Sunday, September 26, 2010

"Aria" by Richard Rodriguez

Reflection-
I found this article to be very sad. I believe that it is a good thing for students from other cultures to learn the English language if they are in a school where English is the primary language spoken. However, when the nuns went to the house and asked the parents to speak more English at home I got a little mad. I think it is important for kids to keep both languages even if the one most frequently used isn't their first language. By the end of the piece I was just upset that the family was growing so far apart and that Richard couldn't even tell if his father was speaking spanish sometimes. I have no idea what it is like to have to come to a new country or new culture and adapt my habits and language to fit in but I know that I wouldn't want to lose a piece of myself like I feel Richard and his siblings had to.
I was very interested in what others had to say on this subject so I searched the web and found alot of articles and essays discussing this reading. Here is an article I found analyzing this piece.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Peggy McIntosh- White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Reflection-
I really enjoyed this article. I think it was easy to read and I really agreed with what she was saying. As a white woman, I don't think about the things that come easy to me or things I don't have to worry about as a white person. I really like how it was in list form and really touched on all sorts of common things that I've never thought about until now. I feel that reading this made me more aware of how it really is in this country.

I think the part where she says it makes you think about how to change it or lessen the advantage is very important. How can we change something thats been considered a "norm" for so long? Even if everyone in the white race becomes aware of the everyday privileges we don't think about, what will that do?

Me :)

My name is Lindsay and I am a junior but this is my first semester at RIC and it's going well so far. I am going to school for Elementary Education and have always wanted to teach k-2. Right now I'm in school full time and working full time at Staples so thats pretty much my life. I like going to the movies, listening to music, working out and sleeping.