Harold Napoleon, "Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being"-Response

 Tyler Berg

3:30PM-5:00PM

4/6/2021

Harold Napoleon, "Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being"-Response

"Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being" was written by Harold Napoleon in 1966. Napoleon is a native Alaskan, specifically he is part of the Yupik group. This paper is about the huge problem concerning native Alaskan suicide, alcohol addiction, depression, and broken families/villages. He is writing this paper from prison because of his own alcoholism.

There are a few different groups I feel Napoleon is addressing. First I think he is addressing the Alaska native people. This is made clear in many ways but mostly because the paper is for the most part about Alaska natives. Second this paper addresses the United States government. This is shown when Napoleon starts to make suggestions about laws and the ability for Alaska native peoples to self govern. Finally, third this paper is addressing veterans. This is made clear when Napoleon talks about PTSD in veterans and the similarities to the PTSD in Alaska natives. 

Napoleon uses a few key words, techniques and phrases throughout his paper. First he uses the phrase “The Great Death” to describe the sickness brought by whites that swept through native villages killing up to 60 percent of the people. Second he uses the concept of a talking circle to give examples of ways for people to heal. Napoleon also uses the technique of writing some important words in his own language. This helps to provide ethos and is very similar to the technique Anzaldua uses in “How to Tame a Wild Tongue.

In this paper Napoleon tries to argue for more native rights, as well as showing ways to help the Alaska native people heal. He argues that talking circles need to be implemented to allow for the people in the villages to start talking about the trauma and hardships they and their people from the past have endured. The most prominent of these hardships being “The Great Death.”

Napoleon argues for 7 “rights” that he feels should be given to all native Alaskans. These are, 

“the right to self government, the right to establish ordinances, the right to enforce the ordinances, the right to establish courts, the right to hunt and fish for subsistence without interference by state law, the right to use subsistence resources like salmon and other game on their lands and waters for commercial purposes so as to end economic dependency on state and federal welfare programs and, the right to tax exemptions now enjoyed by other native peoples of this country.” 

Some of these rights have already been fulfilled because it was written over 50 years ago.  

This view on regionalism most reminds me of a mix of both Berry and Mumford's views and ideas. It reminds me of Berry because like him Napoleon believes in localized subsistence based life. It also reminds me of Mumford though because he believes that different cultures can play an important role in shaping each other by providing ideas that each culture builds and adapts to make its own.

I really enjoyed reading this paper because it provided me with a whole new outlook on what is going on in the villages. I have had Alaska native friends commit sucide and have some that are addicted to alcohol right now and I feel like this paper provided the insight I needed to better understand them.

Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being Response

 

Response to Harold Napoleon

Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being by Harold Napoleon gives off a variety of mixed emotions. On the one hand, by the way, Napoleon writes it is clear that he is very knowledgable and retains strong ethos throughout the entire passage. He also gives anecdotes and stories to establish pathos. On the other hand, once exploring who Harold Napoleon actually is the paper starts to fall apart. It changes from a “call to arms” for Native Alaskans to a way to get early parole and push the blame of his actions onto a “spiritual disease”.

The paper begins with Harold Napoleon explaining that he regrets drinking alcohol as it resulted in the death of his son. Not addressing any specifics on how the events happened. He then shifts gears to explain some core aspects of pre-Westerner Native Alaska identity, such as their customs, ideas of spirits/the spirit world, and disease. The passages then transitions into the history of Native Alaskan people. Specifically how the arrival of Westerners impacted the Yup’ik people. Following several pages of Native Alaskan history, Harold Napoleon focuses on why all the information was relevant. He connects the Great Death to modern-day depression and alcoholism, quote “The present epidemic is a little harder to explain, but certainly it

was born out of the Great Death itself”. He addresses how Alaskan Natives today compare themselves to American ideas of success. This, he concludes, is why there are such high rates of suicide, depression, homicide, and abuse in modern Native Alaskan households. He then concludes the paper with a “call to arms” of sorts; stating what changes should be made to relieve the suffering of the Native Alaskan people.

    Overall, the paper is very well written. Harold Napoleon establishes ethos, pathos, and logos effectively, and repeatedly connects all the topics he addresses to one central idea. Personally, however, I made the mistake of search up Harold Napoleon on the internet prior to reading Yuuyaraq: The Way of the Human Being. This, in turn, created a situation where I can praise his writing ability, however his argument would fall on deaf ears. I discovered that his son’s “resulting death” due to alcoholism was from Harold Napoleon beating him to death while drunk. I also discovered a current arrest warrant for Harold Napoleon, due to repeated violation of his parole (drinking on parole). Personally, I that murder under any circumstance is inexcusable. That aside, however, despite Harold Napoleon “deeply regretting” his actions he still continues to fuel his alcoholism to this day. The passage that was written here is definitely moving, however, I feel that had it been written by a non-criminal offender the argument would have made a better impact. Knowing the reasons behind the paper makes a possibly great piece become nothing more than an omission of guilt.

Rigdon Hermann - A Small Place

Rigdon Hermann

Mr. Simpson

March 23, 2021

WRTG 111

A Small Place

The author goes into great detail about the daily life and behavior of people living in or visiting Antigua. The first part of the story describes the scenery and general everyday life of Antigua with an omniscient lens. It primarily comes from the perspective of a tourist going there for the first time, and being amazed by how wonderful everything seems there. However, each example gives an insight into the bitter reality that these people live in. She mentions the new Japanese cars that are very expensive, then switches to the other view where she mentions how to banks easily give out car loans, but is extremely stringent on house loans. 

    The second half of the first part goes into more detail about the cruel reality of the situation in Antigua. Bringing up the point of the beautiful beaches and the pristine water that the sun reflects off of. Just to turn and remind the reader that the country has no septic system, meaning all the biological waste and contaminants poured down the shower, toilet, or sink drains go directly into the water surrounding the island. Mentioning powerful families and individuals whom the general public despises. The negative outlook and treatment of tourists behind their backs. She emphasizes with them by describing at their roots, how they are jealous of being able to leave where they live, and go where they want, and live how they please. Not to be forever stuck in poverty due to economic collapse and corruption.

In Part two of "A Small Place," the author depicts the world in which the citizens of Antigua live. Finding pride in their independence from the United Kingdom, and their emancipation from slavery. However, she focuses on what some may call an obsession over their break from slavery, yet celebrate on radio and television channels the graduation of people from Hotel Training School. Those who enroll will be trained to be good servants, and "good nobodies." Jamaica Kincaid discusses how the Antiguans cannot see the connection between their obsession over their slavery and their emancipation, and how they are being governed by corrupt foreign powers. Mentioning how the government has stuck its corrupt hands into the pockets of many "hard-working businesses" when in fact, sons of government ministers created the company, and receive full government funding and financial support. The financial backing and support are given to the government of Antigua by Syria and Lebanon. Describing the gross corruption of a nation on a global scale, and the impact it has on its own citizens. 

Jamaica Kincaid “A Small Place” Part One Response

 Tyler Berg

3/23/2021

3:30PM-5:00PM

Jamaica Kincaid “A Small Place” Part One Response

“A Small Place” by Jamaica Kincaid was published in 1988 as a piece of creative nonfiction. Part one of this intriguing book is all about what a tourist would see if they visited the small island of Antigua. It provides meaningful insight on not just the tourist’s experience but about what local life and how they view tourists as well.

It explains what tourists see as they arrive in such great detail that it provides ethos. For example Kincaid talks about a tourist arriving at the airport. She explains how they move through customs so quickly because they are tourists. She tells of how none of the nice fancy cars that came from Japan run very well because they all use leaded gasoline and don’t even know what unleaded is. She explains all of the mansions the tourists would see on their way to the airport and who owns them in detail that only someone who lived there could have. All of these details show that Kincaid has personal experience with the place as a native.

I also like when she uses logic to deduct and prove that the normal residents of Antigua don’t really like the tourists. She talks about how Antigua is a very dry place and she explains that the tourists use lots of water and aren't careful to preserve it like the natives of the area are. This shows logos and pathos very well because she logically explains the reasons for the dislike, and shows how the people feel about it. She tells us that they feel jealous because they will never be able to go on vacation because they are too poor.

All of these techniques of description and narrative create a great part one of Kincaid's book and really make me want to continue reading. They also accurately portray how regionalism in this area is affected by the “urban nomad.” It leaves me excited to see what perspective Kincaid uses in the next section.

A Small Place-Jamaica Kincaid

 Zachary Woodrum

WRTG 111 3:30-5pm

03/22/2021

                          Response paper for “A small place”- Jamaica Kincaid

  This is a very interesting book, Kincaid's approach to the sense of regionalism with this book is astonishing. The way she is able to transfer you into how she feels about her hometown in antigua. She writes about certain moments then expanding on the insights of the moments. The way she is able to pick out certain moments is great. She refers to “The Earthquake” being what everyone sort of labeled it as who lives around the area. Being familiar with your home gives a wide perspective on how you voice things and remember things. She will start to write about an experience as being an antiguan and then reference back to herself as being one of those people. The way she is able to form an experience with her own native kind is marvelous. Pointing out specific roles that play into one's on well being,

 Kincaid shows us how the world is so big with a lot of different stereotypes of people. Being a Tourist i say would be the main argument here. She is writing this story in the shoes of a tourist. Someone who isn't familiar with a new environment and how we stick out so clearly to people who are from the general region. Not necessarily a bad thing. But it takes some adapting and getting used to the new scene. The best thing to do is go with the flow and try not to seem so obvious.

 I enjoy how within Kincaid's piece she really pulls you into everything that will happen next. Very good at understanding the audience and how well we are at envisioning certain moments. Like when she is writing about being at the beach and how we can see ourselves walking on it. Meeting new people but only for a limited time as they are people just like us. Something she uses quite often is “I wonder” which is great because it leads the reader to wonder and speculate on what is being read at the time.

  Her strong sense of giving the reader something to ponder upon is what makes kincaid such a great writer. Also word play and punctuation is on point. Word after word pulls you further and further into the book.

How to Tame A Wild Tongue Response - Rigdon Hermann

Rigdon Hermann

Rich Simpson

March 21, 2021

WRTG 111

How to Tame a Wild Tongue Response

        In the story, "How to Tame a Wild Tongue," by Gloria Anzaldua, the author depicts the harsh lifestyle of those who speak the "Chicano" dialect, a sublanguage of Spanish in Latin America. Chicano Spanish is a border language that developed near two different cultures and languages. She talks about her childhood, and how her mother would scold her whenever she spoke English "like a Mexican." She mentions how speaking English was looked down upon by the Latinos in her life for speaking "the oppressor's tongue." The Chicano people's language is based on Mexican Spanish, however, it has implemented many archaisms and colloquial terms and sayings. This creates a dialect that has many similarities to Mexican Spanish, but due to its changes and unique sayings, is looked down upon by the majority of Latinos for being "unpure."

    She often interjects Chicano sayings or words to provide the exact emotion and feeling she is trying to describe. Some things cannot be described using only one language. However, by speaking many of these "unpure" languages, she doesn't feel like she fits into many cultures, and doesn't accept the legitimacy of herself. At the end of the story, she confidently states that she will keep her voice and that she will no longer feel ashamed of who she is, or what languages she speaks. This section of the essay speaks volumes on the struggles she has faced, and how much it must have affected her over her lifetime. The author's paper effectively uses ethos and pathos, by connecting to the readers' emotions. And by the multiple personal experiences told by the author.

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua-Response paper

 Tyler Berg

3/18/2021

3:30-5:00

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua-Response paper

How to Tame a Wild Tongue by Gloria Anzaldua was published in 1987. Gloria Anzaldua is a forward thinking woman who is not scared to write about subjects that are touchy to many people even now. She talks specifically about the shame she and others feel speaking their own language. She argues that “you cannot tame a wild tongue but only cut it out.” She is arguing for acceptance of her language and for everyone's language.

Gloria Anzaldua shows many of her own experiences in this essay concerning people judging her language and others. One example is that of her being severely punished for not speaking English as a child. When she or other kids in her school would speak Spanish or even English with a spanish accent they were hit across the knuckles or sometimes even worse. I think that in sharing her own experiences she shows ethos and logos.

I also thought it added a lot to the essay when Anzaldua used specific words from spanish dialects to explain the differences in the dialects or languages. For example on page 39 she uses it to explain the differences between regular spanish and her specific dialect or version of it.

This essay relates directly to regionalism and more specifically to “In Cuba I was a German Shepherd. The immigrants in that story also felt targeted and marginalized for showing their culture. Anzaldua feels this same way when she is judged for speaking her dialect of spanish in front of both Mexicans and Americans. Each specific location has its own regionalistic characteristics. Language is a huge part of that and it can destroy someone and their culture to have that taken away.

Some key words I found to be important in this paper include Chicano, Spanish Tex-Mex, and identity. Chicano, Spanish, Tex-Mex, and English are important because they show the types of languages or dialects that are most important to this paper. Identity is important because of how closely it relates to regionalism, and because of how much of a person's identity is formed by their language.

In conclusion this is a very well written essay by Gloria Anzaldua. It gets its point across beautifly using ethos, pathos, and logos. It touches bravely on immigration, language barriers, sexism, and most importantly the judgement of people using their own specific language or dialect. I really enjoyed this essay and came out with a lot more knowledge on the subject than I had before.