Tongue
This phrase describes the language that our parents speak to us growing up and that is typical of the people and the area in which we were born. Every country has its own. Our heritage, our culture, and our customs are reflected in our mother tongue.
Humans fear the supernatural, both the undivine (the animal impulses such as sexuality, the unconscious, the unknown, the alien) and the divine (the superhuman, the god in us).
This excerpt reminds me to Sigmund Freud’s structure of the mind. The Id: represents our instinctual desires, as food, sex and pleasure Ego: represents our rational and conscious self that mediated between our id and the external world. Superego: represents our moral and ethical sense. Striving for perfection. I am wondering if the author for “Cultural Tyranny” has being influenced by Psychoanalysis.
como mi raza que cada en cuando deja caer esa esclavitud de obedecer, de callarse y aceptar, en mi está la rebeldía encimita de mi carne. Debajo de mi humillada mirade está una cara insolente lista para explotar.
This excerpt from the reading touches me very much. I'm Mexican and I often perceived how the women I grew up with had to refrain from expressing their opinion, simply to avoid being labeled as disrespectful and nonsensical. Or to continue to belong to a group and not to lose privileges. But always behind that silence or retreat to the system and culture that outlined her, there was always a look of anger, which later became a disease, or a barrier to fulfilling her goals. However, I also saw how some women with education and critical thinking continue to triumph despite family, culture and a capitalist system that objectivizes women. But that is another subject.
You won’t speak of it. I’ve never seen you cry. But sometimes something moves over your face that reminds me of the ocean, and I know you’re thinking of her. If I stay silent, you’ll stay in the kitchen but move to stand by the sink. Your mourning place. You keep your face turned away from me. And if I stand behind you and wrap my arms around you, you’ll lean against me but push my arms up so that they are wrapped around your shoulders instead of your waist. It doesn’t matter. I’m here if the day comes that you need to cry. I’m here even if that day never comes.
The tone of the author is resigned and depressed when he expresses the loss of the first baby, never born with his lover. He expressed a deep sense of emptiness and sadness, knowing that the child they had dreamed of would never come to be. The author couldn't help but wonder what could have been and sorrow about the future they would never get to experience together. Despite trying to find solace in the idea that everything happens for a reason, the pain of the loss lingered, leaving a permanent scar on his memory.
Memory brought you here. Brought us here. Your history is here. Your family. Your parents and grandparents and great-grandparents. Your siblings and nieces and nephews. When we were in Ithaca, all you could talk about was how much you missed them. How much you missed this land and the endless horizons and the wind and the heat and the sunsets and the rose-colored fog in the morning and the sugar cane burning and the river and driving to South Padre Island and the roasted corn and the shaved ice with syrup and El Pato’s and the botanas and the chorizo from San Manuel and the taquitos de trompo served with frijoles a la charra and baked potatoes and the cabrito al carbon on the other side of the border. You missed everything, even the scent of the air and the heat of the nights and the feel of the earth. To you, the Rio Grande Valley wasn’t simply a place on a map—the name itself was an incantation. Earth and sun and magic all at once.
The narrator describes the memories of his beloved exploring the emotional connection to her homeland and memories of a past era. However, now it is divided by a border, separating loved ones and erasing the unity that once existed. This can describe the impact of borders on cultural identity and family connections.
I worked I sweatedI bledI prayed and waited silently for life to begin again.I fought and died
The poem evokes a sense of unity and solidarity among humanity, reminding us that "Joaquín" symbolizes the collective resilience and shared experiences of individuals across time. Through his multifaceted existence, "Joaquín" embodies the timeless struggle for liberation and serves as a poignant reminder of the enduring human spirit. Although Joaquin is from many different countries, he is united by his name. When a person bleeds, Joaquin bleeds too. He wept all the tears of all the "chicos." The poem shows strength too." While Joaquín may symbolize a sense of unity and strength, it is important to remember that he is ultimately a fictional character created by the poet and does not represent all individuals who have suffered or fought for freedom. He fights for his beliefs, bleeds for the future of his children, and suffers physical pain instead of losing his soul or culture. The poem portrays Joaquin as a symbol of resilience and determination, highlighting his unwavering commitment to his values and the sacrifices he is willing to make for the betterment of future generations. However, it is crucial to recognize that Joaquin's experiences and struggles are specific to his character and may not reflect the diverse range of experiences faced by real individuals who have fought for freedom.
In conclusion, the poem "I am Joaquin" symbolizes the lives of all young people. The poem portrays Joaquín as a symbol of resilience and determination. His fight for his beliefs, his sacrifice for the future of his children, and his willingness to endure physical pain rather than lose his identity or culture all contribute to the powerful message of the poem. Ultimately, "I Am Joaquin" serves as a representation of the lives and struggles of all Chicanos. However, it is important to remember that his story serves as a powerful symbol of resilience and the human spirit.