Both Leslie Marmon Silko and Gloria Anzaldia discuss about borders and their functions. Anzaldia claims that borders are meant to separate the safe from the unsafe and ‘us – non-whites’ from ‘them - whites’. However, she argues that borderland – area near a border – is not as fixed as borders. Silko also states that: “…. borders haven’t worked, and they won’t work, not now, as indigenous people of the Americas reassert their kinship and solidarity with one another. A mass migration is already under way….” (122), hence implying that borders no longer serve their original purpose – division.
Anzaldia’s, The Homeland, Aztlan, (specifically the poem by William H. Wharton) touches upon concepts such as: primitivism, manifest destiny, colonization (or expansion) and the American dream.
“The justice and benevolence of God will forbid that . . . Texas should again become a howling wilderness trod only be savages, or . . . benighted by the ignorance of and superstition, …show more content…
She claims that: “… (asking a question is tantamount to resistance, it seems). ” (116) This shows that, even though the United States is claimed to be ‘land of freedom’, some people are restricted from using their freedom of speech, as asking can be seen as a way of questioning and challenging an authority. Perhaps, she is implying that the people who live in the United States fail to represent the ideals the country wishes to embody. She also portrays her perception of the Border Patrols, by contrasting them with the search dog: “….. the dog refused to accuse us; she had an innate dignity that did not permit her to serve the murderous impulses of those men.” (118) Perhaps, she is using the dog to symbolize loyalty, (maybe loyalty to humanity) – to show that the Border patrols fail to be loyal to the values of
Anzaldia’s, The Homeland, Aztlan, (specifically the poem by William H. Wharton) touches upon concepts such as: primitivism, manifest destiny, colonization (or expansion) and the American dream.
“The justice and benevolence of God will forbid that . . . Texas should again become a howling wilderness trod only be savages, or . . . benighted by the ignorance of and superstition, …show more content…
She claims that: “… (asking a question is tantamount to resistance, it seems). ” (116) This shows that, even though the United States is claimed to be ‘land of freedom’, some people are restricted from using their freedom of speech, as asking can be seen as a way of questioning and challenging an authority. Perhaps, she is implying that the people who live in the United States fail to represent the ideals the country wishes to embody. She also portrays her perception of the Border Patrols, by contrasting them with the search dog: “….. the dog refused to accuse us; she had an innate dignity that did not permit her to serve the murderous impulses of those men.” (118) Perhaps, she is using the dog to symbolize loyalty, (maybe loyalty to humanity) – to show that the Border patrols fail to be loyal to the values of