In Scott Russell Sander’s response to Salman Rushdie’s essay on the benefits of moving, Sanders claims that people should focus more on where they are at instead of trying to fulfill one’s materialistic desires. He also rebuts on the idea that movement is entirely good. By using historical evidence, direct quotes and a respectful, conversational tone, Sanders expresses his belief on why humans should settle down and abandon the tireless moving. Sanders allude to different historical events including the Spaniards, colonists and the Dust Bowl to show the outcome of moving for benefit. He shows that it can destroy a group of people because of a human’s selfish desire to gain more than what they have. “The Spaniards devastated Central and South America by imposing on this New World the religion, economics and politics of the Old.” Sanders uses the Spaniards as an example to show that when the Spaniards came to Central and South America, they tried to teach the old ways of everything from religion to politics, but it didn’t work because the world is fast-paced and …show more content…
things were moving quickly. If old ways are imposed to new things, it does not work. Another example is that “colonists brought slavery with them to the North, along with smallpox and Norway rats.” This shows that even though the colonists benefited from coming to North America by gaining land and starting a new future, the Native Americans living there were not. Even though bringing smallpox and Norway rats were unintentional for the colonists, it negatively affected the people living in America affected the people living in the land already. Sanders shows that the greed of a group of people can impact another group of people deliberately. He also shows that this greed has been there since the beginning of humankind. Sanders also uses direct quotes from Rushdie in order to make counterarguments. For example, Sanders quoted Rushdie in saying that “to be a migrant is perhaps the only species of human being free of the shackles of nationalism (to say nothing of its ugly sister, patriotism).” Sanders then goes against what Rushdie believes and says that the “Lord knows we could do with less nationalism (to say nothing of its ugly siblings, racism, religious sectarianism, or class snobbery” By using a direct quote from Rushdie, using similar diction and syntax, Sanders successfully informs the reader on his opinion on moving and assures the reader that he knows what he is talking about because of his ability to present the other side’s point of view. Throughout his essay, Sanders uses more direct quotes such as “migrants must, of necessity, make a new imaginative relationship with the world, because of the loss of familiar habitats." Right after the direct quote, Sanders explains how “migrants often pack up their visions and values with the rest of their baggage and carry them along,” which means that because they travel so much, they aren’t able to properly create and maintain healthy relationships with one another. By commenting on what Rushdie says, Sanders effectively uses direct quotes for the reader to understand both side’s points of view. Sanders also presents his stance in a respectful and conversational tone as he acknowledges what Rushie says.
Sanders says that Rushie “articulates as eloquently as anyone.” Instead of using a condescending tone or harsh diction to rebut what Rushie says, Sanders successfully uses a respectful tone to respect Rushie’s point of view, even though he doesn’t agree with it. While writing his essay, Sanders also connects with the reader by using words such as “I,” “our,” and “we.” He also says “for ourselves, our fellow creatures, and our descendants” to connect with the reader and include himself with the reader by using “our” not a second person point of view. Even though Sanders is going against what Rushdie says, there isn’t any part in the essay that shows that Sanders is being disrespectful. Sanders acknowledges what he has to acknowledge, but at the same time, articulately explains what his views
are. Sanders successfully proves that “the belief that movement is inherently good, staying put is bad” isn’t true by using historical evidence, direct quotes and a respectful, conversational tone.
In 1830’s, the United States economy was on the rise due to demand of cotton by Northern Industrialists and trade with England. The Deep South produced three-fourths of the worlds cotton industry. The interconnection between Native Americans and white migrants was the thrive for survival. The fate of Native Americans was on their last shred of hope, Choctaw Indians were forced to sell their land to white migrants. Thousands of white migrants were going into to Mississippi region to be a part of the cotton’s melting pot. Fredrick Norcom would observe and write to his companion, James Johnson, about migrants from North Carolina traveling to Vicksburg. “You can thus see how easy it was to get rich here… a little labour would raise $800 that will enter a section of land, to sell that for $10,000 to $20,000” (VOF, pg. 211). Fredrick Norcom explained on how
In the excerpt from Staying Put: Making a Home in a Restless World, Scott Russell Sanders creatively responds to a piece written by Rushdie in which he opposed. In response to Rushdie’s piece, Sanders argues against the idea that movement is always beneficial. Sanders uses his direct tone with real examples which gives off the persuasive tone that ultimately leaves the reader thinking about their own life.
Walking across a dessert to a place where you know your family is going to have a better life and better opportunities. You can just see it as you are getting closer to where your destination is but what is that destination well in Linda Chavez writing “Supporting Family Values” it is the United States of America. Chavez writing is not just about illegal immigrants in the U.S. but also the they family values are not what most people think.
Barr. Cesar Chavez put a quote about Martin Luther King Jr. “Letter from Birmingham Jail” which give the message to the reader that Cesar Chavez had no intentions of having a rebellion but to just exposed of the injustice that it was given to the immigrant workers because by exposing those inequalities to the union is when it can be cured since it was done before. It also tries to explain to the reader that they will not give up on getting equal right for the people because Cesar Chavez stated that “They have been under the gun, they have been kicked and beaten and herded by dogs” this shows to the audience that the people of Cesar Chavez will not give up even if there are gun pointed into their heads. It also stated into the “Letter of Delano” that “Time accomplishes for the poor what money does for the rich” what this is trying to say and what it is trying to reach for the audience is that even if the immigrants are poor and they can’t afford not to work they are willing to do it because with that time they were getting prepared, prepared for what it was coming in the nest years to come they had a
His exclamations against those who don't change their live to find all the “marrow,” hidden in society, shows his passion for “sucking,” the positive features which enable him to ensure he has spent his time effectively. Lastly, this related to “living deliberately(…),” expressed by Thoreau. This philosophical idea distinguished the difference between simply who simply are alive in comparison to one who lives a life that they know that they “truly live(…),” instead of later realising they haven’t done what they as individuals wanted to do. This contrast is symbolised by the comparison of McCandless and the social norm. The fact that McCandless felt implied to not take short cuts through modern day advancements suggested by the “plane,” and instead wanted to complete his trip in the way he desired leads to him exemplifying the meaning of living deliberately by Thoreau. Nonetheless whilst they are both different individuals, McCandless lifestyle and actions portray the life based on the philosophical ideas of
explained that, by being forced to sell their lands, they could not survive. They would be thrust upon a land where they did not know the terrain, the people that had already occupied it, or even where to find shelter and food. He explained that they could not be expected to just give up their land and way of life for the advancing of the white people.
He moved here to the "land of opportunity", when in fact that so called "opportunity" actually brings sadness, misery, and even death. For many of the immigrants of the time the American dream became
Eric Arnesen’s book, Black Protest and the Great Migration: A Brief History with Documents, successfully portrays the struggles of early life for African Americans as well as why they migrated to the north in the years of World War I. During the first world war, the lives of as many as 500,000 African Americans changed dramatically as southern blacks migrated to the north. The migration escalated a shift in the population from extremely rural people to urban people in the years following the second world war. Those who lived in the south, particularly black southerners, had many reasons for why they wanted to move to the north. Due to the failure of Reconstruction, which was supposed to re-build the South after the Union victory and grant slaves
During what is known as the Gilded Age, there was major changes happening in the US. These changes included industrialization, population increase, along with cities rising up and big business like the railroad company coming about as well. These were just a few of the many changes that were occurring. One of the biggest occurrences in the US was immigration. Imagine you and your family leaving your homeland to a completely new world where there is a language you might not be able to understand or speak. These immigrant groups not only relocated throughout different states but immigrant were moving to specific cities to the best places they felt accepted. As an example we had many immigrant groups that came to Saint Louis, Missouri. One of the biggest immigrant groups to populate Saint Louis was the Irish. Unfortunately the Irish were not as accepted in Saint Louis as they hoped to be, but still lived their life despite the hatred.
Ronald Takaki quotes Langston Hughes in his book A Different Mirror “ Let American be America again, let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed, … I am the red man driven from the land, I am the Immigrant clutching the hope I seek, O let my land be a land where, equality is the air we breathe.” (Takaki, 19-20). “‘We the’diverse ‘people of the United States’ transformed America into a mighty economy and an amazing unique society of varied races, ethnicities, and religion.” (Takaki, 20). Takaki wrote in his book, “ Day of spacious dreams! I sailed for America, Overblown with hope.” ( Takaki, 14). Would not all immigrants come here for a better life? Yes, Ken Vinson, who works at a local power station in Marshalltown, Iowa said, “Some people came here because they were desperate. I don’t care how they got here, and they have a family. Now all of the sudden you want to rip these people out and send them back? I wouldn’t want my family torn apart like that.’” (Barabak, 2016) . An opponent may say, their desire and dreams take away our hope. Desires, dreams, and hopes, however, are contagious and
Coming from a life of poverty and despair would cause anyone to search for a better life; a life in which there is the belief that all of your dreams can come true. This is the belief that many Mexican immigrants had about “El Norte,” they believed that the north would provide them with the opportunity that their life in Mexico had not. Many Immigrants believed that the United States was “the land of opportunity,” a place to find a successful job and live out the life that one only dreamt about living. The North was an open paradise for the immigrants. They were told by the people who had already ventured to the north that the United States was a “simple life, in which one could live like a king or queen, but in reality immigrants were treated like slaves in the new country that promised them their dreams.
Since the 19th century, America became a place where millions of people aspire to immigrate intensively. In order to pursuit a better life, freedom, and equality, people have to leave their hometowns and family, deal with uncertainty. Why were so many people willing to leave their family and go to the United States for pursuing their American Dreams? The most important reason that people chose to immigrate to America was they believed that they had opportunities to earn a better life. No matter how hard they tried, their lives are barely improved. Therefore, people were dissatisfied and despaired with their own countries since their efforts did not pay off. However, reality was cruelly destroying the path to the dream, additionally; people
The Great Migration was a time where more then 6 million African Americans migrated North of the United States during 1910-1920. The Northern Parts of the United States, where African Americans mainly moved to was Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philadelphia and Cleveland. They migrated because of the work on railroads and the labor movement in factories. They wanted a better life style and felt that by moving across the United States, they would live in better living conditions and have more job opportunities. Not only did they chose to migrate for a better lifestyle but they were also forced out of their homes by unsatisfactory economic opportunities and harsh segregation laws. They were forced to work in poor working conditions and compete for
Immigrants during this time period came to America seeking wealth for their family they had brought with them, or to send back to their families in their homeland. Whichever case it was immigrants spent the majority of their time working in the factories in hope for a better life than the one they gave up in coming to America. However, upon arriving immigrants soon realized that the home they left behind was not all that different than their new one. Immigrants came seeking the types of jobs that would give them Liberty and independence, leaving them only to find themselves just a working part in a large factory dependent on machines, rather than their own skills.
...iance, readers are capable of seeing how citizens in the world today try to be independent of others and sustain their personal beliefs and philosophy. Individuals have to put an end to conformity and trying to be a duplication of everyone else because they will never achieve success if they never decide for themselves. A person must not rely on the judgment and minds of others and learn to think for him or herself since depending on others only exhibits a person’s inferiority to larger institutions. People must stop using travel as an excuse to evade personal problems because if they do not have a direct confrontation with the dilemma, trying to escape will only lengthen it. People in today’s society must appreciate this work so they will approve of their individuality and be stronger in fighting against everyone else that disagrees with their personal philosophy.