Talking points # 2 on "Aria" by Rodriguez

Context/Premise

• Teaching
• Public language
• Private language
• Culture
• Family
• Closeness
• Americanization
• Individuality
• Silence
• Lack of concern
• Public society
• English
• Spanish
• Bilingual

Author's argument:

Rodriguez argues that even though English is very important to learn, people that are bilingual should not be discouraged to speak their own language because their language is a special part of their culture. If a family is forced to speak a foreign language like English it is possible that it may hinder communication among the family.

Evidence:

1. Rodriguez said that after English became his primary language he no longer knew what words to use in addressing his parents.
2. Rodriguez said that they remained a loving family, but no longer as close. They no longer were bound together by the knowledge of their public separateness.
3. Rodriguez would have been much happier with his public success he says if he had not recalled what it was like earlier when his family conveyed their intimacy through their private language.

Questions/Comments/Points to share:

This article was sad to read because this family had a very close bond and when they stopped speaking Spanish they began to drift apart. Their language is what made them close and without it they became like a regular American family. They should have been encouraged to learn English, but not encouraged to abandon their language completely. I have a friend who is from Mexico and his family was like Rodriguez's before they stopped speaking Spanish. His family is very close and him and his family do everything together. At home they speak their first language; Spanish. Even when I am over there they speak Spanish and I believe their "private language" brings them closer together.

This article by Rodriguez reminds me of "An Indian Father's Plea" because this young Indian was forced to change his culture just as Rodriguez was. Both Rodriguez and the Indian boy are both culturally different than I am, but that is not neccessarily a bad thing. Both of these people were americanized and their culture was altered because of it. Rodriguez no longer spoke spanish to his family and the Indian boy no longer wanted to do what he was taught to do growing up. So I guess what I am getting at is why are we so against different customs? Not everyone is brought up like me and I accept that and I wish that people could continue to pratice their culture without being discouraged to do so.

Talking points #1 on Kozol, "Amazing Grace"

Premise:

• Racism
• Segregated
• Poor
• Children
• Drugs
• Disease
• Awful living conditions
• Murders
• God
• Religion
• Prostitutes
• Lack of authority
• Danger
• Overcrowded hospitals
• Homeless
• Power

Author's Arguments:
Kozol argues that there are many children in the South Bronx that need our help and if we do not help these kids they will either be murdered or die of disease. Even if they do not die, what kind of future will they have growing up in a city like this?


Evidence:

1. Kozol says that 1/4 of the women in Mott Haven are tested positive for HIV which means their kids will be born with HIV.
2. In 1991 84 people were murdered and more than half were 21 years of age or younger.
3. When Kozol asks Cliffie who his role model is and asks if he read about George Washington Cliffie does not know who George Washington is. This shows me that they are not learning much in the classroom and will not have much of an opportunity to get out of the Bronx.
4. The majority of the population are prostitutes and drug addicts and dealers which means that the children do not know anything else. They think that being a prostitute or drug dealer is alright because they are not taught otherwise.
   

Questions/Comments/Point to Share:

This article was very easy to read, but it was very depressing. These poor kids in the Bronx live in awful conditions and they can not act like regular kids do. These kids have to worry about not being killed walking home from school or hoping they have something to eat for supper. What kind of life is this for a child? Children should be playing games and having fun with friends not fearing for their lives everyday. Children are young and naive and do not know why they are living like this. These children need help and if they are neglected now their entire lives will be meaningless.
This article reminds me of the article written by Lisa Delpit. Lisa Delpit said that "if you are not already a participant in the culture of power, being told explicitly the rules of that culture makes acquiring power easier." The same principal applies in "Amazing Grace", by Jonathan Kozol. These kids are not told explicitly the rules to make acquiring power easier which may be the reason why these people are stuck in this awful city. The kids do not know any better all they know is what they are taught. I am not saying that everyone that grew up in the Bronx lives there their whole lives, but more people need to be aware of what they must do to have a better life for themselves. Someone must tell these kids, that the only way that they are getting out of here is to get a good education. I know it is hard to focus on school with all of these awful things going on around, but getting a good education is there one way ticket out of the Bronx.

About me

My name is Justin Cox and I am 19 years old. I graduated in 2006 from West Warwick High School. This is my second year at RIC and I commute from West Warwick everyday. I am an elementary education major one of the few males at RIC who are and my concentration is in math. I finished my first year with a 3.8, but I think that I got a little lucky.

When I am not in school I am either working or hanging out with my friends or girlfriend. My friends and I play football, baseball, and tennis. Football is my best and favorite sport, but I also enjoy playing tennis. In high school I was number one singles on my tennis team.

I enjoy watching football and baseball. My favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox and my favorite player is Josh Beckett.