They did not have to worry about what they were going to eat that morning or what they would eat for dinner. They worked, but they were given much more opportunities to go to the grocery store than América and Cándido did. In the United States, women today are increasingly working to provide for their family. They are field workers, house cleaners, or any other hardworking jobs to earn a meal for their family. Men are not present in their lives or they are unable to work. Women are taking on the roles as men and doing anything they can to help support their family. América still took the initiative to help Cándido out during the difficult circumstances they were in.
Hi Brittany, I enjoyed reading your post; it made me think about how hard women work in order to support their family. It was interesting that you mentioned the role of women in the United States. Even though woman obtain different positions in the workforce, they all work in order to provide for their family. Like the quote said women could do anything a man can.
Hi Brittany. The quote you chose is a very powerful one, especially to working women. It describes how many women feel about being able to work and support themselves without the need of a man. In this story, however, it describes the efforts of a women working to not only support herself, but her hurt husband. Lines like these can be very inspirational, and I'm glad you shared it with us.
I loved that one! I almost wrote about this line too because I can just imagine her saying it with a smirk on her face, yet it has so much meaning. It's like in the song from Annie Get You Gun, "Anything you can do , I can do better". Even though we use those types of lines as joking and fun competition, she is completely serious. In her case, it is a matter of life and death and she shows she is not afraid to do a man's work and will do whatever it takes.
The line that stood out, page 124, of Tortilla Curtain was, “ The gabachos were watching them now, from every corner of the market, darting glances at them as they hustled by with their quick strides and dry-cleaned clothes, little baskets clutched to their chests, staring at a poor man and his wife as if they were diseased, as if they were assassins plotting a murder.”
You can feel the emotional roller coaster Candido has been on. He has been through so much, striving to get ahead, only to fail miserably with each gain. The emotion is stuck deep inside him. It festers there and we read it manifest here as he watches the people move past. He watches them, and in their mannerisms he sees the disgust shown towards them. As such, his mind creates the division between himself, wife, and these clueless natives. He sees, there is no acceptance, not from them. No matter how hard he worked, how good a mother America could be, it didn’t matter to the gringos. He sees they walk around with invisible guarded walls, just like those that surround their communities. They trust no one and will cheat everyone. He feels all eyes upon them, no shelter from people’s glares. Part of his emotional anger is sadness. Sadness for his wife that she does not understand these people like he did. He knows every journey will be a struggle. Part of him wishes to leave and not come back, but the future is darker back in Mexico. So he must deal with this, the gringos hate. He must suffer their shame in order to provide a better life for his family. This he knows will be no easy task.
Hi Clem, Your post has a lot of meaning because even though immigrants are judged and discriminated against, all they want is to provide for their families. Many of the things that Candido went through is because he wanted to have a better life in the United States and in order to do so he did not care what others thought about him. I enjoyed reading your post it made me see another perspective of Candido's character.
I really like the quote you chose. I feel the same way for Cándido. He tries his hardest to be there and provide for his wife but there is always another obstacle. He has realized that it doesn't matter how kind of person he is, he will never fit in. It truly is heart breaking.
Yesica and Katherine, you got the point i was trying to make. Candido is trying so hard to succeed as an immigrant. This and the worry of a child on the way seems to force him into situations that set him back. For all his failures, it finally brings light he can never fit in.
"He hadn't forgotten his unfortunate encounter with Cándido four days earlier- the thought of it still made his stomach clench- but the needs and wants and minor irritations of daily life had begun to push it into the background"
This line really bothered me. This man hit another person then brushed off hitting him because he was Mexican. Then just a few days later he admits to slowly forgetting what happened to that man because he is annoyed with making coffee for his wife and letting the dogs out. He has no idea if he killed the other man or how the accident affected his life. Everything gets brushed away because he is Mexican and probably illegal. Human life matters no matter your race. This character is getting on my bad side.
Hello Katherine, I feel exactly the same way that you do about Delaney's character. Another line that stood out for me was when he called Kyra to let her know about the incident and when she started asking all these questions he stated, " I told you - he was Mexican." As if his race made it okay for him to hit this man and not think about how greatly this would affect someone.
Hey Katherine, I also chose a few lines from the beginning of the reading that stood out to me the most. I agree with what you said about Delaney brushing off the guilt because the man was mexican.
I was going to mention the same quote that Jazmin included. His wife is very worked up about him hitting this man and he tries to make the situation seem less by stating "I told you- he was mexican." Human life does matter, but it is very sad that people today still have attitudes like Delaney about other races.
Hi Katherine! I noticed this line too when I was reading the book. It is such a sad statement about the state of society that we are so able to ignore the suffering of other human beings. Along with this class I am taking a class on the history of the Holocaust, and I am realizing just how slippery of a slope it is when one race or group of people is singled out as less valuable or compassion or help than other people. Clearly this is not the same as the mass murder of millions of people, but hopefully this book can begin to shed more light on the problem of belittling immigrants before the problem is able to escalate into hatred. Thanks for sharing this with us, and I will see you in the morning!
I'm happy that I'm not the only one who is irritated by this character. What that sadden truth is like Patricia was saying, people actually think this way in modern times. I started discussing this book with my brothers girlfriend and she actually agreed with Delaney. I was so mad and frustrated, we got into a little bit of an argument before I finally walked away. I just couldn't believe someone so close to me could have such terrible thoughts about human life.
The line that stood out to me in, "The Tortilla Curtain" was on page 99. "The kid was six years old and the world was full of nasty surprises - look what had happened to the dog in their own backyard." There were plenty of line so far that stood out to me and I had thought about writing for this blog entry but I ultimately decided to go with this line because it really bothered me as I read it. In this line, Delaney is contemplating whether to leave Jordan at home while he picked up some pasta at the store. Initially, he was going to leave Jordan at home but then started thinking of things that could go wrong if he were to do that. He made his decision because he was thinking that one, the child was only six and two, something bad could happen to him like it happened to their dog. I found Delaney’s way of thinking very disturbing when I read this line. Basically, what I got from this line was that he was comparing the potential danger that Jordan could have been in with their dog that died. Ironically, he had acted worse and put someone else’s life in danger. He hit Candido with his vehicle, saw his condition and really tried convincing himself that the man would heal on his own. Even after the incident, he tried to justify his guilty emotions by saying to himself that this man was Mexican, as if that made it okay. It is safe to say that I am not very fond of Delaney’s character.
"...it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana..."
This was one line that I made sure to highlight as I read through the first chapter. As the story began, the book went into detail about Delaney's reaction to hitting another person with his car. As the book went on describing how concerned Delaney was about this situation, I looked at his character with a positive view. However, throughout this chapter, a strong racist personality starts to come out of Delaney after he discovers that the man he had hit was mexican. When he takes his car to fix the little damages that were made, the repair man asks Delaney what he hit. He responded by saying that he "hit a dog". Although this was his excuse for the damage, I don't think he was being sarcastic. When he said "I hit a dog" I think that is what he was really comparing the mexican man to.
I think this stood out to me most because I come from a mexican background. Although it is a book, it hurts to know that there are really people who create stereotypes about at the hispanic community in this way.
Hey Patricia, I totally agree with you. I like how you brought attention to the stereotypes that people have upon the hispanic communtiy. It bugs me how people have such perceptions about mexicans. I also come from a mexican background and i understand how hurtful it can be to hear such stereotypes.
I hope you're having a wonderful week! You picked a line that was somewhat similar to the line that I chose. I believe that we both picked a line that focused on a negative context of hispanic people. My line focused on our current political system and how it reflects the thoughts of a Presidential candidate. Thanks for bringing that up.
With the craziness of the week, I have only been able to get about a fourth of the way through the book, but it is far more interesting than I thought it would be. I guess that just goes to show you that the phrase "never judge a book by its cover" is true! The line that has stood out to me the most so far is on the very first page of the chapter one, which is actually page five in my version, which explained that "One minute he was winding his way up the canyon . . . thinking nothing, absolutely nothing, and the next thing he knew the car was skewed across the shoulder in a dissipating fan of dust." This line immediately got me caught up in the story, and I thought it was very accurate and powerful not just about a car accident but how life can take on a dramatic change in only a few short minutes. This accident is what set the stage for the entire story where the lives of two very different people begin to converge and where both are hopefully able to learn the value of the other person's culture. I am very excited to find out how this powerful start to a unique story is going to resolve itself.
Hi Janel, i like the line that you chose, this line was very detailed and like you mentioned it comes to show how fast things can change. Also, like you mentioned you see how cultures can clash, but you can also how to find the good in the differences.
The line that stood out to me the most, was at the at the beginning of the book, chapter one, where the author states, "Delaney's first thought was for the car (was it marred, scratched, dented?), and then for the insurance rates (what was this going to do to his good-driver discount?), and finally, belatedly, for the victim. I chose this quote because I can relate to how he felt at the moment of the accident. Recently about three days ago while I was on my way to work, I got into a minor accident. At a red light somehow I got distracted by construction on the road and I rear ended a woman in a blue Altima. Thankfully no one was hurt. The first thought that came to my head was my insurance, rather than thinking if anybody else in my surroundings was hurt. Unfortunately in my case I thought about myself first rather than the woman I rear ended. The first thing I asked her once we both pulled over was if she was ok, yet feeling guilty because my first actual thought was the insurance. Overall I can relate to Delanely and how he felt at the moment; selfishly only thinking about one's issue rather than the woman I could of possibly hurt. Im not sure if this is a natural human instinct but It was the first reaction that I felt and this is why I can relate to Delanely.
Yes, I couldn't agree with you more! I think as humans, we tend to worry about ourselves rather than any other people surrounding us. When I first got in a car accident, I had the same thoughts! I also felt guilty because I should be worrying about if I am okay or the other person is okay. We get distracted and focused in our own little worlds that we don't care about others. This is sad. I am glad to hear no one got hurt! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jennifer, This was a great quote to write about! This was the point in the book where I began to dislike Delaney. It’s amazing to me that a person could hit someone with their car and have the initial concerns of the condition of their vehicle and the cost of their insurance.
“Traffic was traffic, and it didn’t faze her a bit. She moved with it, sat in it, ran with its unfathomable flow. The car was her Sanctuary, and with the phone switched off and the waves rollin from the front speaker to the rear and back again, nothing could touch her. Just sitting there, locked in, the exhaust rising about her, she began to feel better.” (Boyle 73)
This quote became me. I say this meaning, it reminded me of myself so much I found myself reading it over and over. It has been many times like Kyra, where I have got in my car turn the music up and began to drive and instantly feel better. It is an escape. The music begins to consume your brain and the swift traffic began to take your thoughts away with them. In this moment I related to Kyra. This made the book an easier read for me and also made the character real. I love the language and the different aspects of life that are put into one book. Yet it the author still managed to give 2 different lifestyles and show every person struggles.
I hope you're having a wonderful week. What an interesting application to a line in the book. When reading the quote you chose, I did not think that she was relieving herself by being in the car. I simply thought that life had handed her another burden, i.e. traffic, but she had no choice but to bear with it. Thank you for sharing this!
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills - all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.” - Jack Jardine to Delaney
This line from the Tortilla Curtain stood out to me because of a number of reasons. The first reason being that, as the campaign for President of the United States has started, this quote reminded me of Donald Trump and his narrow minded view on Hispanics. According to Trump, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lost of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting.” Although this line in the book is not a positive one, it truly is sad to see some people agree with Trump and his statement, which is essentially, by correlation, agreeing with Jack Jardine. This is a problem for me. Solely because it is such a negative view on a group of people that, like everyone else, is trying to survive. I don’t want to get into the technical aspects, and the politics especially, of this statement but reading this novel is like reading a newspaper on our current society. I encourage all students to vote for whomever they think would represent them well, but with that, I urge my fellow peers to really look into the facts and projects that candidates are hoping to do.
Hello Mike, This is a very powerful line. You are completely correct this book associates all of the negative problems this country has to illegal mexican immigrants, however that is not the case. There are a lot of positive things that immigrants bring to the table, so it is unfair to judge all of them based on the negative stereotypes. I believe all people regardless their race or socioeconomic status should be treated equally because like you said everyone's ultimate goal is to survive and strive for a better future.
Delaney says this to Kyra when he calls her to tell her that he hit a man with his car. It’s in the very beginning of the book so such a simple line creates such a strong tone for the rest of the novel. It is an early insight into Delaney's character, showing that he does not fully believe the ideals of equality, or at least understand the overall outcome cannot be changed. Delaney even thinks ot himself first, what has happened to my car? Or are there any dents or scratches? The man he hit with his car was Mexican so it shows there was no need to worry about being sued or anyone finding out about it. Though Daleney did offer to help him, he realized the man wouldn’t be able to get any medical attention because he was an immigrant. A simple twenty dollars made the problem go away. This is still so surprising to me because I couldn’t imagine hitting a human being with my car, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and just leaving them there with obviously severe wounds.
Hi Maegan, This quote also really stuck out to me. Delaney believes that because Candido is Mexican, he doesn’t need practical health care and he can be healed from being hit by a car with $20. This quote really sets the tone for the theme of discrimination that is presented throughout the book.
Hello Maegan, I was as shocked as you were about how Delaney only thought about materialistic things when he had just finished hurting a man. Personally if I had ran a person over with my car the last thing I would care about are dents or scratches on my car. I would rush and look everywhere to find the person and provide them with medical assistance rather than simply twenty dollars. I wouldn't care if I got sued or my license suspended for hitting a pedestrian all that I would care about is the persons health regardless of the race or socioeconomic status. So far this book has really opened my eyes to value the important things in life rather than the materialist things.
“I can do anything a man can do…She was tiny, like child-she was a child…What could she hope to accomplish at a labor exchange?” This phrase stood out to me because women are still underestimated, especially within the Latino population. Most women are expected to be stay at home moms, take care of the cleaning, cooking, and etc. America proved to be more than what Candido expected of her, yes she weighed less than hundred and five pounds, but it did not mean that was unable to help her family. Candido was unable to work because of his injuries and she knew she had to find work to feed her husband and unborn child. She was courageous enough to go among many men to find a job. This is a new role that many women are taking.
This is a very powerful line and I couldn't agree with you any more. Women are still a minority in today's society and I believe that she really stood up for her rights by demonstrating that women can also be independent and strong providers for their family. Especially amongst the latino community women are seen more as motherly rather than providers however this stereotype is evolving into women being more fearless and powerful. Size shouldn't matter because I myself am a small girl. I'm 4'11 and I weight about 120 pounds, yet I consider myself outgoing and independent. I am a strong believer of Shakespeare's quote "And though she be but little, she is fierce".
“There wasn’t a trail in the Santa Monica Mountains that didn’t have its crushed beer cans, its carpet of glass, its candy wrappers and cigarette butts, and it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana…” – Delaney, Page 10
When Delaney hits Candido, he is first concerned with his car. Then, he feels guilt and tries to heal Candido with a 20 dollar bill. As his thoughts continue, Delaney becomes angry at the fact that Candido is living in Topanga Canyon. I find this thought ridiculous for a few reasons. First of all, it is not Candido at all who is severely adding to the issue of littering, due to the fact that Candido doesn’t have the luxury of beer cans, candy, and cigarettes. Second, it is offensive for Delaney to bring up the fact that Candido is Mexican. A person’s race really has nothing to do with the trash he leaves around. Finally, it is also racist and ignorant to think that Candido is trying to turn the canyon into a “little Tijuana.” Candido is living in the canyon out of necessity, not out of will to destroy the environment.
Hello Taylor, I completely agree with you. This line of the book also caught my eyes because it was very racist and implied that all mexicans are trashy, thoughtless and stupid people. I also feel like Delaney made it look like it was Candido's choice to liter the Topanga Canyon but in reality he had no other place to live so Candido was doing the best he could for his family. I feel that the words he used and his actions truly demonstrated what kind of a selfish person he was. The race of a person shouldn't matter especially if they are hurt. I can't believe he bought the guy off with $20 and knowing how hurt he was didn't insist on taking him to a doctor or at least buying Candido some first aid supplies and food so he could get better. Instead Delaney did the total opposite and began to judge Candido based on a mexican stereotype.
Hi Karina, Thank you for the reply! You noticed a lot of the same elements in this quote that I did. I think that Delaney’s beliefs are representative of more people who feel that you can judge a person’s attitudes and work habits based on their race.
The line that stood out the most to me was found in page 13 where Delaney clearly specifies how he felt about leaving the injured man behind. “Because he’d just left the poor son of a bitch there alongside the road, abandoned him, and because he’d been glad of it, relieved to buy him off with his twenty dollars’ blood money. This line clearly sets the mood for the rest of the book. It completely caught my attention making me wonder where this story would lead. Through this quote you can see that Delaney experiences discrimination against illegal Mexican immigrants. It also expresses how he was aware that what he’d done was against his liberal-humanist ideals yet, still rejoiced thinking back on his racist actions. I found this line to be very powerful because it expresses how he feels about illegal Mexicans by using the phrase poor son of a bitch and how he bought him with his twenty dollar blood money. I personally thought it was unfair to judge the man based on the few facts that he knew about him. It’s sad to know that even though we have come so far in diminishing racial injustice, there are still people nowadays who practice racisms. A lot of the times it’s because they don’t know the full story behind immigrant’s lives. So they judge them based on the little facts that they know. I haven’t read the whole book yet, but from what I have read I can see that there will be a lot of unfair assumptions that will lead to bad conflicts and bad resolutions. So far this book seems really interesting and is filled with different analogies that provide a double meaning such as the walls, coyotes and other animals to name a few.
The sentence that stood out to me was one from the conversation when Delaney called Kyra to let her know he had been in an accident. Kyra became very upset when Delaney confessed to her he had hit man with his car. As she began to worry about Candido going to the police, Delaney tried to calm her down by telling her that he gave him $20. As he made that statement, Kyra didn't seem to understand why a person would stay quiet over $20. Delaney trying to help Kyra understand, said "I told you- he was a Mexican". He explained that because Candido was Mexican it would be to his disadvantage to go the authorities. I feel that this sentence reveals a lot about Delaney. This shows a bit of a racist side to him.
“In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, ponte pared, make like a wall. That is, you present a solid unreachable surface, you show nothing, neither fear nor despair, and you protect the inner fortress of yourself from all comers.”
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because it's something anybody can keep in mind when confronting a difficult situation. This line of advice was given to Cándido by his father and it is clear that Cándido followed it and used it throughout his life. It's almost as he built a wall, figuratively speaking, between himself and the rest of the world in an effort to push through all of the misfortune he has had. When you're an immigrant and struggle to find food for not only yourself, but your pregnant wife as well, you have to be tough like a wall. He faced constant misfortune, and if it wasn't for this advice, He probably would've given up a long time ago. Cándido was a really hard worker, and I don't know if I would be able to continue if I experienced everything he did. I found the advice to be highly motivational and, for me, it will be the most memorable part of the book.
Hey Jesse,
DeleteYour interpretation of that quote gave me a bigger picture of what his father meant. I feel when I read that I got the message he was trying to convey, but reading your thoughts behind what it meant provided a little more.So thank you. Overall, I have to agree that as a great quote.
-Shannon
Hi Jesse,
DeleteI agree with what Shannon said. I understood the gist of it, but it became a bolder statement when you went into depth about the meaning. Somehow I overlooked this line while reading, and now I feel I need to go back and reread it. It is a very motivational line. I feel as if I have become a wall at times too. It is necessary sometimes to get through the worst times. Thought, my worst times are nothing compared to Candido's and his wife's. I can only imagine that kind of struggle. I'm glad you wrote about those lines.
Glad to hear you both feel the same way I did about this quote. It really stood out to me when I first read it and made me really think about the situation Candido was in. When times are tough you sometimes have to form a wall between you and the rest of the world to get over those difficulties. Thanks for the feedback, and I can't wait to see what quotes you guys found to be the most memorable.
Delete"A gabacho sat on the sidewalk with his long hair and begged for change and the sight of him struck her with unholy terror: if he had to beg in his own country, what chance was there for her?"
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me because of how it made me view the homeless in our country in a new way. Of course, I know that many of the homeless are legal citizens of the United States, but I never really paid attention to that fact specifically. It caused me to think about how it is possible for someone born in this country with parents and family growing up around them to end up on the streets begging for money. Illegal immigrants cross our borders often with little belongings and little to no family on the other side to support them. They are expected to face a tremendous amount of hardships along the way. It never occurred to me that they could come across a homeless man that was born and raised in this country, and it would cause them to lose hope for themselves. It made me think about how much we do for the homeless. How much do we really help them? How much do we help immigrants? People come to this country for an American dream and a better life. We take so much pride in our country, but we choose to turn our backs to, not only outsiders, but also the middle-aged man down the street who lost his job and then his home.
Hi Carly,
DeleteI agree with your post, many of us become numb when we see people begging on the streets. This quote brings an important issue about the homeless and immigrants. We choose to ignore the homeless because we often judge them and criticize their lifestyle, but we do not think about their struggles and the sufferings they face every day. I now see things differently after reading this book, because it made me realize that every person should be given an opportunity without being judged or discriminated. I enjoyed reading your post.
Hey Carly! I noticed this line too. Even in a book so clearly focusing on the issues of illegal immigrants, that one line was able to point out such a huge problem in our society. People that grow up hear in the "land of opportunity" end up with latterly nothing. Many times we look pasted them just as we look pasted the suffering of illegal immigrants and assume that it was their fault they are in that situation, but maybe a better way to look at it would be to see a fellow American or better yet a fellow person in need of help! Thanks for sharing that line with us!
DeleteHi Carly, I just have to say you chose a pretty interesting quote from the book. I too never really thought about how seeing a homeless person that was born and raised in this country would cause immigrants to lose hope for themselves. When I think of the homeless, I assume they became like that because they made poor decisions, but that's not always the case. Anything can happen in life regardless of where you are born, and that is something immigrants should think about when they come here seeking a better life. This was a great line from the story; glad this quote stood out to you.
DeleteHi Carly, that is a very good line. I agree with you and I do think its sad to say but we really do chose to ignore homeless people and block them out. We don't really think about them as a normal person with a family. Very good points!
DeleteHi Carly, I just have to say you chose a pretty interesting quote from the book. I too never really thought about how seeing a homeless person that was born and raised in this country would cause immigrants to lose hope for themselves. When I think of the homeless, I assume they became like that because they made poor decisions, but that's not always the case. Anything can happen in life regardless of where you are born, and that is something immigrants should think about when they come here seeking a better life. This was a great line from the story; glad this quote stood out to you.
DeleteHi Carly,
DeleteThis is one of my personal favorites as well. I feel that he shed light on the fact that America is looked at as this land where everyone is free from stress and everything comes easily. When in all actuality that is not always the case. I agree with you when you said you wouldn't never think that a person could see a homeless person from our county and lose hope for themselves. I think a lot of time we out cast homeless people and do not take time to get to know their story or attempt to help them. Its really sad.
-Shannon
Hi Carly,
DeleteThis is one of my personal favorites as well. I feel that he shed light on the fact that America is looked at as this land where everyone is free from stress and everything comes easily. When in all actuality that is not always the case. I agree with you when you said you wouldn't never think that a person could see a homeless person from our county and lose hope for themselves. I think a lot of time we out cast homeless people and do not take time to get to know their story or attempt to help them. Its really sad.
-Shannon
I see why America was shocked to see an American citizen homeless, but it can happen to anyone. What is shocking is that we live in the land of opportunity, yet homelessness is a prevalent issue. People are focusing on immigration issues, gay community, and yet there are people/ children living on the street. I can go on forever with this, so Ill stop her. I truly enjoyed your blog
Delete“And where was Cándido? Where was the room he’d promised her, the bed, the shower? This was shitty, really shitty. Worse than her father’s house, a hundred times worse”.
ReplyDeleteThis passage stood out the most because América realized that running away with Cándido was the worst mistake she had done in her entire life. América was suffering too much because she was pregnant, hungry, and without a home. All she wanted was her own personal room where she could eat, shower, and sleep. Living in the United States, was nothing like she had imagined and she recognized that living in Tepoztlán, was better than living in constant fear of something happening to her or Cándido.
Even though América realized that her decision of leaving her parents was wrong, she could not blame anyone for her misfortune, because she believed that she could have the things that people from the movies had; América was suffering the consequences of coming to the United States.
América could of have overcome the difficulties of living in the United States, but Cándido’s misfortune was always interfering with their dreams. This passage is really important because many of us in the United States, have the same struggles that immigrants or legalized people have. Some of the struggles are finding a good job that would provide enough money for our family, and for the dream house everyone wishes for. Like the dreams and goals that Cándido and América wished for.
This is such a good line. It like I can here Candido talking to America about all the great things in the land of the north. All things she could have, everything he could give her, only if she could come with him. She was just not prepared for the disappointments that seem to cling to Candido. Yes, this is a classic line. It speaks to how hard it really is for immigrants. Thanks so much for sharing.
DeleteHey Yesica, I am glad that someone brought up this line. This is what many immigrants expect when they come to the United States. They expect guaranteed wealth and happiness.
DeleteI agree with your statement that most of us here have the same struggles that illegal immigrants face. It is difficult finding a good job with good pay that doesn't require you risking your life. It is a risky and frightening situation to be placed in. If America had known of what disappointments may come about, I am sure she would have stayed with her father.
Hi Yesica, I agree with you, America could not blame anyone for her misfortune. In situations such as hers all someone can do is try to survive until things come together. Unfortunately, this is a life that most immigrant families have to live.
DeleteShe grinned and made a muscle with her right arm. “I can do anything a man can do.”
ReplyDeleteThis line stood out to me, because América told Cándido that she was going to go and look for work to provide them some money for food and somewhere decent to stay. Even though Cándido was still hurt from the accident and couldn’t work, América still took care of him. She was willing to take on any risks and danger, so that they will be able to eat that night.
Meanwhile, Delaney’s wife, Kyra went to work for Mike Bender Realty, Inc. She also worked, while Delaney was a stay home dad and writer for a column in the newspaper. They did not have to worry about what they were going to eat that morning or what they would eat for dinner. They worked, but they were given much more opportunities to go to the grocery store than América and Cándido did.
In the United States, women today are increasingly working to provide for their family. They are field workers, house cleaners, or any other hardworking jobs to earn a meal for their family. Men are not present in their lives or they are unable to work. Women are taking on the roles as men and doing anything they can to help support their family. América still took the initiative to help Cándido out during the difficult circumstances they were in.
Hi Brittany,
DeleteI enjoyed reading your post; it made me think about how hard women work in order to support their family. It was interesting that you mentioned the role of women in the United States. Even though woman obtain different positions in the workforce, they all work in order to provide for their family. Like the quote said women could do anything a man can.
Hi Brittany. The quote you chose is a very powerful one, especially to working women. It describes how many women feel about being able to work and support themselves without the need of a man. In this story, however, it describes the efforts of a women working to not only support herself, but her hurt husband. Lines like these can be very inspirational, and I'm glad you shared it with us.
DeleteI loved that one! I almost wrote about this line too because I can just imagine her saying it with a smirk on her face, yet it has so much meaning. It's like in the song from Annie Get You Gun, "Anything you can do , I can do better". Even though we use those types of lines as joking and fun competition, she is completely serious. In her case, it is a matter of life and death and she shows she is not afraid to do a man's work and will do whatever it takes.
DeleteThe line that stood out, page 124, of Tortilla Curtain was, “ The gabachos were watching them now, from every corner of the market, darting glances at them as they hustled by with their quick strides and dry-cleaned clothes, little baskets clutched to their chests, staring at a poor man and his wife as if they were diseased, as if they were assassins plotting a murder.”
ReplyDeleteYou can feel the emotional roller coaster Candido has been on. He has been through so much, striving to get ahead, only to fail miserably with each gain. The emotion is stuck deep inside him. It festers there and we read it manifest here as he watches the people move past. He watches them, and in their mannerisms he sees the disgust shown towards them. As such, his mind creates the division between himself, wife, and these clueless natives. He sees, there is no acceptance, not from them. No matter how hard he worked, how good a mother America could be, it didn’t matter to the gringos. He sees they walk around with invisible guarded walls, just like those that surround their communities. They trust no one and will cheat everyone. He feels all eyes upon them, no shelter from people’s glares. Part of his emotional anger is sadness. Sadness for his wife that she does not understand these people like he did. He knows every journey will be a struggle. Part of him wishes to leave and not come back, but the future is darker back in Mexico. So he must deal with this, the gringos hate. He must suffer their shame in order to provide a better life for his family. This he knows will be no easy task.
Hi Clem,
DeleteYour post has a lot of meaning because even though immigrants are judged and discriminated against, all they want is to provide for their families. Many of the things that Candido went through is because he wanted to have a better life in the United States and in order to do so he did not care what others thought about him. I enjoyed reading your post it made me see another perspective of Candido's character.
I really like the quote you chose. I feel the same way for Cándido. He tries his hardest to be there and provide for his wife but there is always another obstacle. He has realized that it doesn't matter how kind of person he is, he will never fit in. It truly is heart breaking.
DeleteYesica and Katherine, you got the point i was trying to make. Candido is trying so hard to succeed as an immigrant. This and the worry of a child on the way seems to force him into situations that set him back. For all his failures, it finally brings light he can never fit in.
Delete"He hadn't forgotten his unfortunate encounter with Cándido four days earlier- the thought of it still made his stomach clench- but the needs and wants and minor irritations of daily life had begun to push it into the background"
ReplyDeleteThis line really bothered me. This man hit another person then brushed off hitting him because he was Mexican. Then just a few days later he admits to slowly forgetting what happened to that man because he is annoyed with making coffee for his wife and letting the dogs out. He has no idea if he killed the other man or how the accident affected his life. Everything gets brushed away because he is Mexican and probably illegal. Human life matters no matter your race. This character is getting on my bad side.
Hello Katherine, I feel exactly the same way that you do about Delaney's character. Another line that stood out for me was when he called Kyra to let her know about the incident and when she started asking all these questions he stated, " I told you - he was Mexican." As if his race made it okay for him to hit this man and not think about how greatly this would affect someone.
DeleteHey Katherine, I also chose a few lines from the beginning of the reading that stood out to me the most. I agree with what you said about Delaney brushing off the guilt because the man was mexican.
DeleteI was going to mention the same quote that Jazmin included. His wife is very worked up about him hitting this man and he tries to make the situation seem less by stating "I told you- he was mexican." Human life does matter, but it is very sad that people today still have attitudes like Delaney about other races.
Hi Katherine! I noticed this line too when I was reading the book. It is such a sad statement about the state of society that we are so able to ignore the suffering of other human beings. Along with this class I am taking a class on the history of the Holocaust, and I am realizing just how slippery of a slope it is when one race or group of people is singled out as less valuable or compassion or help than other people. Clearly this is not the same as the mass murder of millions of people, but hopefully this book can begin to shed more light on the problem of belittling immigrants before the problem is able to escalate into hatred. Thanks for sharing this with us, and I will see you in the morning!
DeleteI'm happy that I'm not the only one who is irritated by this character. What that sadden truth is like Patricia was saying, people actually think this way in modern times. I started discussing this book with my brothers girlfriend and she actually agreed with Delaney. I was so mad and frustrated, we got into a little bit of an argument before I finally walked away. I just couldn't believe someone so close to me could have such terrible thoughts about human life.
DeleteThe line that stood out to me in, "The Tortilla Curtain" was on page 99. "The kid was six years old and the world was full of nasty surprises - look what had happened to the dog in their own backyard." There were plenty of line so far that stood out to me and I had thought about writing for this blog entry but I ultimately decided to go with this line because it really bothered me as I read it. In this line, Delaney is contemplating whether to leave Jordan at home while he picked up some pasta at the store. Initially, he was going to leave Jordan at home but then started thinking of things that could go wrong if he were to do that. He made his decision because he was thinking that one, the child was only six and two, something bad could happen to him like it happened to their dog. I found Delaney’s way of thinking very disturbing when I read this line. Basically, what I got from this line was that he was comparing the potential danger that Jordan could have been in with their dog that died. Ironically, he had acted worse and put someone else’s life in danger. He hit Candido with his vehicle, saw his condition and really tried convincing himself that the man would heal on his own. Even after the incident, he tried to justify his guilty emotions by saying to himself that this man was Mexican, as if that made it okay. It is safe to say that I am not very fond of Delaney’s character.
ReplyDelete"...it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana..."
ReplyDeleteThis was one line that I made sure to highlight as I read through the first chapter. As the story began, the book went into detail about Delaney's reaction to hitting another person with his car. As the book went on describing how concerned Delaney was about this situation, I looked at his character with a positive view. However, throughout this chapter, a strong racist personality starts to come out of Delaney after he discovers that the man he had hit was mexican. When he takes his car to fix the little damages that were made, the repair man asks Delaney what he hit. He responded by saying that he "hit a dog". Although this was his excuse for the damage, I don't think he was being sarcastic. When he said "I hit a dog" I think that is what he was really comparing the mexican man to.
I think this stood out to me most because I come from a mexican background. Although it is a book, it hurts to know that there are really people who create stereotypes about at the hispanic community in this way.
Hey Patricia, I totally agree with you. I like how you brought attention to the stereotypes that people have upon the hispanic communtiy. It bugs me how people have such perceptions about mexicans. I also come from a mexican background and i understand how hurtful it can be to hear such stereotypes.
DeleteHi Patricia!
DeleteI hope you're having a wonderful week! You picked a line that was somewhat similar to the line that I chose. I believe that we both picked a line that focused on a negative context of hispanic people. My line focused on our current political system and how it reflects the thoughts of a Presidential candidate. Thanks for bringing that up.
With the craziness of the week, I have only been able to get about a fourth of the way through the book, but it is far more interesting than I thought it would be. I guess that just goes to show you that the phrase "never judge a book by its cover" is true! The line that has stood out to me the most so far is on the very first page of the chapter one, which is actually page five in my version, which explained that "One minute he was winding his way up the canyon . . . thinking nothing, absolutely nothing, and the next thing he knew the car was skewed across the shoulder in a dissipating fan of dust." This line immediately got me caught up in the story, and I thought it was very accurate and powerful not just about a car accident but how life can take on a dramatic change in only a few short minutes. This accident is what set the stage for the entire story where the lives of two very different people begin to converge and where both are hopefully able to learn the value of the other person's culture. I am very excited to find out how this powerful start to a unique story is going to resolve itself.
ReplyDeleteHi Janel, i like the line that you chose, this line was very detailed and like you mentioned it comes to show how fast things can change. Also, like you mentioned you see how cultures can clash, but you can also how to find the good in the differences.
DeleteThe line that stood out to me the most, was at the at the beginning of the book, chapter one, where the author states, "Delaney's first thought was for the car (was it marred, scratched, dented?), and then for the insurance rates (what was this going to do to his good-driver discount?), and finally, belatedly, for the victim. I chose this quote because I can relate to how he felt at the moment of the accident. Recently about three days ago while I was on my way to work, I got into a minor accident. At a red light somehow I got distracted by construction on the road and I rear ended a woman in a blue Altima. Thankfully no one was hurt. The first thought that came to my head was my insurance, rather than thinking if anybody else in my surroundings was hurt. Unfortunately in my case I thought about myself first rather than the woman I rear ended. The first thing I asked her once we both pulled over was if she was ok, yet feeling guilty because my first actual thought was the insurance. Overall I can relate to Delanely and how he felt at the moment; selfishly only thinking about one's issue rather than the woman I could of possibly hurt. Im not sure if this is a natural human instinct but It was the first reaction that I felt and this is why I can relate to Delanely.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
DeleteYes, I couldn't agree with you more! I think as humans, we tend to worry about ourselves rather than any other people surrounding us. When I first got in a car accident, I had the same thoughts! I also felt guilty because I should be worrying about if I am okay or the other person is okay. We get distracted and focused in our own little worlds that we don't care about others. This is sad. I am glad to hear no one got hurt! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Jennifer, This was a great quote to write about! This was the point in the book where I began to dislike Delaney. It’s amazing to me that a person could hit someone with their car and have the initial concerns of the condition of their vehicle and the cost of their insurance.
Delete“Traffic was traffic, and it didn’t faze her a bit. She moved with it, sat in it, ran with its unfathomable flow. The car was her Sanctuary, and with the phone switched off and the waves rollin from the front speaker to the rear and back again, nothing could touch her. Just sitting there, locked in, the exhaust rising about her, she began to feel better.” (Boyle 73)
ReplyDeleteThis quote became me. I say this meaning, it reminded me of myself so much I found myself reading it over and over. It has been many times like Kyra, where I have got in my car turn the music up and began to drive and instantly feel better. It is an escape. The music begins to consume your brain and the swift traffic began to take your thoughts away with them. In this moment I related to Kyra. This made the book an easier read for me and also made the character real. I love the language and the different aspects of life that are put into one book. Yet it the author still managed to give 2 different lifestyles and show every person struggles.
Hi Shannon,
DeleteI hope you're having a wonderful week. What an interesting application to a line in the book. When reading the quote you chose, I did not think that she was relieving herself by being in the car. I simply thought that life had handed her another burden, i.e. traffic, but she had no choice but to bear with it. Thank you for sharing this!
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills - all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.”
ReplyDelete- Jack Jardine to Delaney
This line from the Tortilla Curtain stood out to me because of a number of reasons. The first reason being that, as the campaign for President of the United States has started, this quote reminded me of Donald Trump and his narrow minded view on Hispanics. According to Trump, “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending the best. They’re not sending you, they’re sending people that have lost of problems and they’re bringing those problems. They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime. They’re rapists and some, I assume, are good people, but I speak to border guards and they’re telling us what we’re getting.” Although this line in the book is not a positive one, it truly is sad to see some people agree with Trump and his statement, which is essentially, by correlation, agreeing with Jack Jardine. This is a problem for me. Solely because it is such a negative view on a group of people that, like everyone else, is trying to survive. I don’t want to get into the technical aspects, and the politics especially, of this statement but reading this novel is like reading a newspaper on our current society. I encourage all students to vote for whomever they think would represent them well, but with that, I urge my fellow peers to really look into the facts and projects that candidates are hoping to do.
Hello Mike,
DeleteThis is a very powerful line. You are completely correct this book associates all of the negative problems this country has to illegal mexican immigrants, however that is not the case. There are a lot of positive things that immigrants bring to the table, so it is unfair to judge all of them based on the negative stereotypes. I believe all people regardless their race or socioeconomic status should be treated equally because like you said everyone's ultimate goal is to survive and strive for a better future.
“I told you - he was Mexican."
ReplyDeletepage 15
Delaney says this to Kyra when he calls her to tell her that he hit a man with his car. It’s in the very beginning of the book so such a simple line creates such a strong tone for the rest of the novel. It is an early insight into Delaney's character, showing that he does not fully believe the ideals of equality, or at least understand the overall outcome cannot be changed. Delaney even thinks ot himself first, what has happened to my car? Or are there any dents or scratches? The man he hit with his car was Mexican so it shows there was no need to worry about being sued or anyone finding out about it. Though Daleney did offer to help him, he realized the man wouldn’t be able to get any medical attention because he was an immigrant. A simple twenty dollars made the problem go away. This is still so surprising to me because I couldn’t imagine hitting a human being with my car, regardless of their socioeconomic status, and just leaving them there with obviously severe wounds.
Hi Maegan, This quote also really stuck out to me. Delaney believes that because Candido is Mexican, he doesn’t need practical health care and he can be healed from being hit by a car with $20. This quote really sets the tone for the theme of discrimination that is presented throughout the book.
DeleteHello Maegan,
DeleteI was as shocked as you were about how Delaney only thought about materialistic things when he had just finished hurting a man. Personally if I had ran a person over with my car the last thing I would care about are dents or scratches on my car. I would rush and look everywhere to find the person and provide them with medical assistance rather than simply twenty dollars. I wouldn't care if I got sued or my license suspended for hitting a pedestrian all that I would care about is the persons health regardless of the race or socioeconomic status. So far this book has really opened my eyes to value the important things in life rather than the materialist things.
“I can do anything a man can do…She was tiny, like child-she was a child…What could she hope to accomplish at a labor exchange?” This phrase stood out to me because women are still underestimated, especially within the Latino population. Most women are expected to be stay at home moms, take care of the cleaning, cooking, and etc. America proved to be more than what Candido expected of her, yes she weighed less than hundred and five pounds, but it did not mean that was unable to help her family. Candido was unable to work because of his injuries and she knew she had to find work to feed her husband and unborn child. She was courageous enough to go among many men to find a job. This is a new role that many women are taking.
ReplyDeleteHello Jazmin,
DeleteThis is a very powerful line and I couldn't agree with you any more. Women are still a minority in today's society and I believe that she really stood up for her rights by demonstrating that women can also be independent and strong providers for their family. Especially amongst the latino community women are seen more as motherly rather than providers however this stereotype is evolving into women being more fearless and powerful. Size shouldn't matter because I myself am a small girl. I'm 4'11 and I weight about 120 pounds, yet I consider myself outgoing and independent. I am a strong believer of Shakespeare's quote "And though she be but little, she is fierce".
“There wasn’t a trail in the Santa Monica Mountains that didn’t have its crushed beer cans, its carpet of glass, its candy wrappers and cigarette butts, and it was people like this Mexican or whatever he was who were responsible, thoughtless people, stupid people, people who wanted to turn the whole world into a garbage dump, a little Tijuana…” – Delaney, Page 10
ReplyDeleteWhen Delaney hits Candido, he is first concerned with his car. Then, he feels guilt and tries to heal Candido with a 20 dollar bill. As his thoughts continue, Delaney becomes angry at the fact that Candido is living in Topanga Canyon. I find this thought ridiculous for a few reasons. First of all, it is not Candido at all who is severely adding to the issue of littering, due to the fact that Candido doesn’t have the luxury of beer cans, candy, and cigarettes. Second, it is offensive for Delaney to bring up the fact that Candido is Mexican. A person’s race really has nothing to do with the trash he leaves around. Finally, it is also racist and ignorant to think that Candido is trying to turn the canyon into a “little Tijuana.” Candido is living in the canyon out of necessity, not out of will to destroy the environment.
Hello Taylor,
DeleteI completely agree with you. This line of the book also caught my eyes because it was very racist and implied that all mexicans are trashy, thoughtless and stupid people. I also feel like Delaney made it look like it was Candido's choice to liter the Topanga Canyon but in reality he had no other place to live so Candido was doing the best he could for his family. I feel that the words he used and his actions truly demonstrated what kind of a selfish person he was. The race of a person shouldn't matter especially if they are hurt. I can't believe he bought the guy off with $20 and knowing how hurt he was didn't insist on taking him to a doctor or at least buying Candido some first aid supplies and food so he could get better. Instead Delaney did the total opposite and began to judge Candido based on a mexican stereotype.
Hi Karina, Thank you for the reply! You noticed a lot of the same elements in this quote that I did. I think that Delaney’s beliefs are representative of more people who feel that you can judge a person’s attitudes and work habits based on their race.
DeleteThe line that stood out the most to me was found in page 13 where Delaney clearly specifies how he felt about leaving the injured man behind. “Because he’d just left the poor son of a bitch there alongside the road, abandoned him, and because he’d been glad of it, relieved to buy him off with his twenty dollars’ blood money. This line clearly sets the mood for the rest of the book. It completely caught my attention making me wonder where this story would lead. Through this quote you can see that Delaney experiences discrimination against illegal Mexican immigrants. It also expresses how he was aware that what he’d done was against his liberal-humanist ideals yet, still rejoiced thinking back on his racist actions. I found this line to be very powerful because it expresses how he feels about illegal Mexicans by using the phrase poor son of a bitch and how he bought him with his twenty dollar blood money. I personally thought it was unfair to judge the man based on the few facts that he knew about him. It’s sad to know that even though we have come so far in diminishing racial injustice, there are still people nowadays who practice racisms. A lot of the times it’s because they don’t know the full story behind immigrant’s lives. So they judge them based on the little facts that they know. I haven’t read the whole book yet, but from what I have read I can see that there will be a lot of unfair assumptions that will lead to bad conflicts and bad resolutions. So far this book seems really interesting and is filled with different analogies that provide a double meaning such as the walls, coyotes and other animals to name a few.
ReplyDeleteThe sentence that stood out to me was one from the conversation when Delaney called Kyra to let her know he had been in an accident. Kyra became very upset when Delaney confessed to her he had hit man with his car. As she began to worry about Candido going to the police, Delaney tried to calm her down by telling her that he gave him $20. As he made that statement, Kyra didn't seem to understand why a person would stay quiet over $20. Delaney trying to help Kyra understand, said "I told you- he was a Mexican". He explained that because Candido was Mexican it would be to his disadvantage to go the authorities. I feel that this sentence reveals a lot about Delaney. This shows a bit of a racist side to him.
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