Stuff We've Been Reading

Sandra Cisneros - Geraldo No Last Name

In Sandra Cisneros short story titled “Geraldo No Last Name,” the author says “they” never saw certain aspects of Geraldo’s life, and the dilemma we face is determining, “Who they are”? Geraldo was a fine young man, who unfortunately lost his life due to a tragic car accident, it was a hit and run to be exact. Marin, one of the main characters of the story was the last person to see him alive. After his death, she made an emphasis by saying, “they,” why should they have to empathize for a bazer, who didn’t even speak English. Mainly the point she is trying to get across, is that we as human beings, and a society in general tend to be less compassionate about one another, losing our basic morals.

Marin may have subconsciously made some sort of connection with Geraldo in the short time they knew one another, perhaps she may have realized that Geraldo had family and loved ones, that he too was a human being. Maybe she believed he could have been important to her, something about him being special in her mind, or she even could be simply shocked and delirious from watching another person die in front of her. Whatever it was some connection was formed between them that night, Marin was made aware of some reality through Geraldo.

Geraldo seems to be like most immigrants, who come to America in pursuance of the “American Dream.” Evidently, based from the passage, Geraldo comes from a foreign country, where he sends weekly money orders to support his family. He lived in a tight, crowded, cramped room knows as a “kitchenettes.” Like most undocumented immigrants, he probably worked for minimum wage, just enough to get by, and make a living. Geraldo probably had a loving family back home, that desperately awaits for his arrival. Sadly, this leads to my final point; that Geraldo's death will remain a mystery. His disappearance from the surface of the earth will be nonexisting. His death will be just a number added to the list of those who enter this country illegally.

Geraldo being one of the many people left behind comes as no surprise sadly. Immigrants and foreigners have a way of slipping through the cracks, especially when we all willfully ignore them. In fact we do this with many groups, such as, veterans or ex-felons, or even the mentally disabled. Any one we find difficult to be around or a burden to deal with society has a way of forgetting them. With immigrants it’s sometimes even easier, with illegals having no paperwork and subsequently no past, we can allow them simply to fade into the background.

  

 Part One - Chapter Three - The Wall

    At times I find myself having many similarities with the character of Delaney. He seems to be the kind of person who enjoys the outdoors. A person who admires the simple things in life, such as nature. That’s exactly how I feel when I experience the outdoors! I like to view things for what they are, such as “Beauty through simplicity,” meaning its the little things in life that truly matter. Arroyo Blanco the residency where Delaney lives, seems to capture that experience. His home property was located on top of a canyon, where he can oversee the whole city lights from a far distance. Not too far from the busy, chaotic city, but just close enough were he can still catch a glimpse of the city lights. I can only imagine the phenomenal  views Delaney would see through the top of the canyon.. Arroyo Blanco seems like the perfect community to raise a family and live in tranquility at the comfort of your home. That's exactly why, I believe Delaney chose to live in Arroyo Blanco, It was an open, not gated community were he can come and go as he pleased. However, with such freedom and wonderful views of the canyon, Delaney was never told he had to prepare for the worst. A vicious attack from the wildlife, it was a wild animal a coyote, and it had eaten one of his domesticated dogs. Delaney wanted to take matters into his own hands. He made his way to the weekly meetings and demanded to speak to the council. He wanted to make the residents aware of the such tragic accident. The members themselves were not interested of listening to Delaneys sobbing story about a coyote eating his dog. Instead they were worried about a much bigger problem that the residency faced. The dilemma was the invasion, of the not deserving people walking into their private neighborhood such as, the blacks, the mexicans, gangbangers and everyone else who was not a resident. All of Arroyo Blanco residents seemed in favor of the wall, that would be the solution. It seemed like a great idea to keep crime from entering their home. Delaney found himself in a bigger dilemma. Would putting up a wall in the entrance of his residency really fix the problem, or would cause a bigger issue within himself, making feel like a prisoner at his own home? Quite frankly I believe the issue needs to be fixed within the inside of the residents views on humanity and values in life. They feel like they are entitled to the land and as residents they have to protect their own people at any cost. However, I believe crime can occur pretty much anywhere such as your neighborhood and even at our home.   

Book Review- " The Diary Of A Young Girl "- Anne Frank

1. Anne Frank, born in 1929 in Germany.
2. Daughter of a Jewish father, Otto and mother, Edith.
3. In 1933 the Nazis Party rises, under Adolf Hitler's rule.
4. Family persecuted, for being Jewish.
5. On her 13th B-Day, Anne receives a diary.
6. Her diary records 2 years of the holocaust.
7. Fearing for their life, family hide in a secret annex.
8. After two years hiding, family gets exposed.
9. She was sent to a Nazi concentration camp.
10. Ann died in 1944, due to typhus disease.

Anne Frank was born in Germany, in the year 1929. She was the second  daughter, of Otto and Edith Frank, of Jewish descent. Under the command, of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party emerged, theri goal to extinguishing the Jews. Persecuted for being Jewish, family hide in a secret annex, for two years. Anne, recorded her life events in her diary, during the holocaust. Anne, gets caught by the Nazis, and was sent to a concentration camp. She became a victim of the holocaust, died at an early age, due to a contagious disease called typhus in a concentration camp.