journal 10-4

Patrick Cleveland

Professor Martens

ENG 099-05

6 December 2012

Journal 10-4

            Throughout his years growing up Victor never understood why his father left. He always thought of his father just as another drunken Indian who abandons their children. Along his journey to Phoenix he learned out more and more things about his father. His flashbacks were nothing, but bad memories about him and when he left. When he finally made it to phoenix  and talked to Suzie he really learned an important fact that changed his life forever. When Thomas asked Victor” Do you know why your Dad really left?”  Victor replies, “Yeah.  He didn’t mean to, Thomas.”

            Victor realized that his father really didn’t want to leave. He wanted to e with Victor and his mom, but he couldn’t because of how bad life was becoming. He was more than likely planning on coming back after getting his life together. U fortunately he died expectedly and didn’t get to come back. Victor’s dad wanted to provide for his family to make a better life. When he took Victor out of the back of the truck he grabbed him. However, instead of throwing him he held him in his arms and gave him a final goodbye hug.

            This also impacted Victor’s and Thomas’s relationship. At first when Thomas kept asking Victor this question he beat him up. Then he would usually threaten to do it again. Along the trip they began to bond more and more. Once Victor realized the truth he became a new man. He answered Thomas’s question and Thomas just smiled and left because he finally understood everything.

Patrick Cleveland

Professor Martens

ENG 099-05

13 November 2012

Journal 9-2

            A hero is defined as someone of distinguished courage or ability, admired for their brave deeds and noble qualities. Heroes go further and beyond to accomplish new heights that none would dare to take. Others just give up on life and let things get worse and worse. A hero will inspire others to be a hero and to not follower in the footsteps of those in the past. The desire for heroes is strong on the reservation.

            A hero is really all they have for hope on a reservation according to Alexie. Alexie is somewhat of a hero because he did leave the reservation to better himself before he got famous. He went out got a job and stuck with it as long as he could. A hero would give people that inner strength to not give up and let them go. That’s why back in the first half of the book he wanted Julius to make it far in his basketball career. Alexie did go to college which gave the other Native Americans on the reservation more hope to do greatness if a drinker like Alexie did. It’s also cool how he found love in his girlfriend in Seattle.

            As they are viewed Native Americans are a bunch of drunks with no path at life according to Alexie. A hero could put an end to all of this giving the right determination and strength. They would gain their old Indian traditions back and shaped a whole new life for them. The desire for a hero increases yearly for reservation life. A hero is needed.

Journal 8-3

             Throughout history Americans and Native Americans have not been on good terms. We took their land from them and put them on reservations. Some left reservations such as the author of “The Lone Ranger and Tonto fistfight in Heaven”, Sherman Alexie. There are many advantages to leaving the reservations. However, there are also many disadvantages to leaving the reservations.

            The advantages of leaving reservations consist of multiple things. For starters, you get to go out and see the world. There are many opportunities for various aspects. Job opportunities are endless and everyone is looking to hire new faces. Traveling and viewing many areas, you learn a lot from other people. The friends you come across make your life so much sweeter. You will learn to do things you never thought you could.

            Your life will not have to be devoted on drinking and throwing your life away. Rather than being around polluted air or beer breath all the time, you will be able to smell the fresh air of a new world. Take Sherman for instance. When he left the reservation he was able to publish his book and become famous. If would not even have been known if he remained on the reservation. Since he made the decision to leave the reservation his life benefited greatly in the long run even if he had to endure life on a reservation in order to get where he is now.

            With advantages there are always disadvantages as well. One major disadvantage is discrimination by many. People will look at you different for a while. Since people today are very judgmental they will most definitely talk about as being a Native American who just left the reservation. Since you are opened to a new world you are going to have to start from scratch which may take a while. Your mannerism and the way you talk to others have to change. As being Native American finding a job will be extremely rough for you at first.

            There are many advantages and disadvantages to leaving the reservations. Advantages such as being able to start a new life are fantastic. However, there are the disadvantages of being judged. Luckily for Sherman leaving was a huge advantage for him. Leaving a reservation is a life changer.