Difference In Rigoberta's Life

Human rights is an issue that still remains at debate today. There has always been a gap between the rich and the poor. The gap we see in America versus the gap that is described by Rigoberta has a heartbreaking difference. When thinking about human rights in America, I think of the difference from owning a mansion and a two story house. Of course, there is a very clear income and work ethic difference. I think of the rich hardly working and the poor/middle class working hard for everything they have. In I, Rigoberta the difference is driving a car and never having seen one. Life for Menchu is a constant struggle since the times she can remember. Her life was a constant battle between fighting off starvation from a young age to fighting for …show more content…
She worked with another lady of her Indian background that dressed and spoke like the Ladinos, so she is treated better. Menchu sees how poorly she is treated then, “I was lower than the animals in the house” (109) she says after eating a small meal of beans and stale tortillas. Life of working with no pay continued for Rigoberta. The Ladino she worked for gave her two month pay in advance so she could buy clothes that would not disgrace her. She then worked for four months with no pay and the little money she did get was meant to buy shoes. If that is not enough to show me the lack of rights and respect she had, it was the way she was treated during the holiday. The people she met treated her with no respect while she was forced to show it. When referring to her mistress as ‘tu’ which was a friendly way to talk to someone she demanded, “ Call your mother “tu”. Me, you treat with respect”(115) as if her mother does not deserve the respect she does. Rigoberta is right when she says that treatment like that to another human can be hurtful. But what can a woman who depends on this job for the little survival she maintains do? Nothing but obey. If everyone is meant to be treated equal then there should be no question of who gets respect and who does …show more content…
The opportunity of success present to everyone equally. It should be up to that person what they do in their life. I, Rigoberta Menchu was a book that showed the horrible life that the Indian people endured and in some places still enduring. The indigenous people of this book went through the pain and suffering that I know from the history of African Americans. This kind of pain is something I can only read or hear about and Menchu does a good job telling about it. This book opened my eyes to the lack of human rights many people have due to their race/culture. When in reality God made everyone to be accepted and treated with love. I like the Bible references they use to further their fight for justice. This made they book even more appealing to me. I would recommend this book to someone because it is a gateway to seeing the oppression of hard working people. I found myself while reading thanking God that the fight for human rights in America is nothing like the fight for the indigenous people of Guatemala. The relationship I see between this book and class is the treatment of the indigenous people and their culture. Learning about the culture of the indigenous people includes their battles