Favorite Text of the Semester (or one of them)

The variety of the texts, art, music, and films we studied in this class enriched greatly not only my understanding of Latin American authors and the culture but of fundamental principles in life that are essential in human relationships.

I have always enjoyed reading literature that would help me learn historical content. Ines of my Soul written by Isabel Allende was very well written as the plot line was clearly structured, I was able to understand the historical significance of the different areas they were traveling around and I could understand the relationships and see the character development as it progressed and changed throughout the novel.

I have always believed that in order to understand our future and present, personally and as a nation, it is fundamental that we understand our past. Latin American history is a complicated issue, and my eyes were opened so much more as to what the Spaniards did as they conquered Latin America. The three g’s, gold, glory, and God, really were the momentum for the men in this novel, and during this time period, while for the women, they were almost powerless and victim to males desires.

But through the example of Ines we can see that the way a society is does not determine how it has to be. She chose not to let the norms of society dictate how she had to act or keep her from getting what she wanted. I was fascinated that this theme really is as prevalent today as it was 500 years ago.

It was hard to pick a favorite text because once analyzed they are became more applicable but this one was easily applicable to principles and themes I understood personally.

Prosper in the Land

Enrique: You mother loves you, Carlitos, a lot.
Carlitos: Then why did she go so far away? 
Enrique: What do you mean, "why"? So you could have a better life.
... Tell me how you've liked these past few days? 
You liked picking tomatoes? Hiding from the I.N.S.? Eh? 
Or washing dishes just for a meal and a place to sleep?
No one chooses to live this way, Carlitos, unless they've got a good reason.
I'm sure that for her, you're that reason!

(Under the Same Moon 82 minutes)

  

I am sure that I would have had much different thoughts and feelings if I had seen this movie before I served a mission in Houston, Texas. However while I was there I heard stories from people, every day without fail, of someone they knew, a family member or a friend, who fled here to seek security because their lives or their families were threatened in some way in Mexico. This film portrays Rosario and Carlitos as just an example of this. 

I  have always thought a lot about this because when you think of the human individual, you cannot help but to feel compassion for those who primarily just want to protect their family and provide for them. 

In The Book of Mormon they refer to this land, the American continent, as being the "promised land." I wonder a lot about this prophecy especially when I read in 2 Nephi 1:5-9 which says that if Lehi's descendents keep God's commandments they will prosper in the land of promise. 

When looking at both nations, the United States or Mexico it would be quite hard to judge who is keeping the commandments better (but that is a whole other topic).

Since those experiences I had, I always think of Lehi’s promise to those who live in the Promised Land. Families seem to be falling apart here more than ever. Carlitos mom is sacrificing her life and everything for her small family.

Of course justice and laws are important but ultimately God’s laws and promises reign.  This understanding helps us be a little slower to judge people or our neighbors who are a little bit different than us but then who are truly the same when it comes to ideals and the most important things in life.

Since the beginning of time God’s promises, however all-embracing and far reaching they are, they always come to pass. This leads us to wonder, when are the lamanites going to prosper in the land? Or is this only spiritual prosperity which is already happening.

The Sum Total of Our Experiences.

"Ay, every generation, every man is part of his past. He cannot escape it, but he may reform the old materials, make something new--"

Rudolfo Anaya (Bless Me, Ultima 247)

Nearing the end of this novel the main character Antonio and his father have a sweet conversation unique to any others in the novel that took place. Antonio was able to reach below the surface level small-talk and hear the emotions and thoughts of his father. 

A frequently quoted phrase says that we are a "sum total of our past experiences," where often we don't realize the potential of what we can make of ourselves. 

In the spring of 1954 an act said to be impossible by physiologists and athletic trainers, Roger Banister broke the four minute mile, something no one had been able to do. Though what happened just shortly after was just as fascinating. In just a years’ time almost 150 others had broken that record. How was this possible?

The old materials, or the thought that many people didn't think it was possible, that the human body couldn't run that fast was almost believed as a fact, but as soon as someone took that old material, or that old way of thinking, and decided to make something new out of it, or decided to think differently about that given situation, reform happened. Changes happened.

We are all part of our past because we lived it, endured it, and made it, but we don’t just make something for nothing. Everything we make is for the future. We run to break records. Antonio, an observer and listener, soaked in life and experiences from his father in this situation and also many other people in other situations throughout the novel, to help him undertake and carry out the final events of this book.

Little did Antonio know, he was preparing himself for the time when he would be without his father and other loved ones. Little do we tap into the capacity we have from stored experiences, old materials; to make them new—to make us new. We possess everything necessary to make any change possible, to reform ourselves, the question is how are we going to make us new?