Indian Killer

The book Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie was amazing. I really enjoyed reading this novel because it was entertaining, thought provoking, and very emotional throughout. Alexie used many little details to paint a picture in my mind about the characters and their surroundings; their dreams and struggles. John Smith, being adopted, was dead from the start, as it stated in the book. When I read that, it made sense, and I understood where the story was going. John had always imagined this life on a reservation, which opened my eyes into how much John felt out of place living with his white parents, who loved him and gave him everything. He ultimately wanted to Feel like an Indian. Father Duncan had taught John many things about Indians, and when he disappeared, John lost it. He always had dreams about the desert, more like visions, and always heard music, when he was awake. I believe this was a mental illness, set on by his obessions to be Indian and Father Duncans disappearance; being alone. John's want to Kill a white man was part of this obession. He believed the white man ruined everything, because from the very second he was born, he was ripped away from this mother and given to a White couple.

Marie was a very powerful character who I felt was strong, even though she felt struggle everyday. Her passion about Indians was inspiring, and her fight made me realize how someones culture or origin can be so important to how one feels. She hated Jack Wilson and Dr. Mathers because they wanted to be Indian, "pretending" they were. She saw them as being White. 

Throughout this whole novel, it is a struggle. A racial struggle. Reading this book really made me emotional because we are all humans, no matter what color our skin is. And to read this power struggle between races really got me to think. People actually think this way all the time, even today. When something big happens, such as the Indian Killer, people go crazy and turn on each other. The Indian Killer, whether Indian or not, was a Symbol. It symbolized racism. Once people began to die, everyones true colors came out. It also symbolizes the Indians struggle to survive in a world where white men think they are better. At the end, it said the Indian Killer danced and danced, and thousands of other Indians showed up and learned the song and dance; as owls kept coming to sit in the tree. This just allowed us to understand that more violence was going to come, and more people were going to die, all for trying to get a point across. A great point at that, and I believe also that the Indian Killer needed to happen, such as all the other Indians stated.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was an enjoyable read. I actually really liked the book and thought it was interesting and hilarious. I know most people in class didn't particularly like it or understand the point of the book, but you have to think outside of yourself and in a way imagine yourself being there with them.

Most of the book was random events and flashbacks, but I think that is what Hunter S. Thompson wanted, so we as readers will have to think about things and events that he experienced. All of the drug use in this book did make it confusing at times to understand if things were real or not. Thompson's mission to find the American Dream was the theme of the book and also throughout the book, it showed that the American Dream is never where you are. Las Vegas was supposed to be the heart of the American Dream, and come to find out, Vegas really is just a place that uses people and then spits them back out. 

In all reality, the book is kind of sad, considering the message is that the American Dream is almost unobtainable.

The American Dream

In today's society the "American Dream" is to have someone who loves them. Everyone has that desire to be loved, and for most americans, they want a happy family and home. This is why so many dating sites on the internet have been created. Americans want love, support, and a family and when they find someone, they rush into things trying to have this "love". But, this leads too the reason why divorce rates are on the rise.

Another dream that many americans have is to be successful in their life, with anything they want to achieve. The average American's dream is also to have an income and support themselves, and their family if they have one. Even just having a job they love and enjoy would make so many people happy.

If you ask Americans today what their dreams in life would be ~~ love, success, and happiness.

The 21 Century American

The 21st century American can be viewed in many ways. Most people will agree that Americans have become lazy, due to all of the advancements in technology. If there was a poll asking how many people could live without their cell phones for a whole month, I bet not more than two people out of a hundred would say yes they could live without their phone. Also, many other countries view Americans as dumb, as do I. Countries such as China and Europe have greater test scores, higher physical statis, and discipline.  http://4brevard.com/choice/international-test-scores.htm 

America has really let itself go, due to all of its "freedoms".  We also have the highest obese ratings because of all the fast food chains.  Americans today lack discipline, self- esteem, everyday life skills, such as cooking and cleaning, and most importantly intellegence. I'm not saying everyone is this way, but a lot of people I come across do act like they have no common sense. American is not all it is cracked up to be. 

Another major thing is we are having higher pregnancy ratings and std ratings. This is not because information isn't out there for people to learn about the risks of unprotected sex, many people, teens mainly, just think it isn't a big deal and won't happen to them. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-01-07-teenbirths_N.htm

Americas government is also really messed up and will probably never be decent, as well as Americas debt. http://www.defeatthedebt.com/understanding-the-national-debt/  

The 21 century American is unimpressive.