In the reading "The Globalization of Eating Disorders" by Susan Bordo, Bordo describes how the western media has increased the number of eating disorders across the world. Bordo allows the reader to imagine this young girl standing in front of the mirror, for this girl is not fat. However, when she looks at herself, she sees not a woman of beauty, but instead a woman who is not perfect. She just wishes she could be the next "Lady Marmelade" on Moulin Rouge. Bordo then assumes that the reader's image of this girl was a young girl who was white in color and economically secure. But now, instead of picturing a white girl, Bordo allows the reader to imagine Tenisha Williamson, an African American girl. Tenisha struggles to accept her cultural values of being voluptuous. Eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia are increasing from day to day in all different cultures. Bordo states that three years after television broadcasting became available in Fiji, 11% of girls were reported with symptoms of eating disorders. However in other countries, such as Central Africa, being voluptuous was a symbol of wealth, while a skinny body represented that of "poverty, sickness, and death." Bordo claims that often times, African brides were even many times fattened before their wedding. Like Frank Osodi says, "An African girl must have hips." Though the media claims they do not have an affect on a young girl's self-image, evidence such as that from Fiji, has proved otherwise. Pictures in magazines teach young girls how to dress, how to act, and what the accepted appearance maybe. It is not the parents nor teaches that teach these ideas to children. It is the media. Bordo states that though eating disorders may predominate in women, they are increasingly becoming more popular in the male gender. Men are abusing steroids, and comparing their muscles to those in famous magazines, such as Sports Illustrated. Some are even going as far as getting cosmetic surgery. As a reader, it is so important to make people aware of this increase in eating disorders, because unlike cancer, there is a cure.
Being a young girl growing up in a society similar to the one described, I often times understand what Bordo is saying ,when she states that women are affected by the mass media. Though we may not often realize how great of an effect it has, it is causing young woman to feel insecure about who they are. We should not look up to individuals in magazines, for they are not reality. Reality is what we see when we look around everyday. They are the people with flaws, because no person will ever be perfectly shaped.
From Bordo's article, I have learned that "what you see is what you get." You will never be anybody else. Bordo has made me realize that this disease is becoming such a greater problem. To think that people are willing to starve themselves in order to be beautiful does even sound appealing. I always told myself that you only live once, so live life to the fullest. If you want to eat a piece of cheesecake, then eat a piece of cheesecake, who cares how many calories you are digesting.
The structure of Bordo's essay is very appealing, by starting off with such an image, the reader is able to connect to the situation, but then by throwing a twist she once again reiterates the idea of the disease becoming globalized. In the body of the essay, Bordo provides several statistics to back up her thesis, whether it is Fiji, African American weddings, or existence of eating disorders in Asia. And finally Bordo concludes by stating reasoning as to what steps can be taken in order to address this problem of an increase in eating disorders across the world.
Monday, March 2, 2009
"Letter from New York" by Peter Carey
In a "Letter from New York" by Peter Carey, Carey recalls his personal encounter of the attacks of the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. At the moment when the World Trade Centre was attacked, Carey was at a corner deli, when he suddenly noticed that the radio had been turned up rather loud. However, as Carey listened he soon realized that he was living through history, because the World Trade Centre had just collapsed. The first thing that went through Peter's mind was his wife. Peter waited in fear by the phone, just praying that his wife was safe. However, soon Bea, his neighbor, confirmed her safety. Peter was not the only New Yorker that day fearing the loss of a loved one. There were people everywhere in tears. MaryAnn, another one of Peter's neighbors, was also waiting to hear from her husband Lloyd, but later she realized that he had survived. In a time of disaster, such as 9/11, people were there for each other, it did not matter about the little things that had divided them previously, for at that moment, people just wanted to help. For example, Carey tells of his friend Betsey who was trying to get from Manhattan to Brooklyn by the expressway, but it remained closed, so Betsey started to wander through the streets, when she encountered a Jew in East New York who lead her to her hometown. There were also firefighters, and huge machinery trying to remove the destruction in order to perhaps save the lives of those who remained undiscovered.The children in Manhattan who had seen the attacks feared that their parents were dead. And parents were running everywhere to get there kids. Carey describes how John the husband of Bea, went all the way to Brooklyn Heights to pick up his little girl Leah. A sense of insanity was going through everyone's mind. People like John were going to the extreme.Like Peter, several people in New York were scared, and prayed that their families and friends had survived the traumatic terrorist attack. However unlike Peter, some people were not as lucky. For instance Peter's friend David, had lost his friend who just had a new baby.Peter's reaction to this was one of violence; he felt as if he wanted to murder those people that caused so much sorrow towards innocent families. However, it was his son Sam that made him realize how much he loved to say, " I am from New York."
As a student who lived through 9/11, I remember just like Peter where I was at when the World Trade Centre and Pentagon were attacked. I was in 6th grade in Math Class in my teacher Mrs. Alfred's room. I was not affected as much as those who remained in New York, but as a United States citizen, I felt so sorry for all those families that loss a loved one. The vivid descriptions that Peter Carey provided allowed me to imagine exactly what happened on September 11th. It made me appreciate my country, because not all countries can say that in a time of destruction they were a union of one. People, such as firefighters were wiling to risk their lives for the lives of those suffering.This article besides being very informative was very emotional, because I knew that this was not just another fairy tale in a storybook. It really happened. Through Peter's words, visual images popped into my mind, of people jumping off buildings, and people crying horrendously, just wishing everything could go back to the way it started before the attack. Peter's story about his family was so similar to all the other families. Everybody had been panicking immensely. The article was so touching and aspiring. The purpose of Peter Carey's article was to inform the reader about what actually happened during 9/11. He showed how in times of destruction our nation worked as a team, rather than alone. I think that 9/11 made our country so much stronger and appreciative of the people around us. Often times, we take advantage of the little things, and then before you know it, they are gone, and we can no longer get them back!
As a student who lived through 9/11, I remember just like Peter where I was at when the World Trade Centre and Pentagon were attacked. I was in 6th grade in Math Class in my teacher Mrs. Alfred's room. I was not affected as much as those who remained in New York, but as a United States citizen, I felt so sorry for all those families that loss a loved one. The vivid descriptions that Peter Carey provided allowed me to imagine exactly what happened on September 11th. It made me appreciate my country, because not all countries can say that in a time of destruction they were a union of one. People, such as firefighters were wiling to risk their lives for the lives of those suffering.This article besides being very informative was very emotional, because I knew that this was not just another fairy tale in a storybook. It really happened. Through Peter's words, visual images popped into my mind, of people jumping off buildings, and people crying horrendously, just wishing everything could go back to the way it started before the attack. Peter's story about his family was so similar to all the other families. Everybody had been panicking immensely. The article was so touching and aspiring. The purpose of Peter Carey's article was to inform the reader about what actually happened during 9/11. He showed how in times of destruction our nation worked as a team, rather than alone. I think that 9/11 made our country so much stronger and appreciative of the people around us. Often times, we take advantage of the little things, and then before you know it, they are gone, and we can no longer get them back!
"Justice for Women" by Ellen Goodman
Should a woman be raped because her younger brother had walked with a different tribal girl unchaperoned? In Multon, Pakistan, this was such the case. Goodman tells the story of an innocent 18-year old girl who had her virginity taken from her without her own consent. Is this how the women of the world should be treated? In countries, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan, women are raped, beaten, or more for no specific reason at all. The abuse of women has become a part of their culture. Like Bush states, "a thriving nation will respect the rights of women, because no society can prosper while denying opportunity to half its citizens." Yet though Bush supports women fully, the United States is one of the few that has not ratified the international women's bill of rights created 23 years ago. Goodman states that 170 other countries had ratified this bill already. What is the United States waiting for? By not passing the bill, in some sense we are supporting all those nations who do not honor women's rights, countries such as Iran, Somalia, and Sudan who are currently raping women everyday. We as a nation should support the other half of the citizens in the United States and other countries.
The international bill for women's rights was very close to being ratified, however Goodman states that Colin Powell had placed a letter that moved this potential bill back 17 places! Powell claimed that the bill needed to be studied in greater depth. It is the politicians who are causing this bill to be moved back , for they believe that such a bill could ruin families and even possibly "criminalize Mother's day" says Goodman. But on the contrary, though some negative results could occur, the overall effect would be so much more greater. Perhaps countries such as Pakistan would no longer treat women with disrespect.
By passing the treaty, we would not only be supporting the rights of women, but sending a message to all those countries that are raping and abusing women daily, that this practice is unacceptable. Why should women be hurt for no reason? I believe that because we have not passed this bill , we are in some sense letting horrible things slide. By doing nothing, we are just another one of those bad guys hurting women for no reason. It is time that we take stand and pass the bill so all women are treated with the respect they deserve. Though Bush says that he supports women fully, until he does something about it, he is just another one of them.
The international bill for women's rights was very close to being ratified, however Goodman states that Colin Powell had placed a letter that moved this potential bill back 17 places! Powell claimed that the bill needed to be studied in greater depth. It is the politicians who are causing this bill to be moved back , for they believe that such a bill could ruin families and even possibly "criminalize Mother's day" says Goodman. But on the contrary, though some negative results could occur, the overall effect would be so much more greater. Perhaps countries such as Pakistan would no longer treat women with disrespect.
By passing the treaty, we would not only be supporting the rights of women, but sending a message to all those countries that are raping and abusing women daily, that this practice is unacceptable. Why should women be hurt for no reason? I believe that because we have not passed this bill , we are in some sense letting horrible things slide. By doing nothing, we are just another one of those bad guys hurting women for no reason. It is time that we take stand and pass the bill so all women are treated with the respect they deserve. Though Bush says that he supports women fully, until he does something about it, he is just another one of them.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
In Amy Tan's reading "Mother Tongue," Amy describes how language can both unify and divide people in this world.
Amy starts her reading out in a room full of people all interested in hearing about her new book The Joy Luck Club, however in the far back corner sits a woman, her mother. Amy's mother was a Chinese woman who struggled to speak English clearly. Many times when Amy was young, she would often have to speak to people for her mother. For example, one time a stockbroker did not send a check on time, so Amy's mother had her call the company and ask where the check was. Another time, Amy's mother had gone to the doctor's office to pick up her CAT scan results. However when her mother asked for the CAT scan, the assistant said that her results had been lost, and she would have to make another appointment again, but when Amy asked for her mother's results, they sincerely apologized for losing the results, and would be sure to find them. This happened a lot to Amy's mother. It was as if people just acted like she had a problem. Amy describes her "mother's tongue" as broken. But to Amy that sounds as if it were "damaged," and this was not the case at all. Though Amy's mother read the Forbes report often language had always been a barrier in her life.
Sometimes Amy was very embarrassed by the way her mother talked. She said "I believed that her English reflected the quality that she had to say." But as Amy grew up, she began to see her mother's tongue as more than just "broken" but instead another statistic in life. Many times Asian-Americans tend to lean toward math and science careers, because English is not the primary language spoken at home. For Amy, English was also often a struggle, but she was willing to take the challenge. Other students, they had grew up speaking the English language at home, while for Amy her mother was not able to teach her to speak English. Many times when Amy took a test, grammatical phrases such as "Sunset to nightfall as ____ is to ____," caused her several issues. However this language barrier did not distract her from achieving her goal to become a writer.
To Amy, it did not matter what people thought of her book. Her mother's tongue was her inspiration, and the only opinion that mattered was her mother's.
For many people who are not brought up speaking the language, communication can be a big obstacle in everyday life, whether it may be talking to someone on a phone, or checking out at the grocery store. Without some form of communication, life's easiest tasks become such a struggle. For Amy Tan's mother, this was just the case.
From this article, I realized how difficult and at the same time frustrating, it can be to learn to speak a new language. As a student currently learning to speak French, often times like Amy's mother, I know what I want to say, but yet I can never find the words to say it. It is as if the thoughts and concepts are so clear in your mind, but the words are in disappearance. I can not believe that people would take advantage of another person struggling to learn a language. If only they were in that person's shoes, then maybe the situation would be different. Through this article, we learned that a language is both an advantage and disadvantage depending on the strength of the language the person speaks.
Amy starts her reading out in a room full of people all interested in hearing about her new book The Joy Luck Club, however in the far back corner sits a woman, her mother. Amy's mother was a Chinese woman who struggled to speak English clearly. Many times when Amy was young, she would often have to speak to people for her mother. For example, one time a stockbroker did not send a check on time, so Amy's mother had her call the company and ask where the check was. Another time, Amy's mother had gone to the doctor's office to pick up her CAT scan results. However when her mother asked for the CAT scan, the assistant said that her results had been lost, and she would have to make another appointment again, but when Amy asked for her mother's results, they sincerely apologized for losing the results, and would be sure to find them. This happened a lot to Amy's mother. It was as if people just acted like she had a problem. Amy describes her "mother's tongue" as broken. But to Amy that sounds as if it were "damaged," and this was not the case at all. Though Amy's mother read the Forbes report often language had always been a barrier in her life.
Sometimes Amy was very embarrassed by the way her mother talked. She said "I believed that her English reflected the quality that she had to say." But as Amy grew up, she began to see her mother's tongue as more than just "broken" but instead another statistic in life. Many times Asian-Americans tend to lean toward math and science careers, because English is not the primary language spoken at home. For Amy, English was also often a struggle, but she was willing to take the challenge. Other students, they had grew up speaking the English language at home, while for Amy her mother was not able to teach her to speak English. Many times when Amy took a test, grammatical phrases such as "Sunset to nightfall as ____ is to ____," caused her several issues. However this language barrier did not distract her from achieving her goal to become a writer.
To Amy, it did not matter what people thought of her book. Her mother's tongue was her inspiration, and the only opinion that mattered was her mother's.
For many people who are not brought up speaking the language, communication can be a big obstacle in everyday life, whether it may be talking to someone on a phone, or checking out at the grocery store. Without some form of communication, life's easiest tasks become such a struggle. For Amy Tan's mother, this was just the case.
From this article, I realized how difficult and at the same time frustrating, it can be to learn to speak a new language. As a student currently learning to speak French, often times like Amy's mother, I know what I want to say, but yet I can never find the words to say it. It is as if the thoughts and concepts are so clear in your mind, but the words are in disappearance. I can not believe that people would take advantage of another person struggling to learn a language. If only they were in that person's shoes, then maybe the situation would be different. Through this article, we learned that a language is both an advantage and disadvantage depending on the strength of the language the person speaks.
"Besieged by 'Friends'" by Heather Havrilesky
How do we as Americans perceive the people of the Middle East after 9/11 and what influences have built up those images that exist in our minds? In the article "Besieged by 'Friends'" by Heather Havrilesky, Havrilesky explains how American films and television shows have portrayed Middle Eastern people to be "angry terrorists running around, looking for stuff to blow up." However, if America was defined by all the violent people that hurt others, what image would the average American be portrayed as? We as Americans, says Heather, should not judge every Arab as being violent, for there are good and bad in every country. Charles C. Stuart's documentary "Hollywood in the Muslim World" shows how Arabs are becoming very angered over the images that the American movies and television are sending out to not only America, but other areas such as Egypt, Lebanon, Cairo, and Qatar. Arabs are classifying this Hollywood influence as a "cultural pollution" that is spreading all across the Middle East. Children continually want to go to American fast food joints, such as McDonalds, and places like Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks are becoming more popular. The reason for this rise is due to the influence of the American television shows. Heather states that American shows, such as "Friends", "Will & Grace", and "Sex and the City" are also continually being shown. Heather recalls that when Charles Stuart was interviewing Middle Eastern children, in regards to their favorite television show, Stuart received an angry response by an adult spectator, because he had thought that the interviewer was trying to persuade children in the Middle East to watch more American shows. Several other Arabs felt the same way about the situation of the American influence from television. For example, when World War II had occurred and the attack of Pearl Harbor, several American films portrayed Japanese fighters as being the "bad guys," and there was an increase in hate towards Japanese Americans. The author includes this example in order to prove that a similar fear is arising amongst the Middle Eastern people. For will they be the next Japanese? To Arabs this is a "War of Propaganda" that has taken over the "cultural identity." They are tired of turning on the television and seeing another American show insulting their background. How much is it to ask to have their own culture described on their own TV? Why does Hollywood have to invade another country where it is not welcome?
Throughout this article, Heather Havrilesky tries to make people aware of the influence that the television can have on a country. This country that once had its own perspective culture, now does not. I believe the American television sometimes is a bit bias towards other cultures. Many times they perceive, other people including Arabs, as being a violent figure. They also not only destruct the culture of countries, but Hollywood causes average Americans to feel as if they are not worthy enough in society, whether it maybe that their body is to voluptuous, or that their morals are offset. We as a society should not build our images of other countries from the television. Every country is filled with a sense of beauty, that makes it so special in its very own way.
By using Middle Eastern stereotypes, Havrilesky captures the readers' attention quickly. Though her ideas may be a little extreme, her thesis is clearly understood. In the body, Heather references material from Charles C. Stuart's documentary "Hollywood in the Muslim World" in order to provide supporting evidence to support her thesis that the Middle Eastern culture is being negatively influenced by American shows and movies. The image of an Arab, as portrayed by Americans , is one of violence and cruelty. Heather concludes by saying that "the cultural identity of Arabs have been taken hostage," which means that the Arabic are no longer deciding what culture their children should practice.
Heather's article increases the awareness of how other cultures are sometimes misrepresented in movies and television shows. Though a wrong message is sometimes unintentionally delivered, most of the time American television producers are aware of what they are putting on the television, but still they do not care. It is not until disruption occurs, do they try to cover up their mistake.
As Americans, and any other culture, the best away to avoid negative influences is to completely avoid television, therefore the TV is unable to affect your perspective about other cultures.
Throughout this article, Heather Havrilesky tries to make people aware of the influence that the television can have on a country. This country that once had its own perspective culture, now does not. I believe the American television sometimes is a bit bias towards other cultures. Many times they perceive, other people including Arabs, as being a violent figure. They also not only destruct the culture of countries, but Hollywood causes average Americans to feel as if they are not worthy enough in society, whether it maybe that their body is to voluptuous, or that their morals are offset. We as a society should not build our images of other countries from the television. Every country is filled with a sense of beauty, that makes it so special in its very own way.
By using Middle Eastern stereotypes, Havrilesky captures the readers' attention quickly. Though her ideas may be a little extreme, her thesis is clearly understood. In the body, Heather references material from Charles C. Stuart's documentary "Hollywood in the Muslim World" in order to provide supporting evidence to support her thesis that the Middle Eastern culture is being negatively influenced by American shows and movies. The image of an Arab, as portrayed by Americans , is one of violence and cruelty. Heather concludes by saying that "the cultural identity of Arabs have been taken hostage," which means that the Arabic are no longer deciding what culture their children should practice.
Heather's article increases the awareness of how other cultures are sometimes misrepresented in movies and television shows. Though a wrong message is sometimes unintentionally delivered, most of the time American television producers are aware of what they are putting on the television, but still they do not care. It is not until disruption occurs, do they try to cover up their mistake.
As Americans, and any other culture, the best away to avoid negative influences is to completely avoid television, therefore the TV is unable to affect your perspective about other cultures.
"American Dreamer" by Bharati Mukherjee
In Bharati Mukherjee's essay "American Dreamer," Bharati recalls her cultural change from Calcutta, India to the United States and describes her transformation, as not only a self-transformation, but also a transformation of the cultural identity that exists in the United States. Growing up in Calcutta as a young child was quite different for Bharati, for her identity was already established. There was no such thing as lacking an "identity," but when she left Calcutta in the summer of 1961, Mukherjee had to find her identity. Her identity would no longer be handed down from generation to generation, but instead she would be an immigrant. When Mukherjee tells her story of immigration, she explains the vast land in Iowa stretching miles long, but what is of greater importance is the number of multicultural students that existed in Iowa City at that time. There was only one non-Christian, which was Jewish, one non white, which was African American, and 6 international graduate students. She was no longer a majority, but instead a minority in the women's residence halls. However within 35 years, Mukherjee states that the number of minorities increased dramatically in Iowa to 6,931. To Bharati this number indicated how the United Sates is not just a society that excepts one culture, but instead a society whose cultural values grow everyday. The "we" ,as stated in the constitution, is a "we" that is so culturally diverse.
Throughout her experience at the University of Iowa, Bharati fell in love with a young Canadian named Clark Blaise and soon ended up getting married. This was a huge transformation for Bharati because it represented a stray away from the accepted values of the Indian culture. After two years of college, Bharati was supposed to return to India to marry an Indian man who provided for her. However, her future as an American, rather than Asian-American represented that she was now another citizen enlarging the American cultural values.Though Bharati felt accepted most of the time in the United States, when she moved to Canada with her husband, Bharati states "I thought of myself as an expatriate Bengali permanently stranded in North America because of destiny or desire." She felt as if she did not belong. Canada claims to be a culture similar to that of a "mosaic," but yet refuses to change its self-image to that accepting the images of all Canadians. Many Americans were accepting of cultural diversity, but some believed that all legal immigrants should be locked away. In 1994, Bharati recalls how the Lake County School Board in Florida taught its students that the standard European-American culture was of greater importance than all others.In the eyes of Bharati, we are a nation that has usually embraced a heterogeneous culture. We are a nation that honors the beliefs of all citizens in the United States. For As Bharati says, we are a culture that lacks any form of hyphenated descriptions, such as Asian-American, because we are all Americans living in the same homeland, "America."
The story of Bharati transforming from an Indian culture to an American citizen made me proud to say that I lived in America; to see how other countries do not accept the values of all other individuals of different cultures is such a disgrace. Whether a person is a minority or not, does not make them any different than any other white Christian living in America. As an American born citizen, often times I do not realize what it takes for immigrants to come to America, nor do I understand how much they went through to be an American. I honor all immigrants, for they have emerged themselves in a unfamiliar country; they have taken a chance. Switching
lifestyles is hard enough, but to switch lifestyles and not be accepted would be horrendous. Through Bharati's reading, I have learned that we are a nation that should continue to accept all cultures, because by embracing their cultures, we as a whole are becoming so much more culturally diverse.
The purpose of Bharati's reading is to show that the United States is not just a several different cultures, but instead a mix of all cultures to form one diverse unity.
After reading this essay, I am more understanding of the path immigrants take to become a citizen, and I have become more aware of the discrimination that they face in daily life. Bharati was a woman with courage; she did not care what people thought of her, nor did she feel the need to follow her father's path set in stone. She was independent, intelligent, and above all caring. Bharati is an idol to all other immigrants seeking to gain citizenship. She sees herself as a true American who worked to gain her rights.
This essay is also structurally appealing, for Bharati first tells her story of immigration to the reader and her background as a child. She then moves into the body to prove how other nations do not acknowledge her as one of them, such as Canada, and she provides examples of how some Americans are not open to the acceptance of immigrants into the United States. And finally she concludes by saying how arrival will someday be a "gain," instead of a loss.
Throughout her experience at the University of Iowa, Bharati fell in love with a young Canadian named Clark Blaise and soon ended up getting married. This was a huge transformation for Bharati because it represented a stray away from the accepted values of the Indian culture. After two years of college, Bharati was supposed to return to India to marry an Indian man who provided for her. However, her future as an American, rather than Asian-American represented that she was now another citizen enlarging the American cultural values.Though Bharati felt accepted most of the time in the United States, when she moved to Canada with her husband, Bharati states "I thought of myself as an expatriate Bengali permanently stranded in North America because of destiny or desire." She felt as if she did not belong. Canada claims to be a culture similar to that of a "mosaic," but yet refuses to change its self-image to that accepting the images of all Canadians. Many Americans were accepting of cultural diversity, but some believed that all legal immigrants should be locked away. In 1994, Bharati recalls how the Lake County School Board in Florida taught its students that the standard European-American culture was of greater importance than all others.In the eyes of Bharati, we are a nation that has usually embraced a heterogeneous culture. We are a nation that honors the beliefs of all citizens in the United States. For As Bharati says, we are a culture that lacks any form of hyphenated descriptions, such as Asian-American, because we are all Americans living in the same homeland, "America."
The story of Bharati transforming from an Indian culture to an American citizen made me proud to say that I lived in America; to see how other countries do not accept the values of all other individuals of different cultures is such a disgrace. Whether a person is a minority or not, does not make them any different than any other white Christian living in America. As an American born citizen, often times I do not realize what it takes for immigrants to come to America, nor do I understand how much they went through to be an American. I honor all immigrants, for they have emerged themselves in a unfamiliar country; they have taken a chance. Switching
lifestyles is hard enough, but to switch lifestyles and not be accepted would be horrendous. Through Bharati's reading, I have learned that we are a nation that should continue to accept all cultures, because by embracing their cultures, we as a whole are becoming so much more culturally diverse.
The purpose of Bharati's reading is to show that the United States is not just a several different cultures, but instead a mix of all cultures to form one diverse unity.
After reading this essay, I am more understanding of the path immigrants take to become a citizen, and I have become more aware of the discrimination that they face in daily life. Bharati was a woman with courage; she did not care what people thought of her, nor did she feel the need to follow her father's path set in stone. She was independent, intelligent, and above all caring. Bharati is an idol to all other immigrants seeking to gain citizenship. She sees herself as a true American who worked to gain her rights.
This essay is also structurally appealing, for Bharati first tells her story of immigration to the reader and her background as a child. She then moves into the body to prove how other nations do not acknowledge her as one of them, such as Canada, and she provides examples of how some Americans are not open to the acceptance of immigrants into the United States. And finally she concludes by saying how arrival will someday be a "gain," instead of a loss.
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