Presentation

To begin my presentation I will introduce my self and my topic. I want to bring across my argument about the American government imperialistic role attempted toward the Cuban government. I want to explain Fidel Castro and his viewpoints for Cuba. I want to introduce a group called the Cuban exile community. They have influenced the U.S government a lot because they are very passionate about getting Fidel Castro out of Cuba.

It will start something like this….

Hello Everyone =]

My research topic was on Cuba. I mostly focused on the effects of the Cuban Revolution is 1959. Many Cubans from the upper and middle class let for Florida in America. That is about 90 miles north of Cuba. They are known as the Cuban Exile Community.  Castro was not supported by the U.S government. The U.S government tired many tactics to take Castro down. Some main events were the embargo block in 1960 and The Bay of Pigs Invasion of 1961. But it’s amazing to know these events have not hindered Castro and the development of Cuba, Castro was able to rise above it and to make the Cuban nation stronger.

I am currently looking for picture or cartoon that will engage the class to understand the view points of the Cuban exile community. They are the main reason the U.S government was involved with Cuban during this time.

To accomplish an effective oral presentation you must:    

-          Speak loud enough and clearly enough so everyone in the room can understand you.

-          Keep eye contact ( I think this engages people when you look at them)

-          To make sure you are familiar with all the information you are explaining. ( it will flow better for you if you have a well understanding of it.

-           Practice if you get nervous in front of people so you don’t mess up

-          Don’t just speak and talk like you want it to be over, try to make it interesting. (you took you time to research and learn something, let you classmate learn a little also)

-          To achieve this all you have to do is go over your work before you present  

background

Failure to over throw Castro

                Cuba is located 90 miles south of the United States of America. Being so close it’s not surprising that Cuba’s government and the U.S government have some history together. Starting with the leader Fulgencio Batista of Cuba from (1944-1959). Batista was the president, dictator and military leader of Cuba. The Batista government was supported and closely aligned with the U.S government. The U.S was a major influence on the Batista government. Many Cubans didn’t favor Batista as the leader of Cuba. This leads into the Cuban revolution of 1959 led by Fidel Castro. The New York Times followed the events of this uprising conflict. Articles titled A symbol of rebellion: Fidel Castro and Castro moving to take Power were published at this time. “His relationships with various political factions do agree in hating general Batista.”(pg.1)  He was supported by many forces. He had large followers in the cities such as students, professional people, idealist, and some elements of labor of the army. Fidel Castro was able to over throw the Batista government.

            At this time “Batista led an exodus from Cuba that reached a total of 400 people. They left by ships and planes, going to the united states and Dominican Republic, key political and military leaders and their families.” (pg.1 col.1) Castro was known as a communist and many Cubans weren’t going to support that so they left. Mostly Cubans of upper and middle class left for Florida in America. They started a political group called the Cuban exile community, they are anti- Castro.

            Now the relationship between Castro and the U.S government is not so pleasant. Their connections are based on issues through political, military, and cultural reasons. Castro tries to gain the U.S government and Americans trust. Castro says “we are fighting for a democratic Cuba not a dictatorship.” Also he added “you can be sure we have no animosity for the United States and the American people.” (pg.1 col.2) Castro knows the U.S is very powerful and has helped Cuba though the Batista government. He wants them to know that he didn’t mean any harm to the U.S when he over threw Batista. Castro has many ideas for Cuba his ideas are more political involving social justice, liberty, democracy, and to restore their constitution.

background- still working on it

Failure to over throw Castro

            There is always a nation that is trying rise out of the hands of an imperialistic nation. These strong nations try to keep and continue to gain power. They do not want another nation to rise up from under them or any other powerful nation. America knows the struggle to gain its independence from an imperialistic nation. Great Britain was very powerful and controlled many parts of the world. It was 1989 when Cuba was attempting to gain their independence from Spain. The Cuban Government was doing well in this battle, but the U.S government felt the need to intervene and help them. Since the U.S government defeated Spain, they got Cuba.  Therefore the Cuban government struggle for independence became more difficult. Now the U.S government says the Cuban government must prove to them that they are cable of a self government.

The relationship between the nations governments have not started out well. The American government has shown its imperialistic role in the world to the Cuban government. There connections are based on issues through political, military, and cultural reasons. The American government judged the Cuban’s by their race and felt stronger than them.  

            The U.S government felt that the Cuban government should not have a self government. Here the American government is faced with a new battle. The Cuban revolution of 1959 led by Fidel Castro started a new chapter in the American history. I don’t think the American government knew a young man would make such a difficult and long conflict for them. Fidel Castro is the political leader of Cuba; he was influenced by the Soviet Union. He over threw the Batista government in 1959. Castro has been an opponent against the American government for about 50 years now. He has been able to gain and keep his status because of military power. In this time period from 1959- 1970 it was important to have a strong military and keep a stable government.

            Under the Batista government the Cuban citizen weren’t happy. The Cuban citizens have no power or say in their government. They have to go along with whatever is happening. The government has the military on their side, so they are powerful. A community of people cannot make a change in Cuba. This gave Fidel Castro the opportunity to rise to power. To be powerful in Cuba Castro needed two things: A strong military and the trust of the citizens of Cuba. Castro knew how the Cuban citizen felt so it was easy for him to relate to them. Not everyone was happy about Castro being the new leader of Cuba. Many citizens left Cuba in 1959 and moved to Miami, Florida. There they started a group called the Cuban Exile Community. They are a political group in America and they are anti-Castro. The negative feeling they had for Castro caused them to leave Cuba.

Reality to War

            Imagine being drafted to the Vietnam War at 18 years old.  You’ve finished high school and you’re off to go fight in the war. The American government makes you believe you can do anything and save many people. They encourage you to make you feel strong and capable to make a difference. They want you to feel proud of being in the military and fighting for your country. But is that all just an ideology, to believe it’s honorable to be in the military? People have a way of letting others and their emotions dictate their actions.

            During the Vietnam War many soldier were faced with the choice to refuse the draft and run away or fight in a war and be honorable to their families.  In Tim O’Brien’s essay “On a Rainy River” he reveals his issues about going to the Vietnam War. In the end his mind was made up on what he had to do. “I would go to war- I would kill and maybe die- because I was embarrassed not to” (Tim O’Brien).  O’Brien had to do what was expected of him, he had to go to war. He felt he would be thought as a coward and he didn’t want to. He found himself being more embarrassed of not going than going to a war he didn’t support.

            The film Hearts and Minds revealed many view points of soldiers about the Vietnam War. A prisoner of War Lt. George Coker said “One thing was faith, faith in my family, faith in my God, faith in my country”.  Lt. Coker believed once he kept his faith in all he would be able to succeed in the war. He would be able to make it out alive. His quote shows how the importance of everyone in his life was. He kept his faith in others to make himself stronger. Also he was influenced by his coach in high school. He recalls his coach telling him “When the going gets tough, the tough get going because winners never quit and quitters never win”. He found himself trying harder and he could not give up because then he would disappoint those he knew. The soldiers fought this war with the intention to fight and kill, to do anything to win. The American soldiers had to be the ones to win the war.

            “Bang! I dinged in on one of them and I nailed him. I felt good and I wanted more and it wasn’t that I wanted more for politics or anything like that no; I wouldn’t care if they were whatever. I just wanted them because they were the opposition, they were the enemy.” (Soldier Robert Muller) Many soldiers fought the war like this. I believe it was caused by the American government though. These soldiers grew up in school learning about they have to be the best and stop communism. They might feel they are just fighting and winning over the enemy but they have been broken to feel that way about anyone who isn’t following theirs or the American view points. Not only Soldier Muller took pride in is fighting. Former captain Randy Floyd shares his experience flying planes. “I was a good pilot; I had a lot of pride in my ability to fly.”  He would fly the planes and then when the bombs would be released he was just amazed by the big explosions. “Put something in a can and blow up or blow up in the air, the excitement the sense of excitement is incredible.”  Floyd felt he was just doing a job and he was an expert at flying. He would reach his point and let the people over the computers do the rest. He was thrilled by the explosions and didn’t realize of the effects at the time.

            Many soldiers weren’t aware of what they were doing they just went on their mission and did their task. They thought they were doing great things for everyone. The ideology that the soldiers carry with them, they are proud of the destruction they cause. This is the most important ideology of the war. How the soldier think are important because they are the ones carrying out the task for the war. Now if they go on feeling proud of causing destruction everywhere that is a problem, they aren’t focusing on what the issues are they are just killing. That is why the Vietnam War was fought that way it was. No mercy just killing everyone and hurting innocent people and children.

After the war is when reality hit some of the soldiers. Soldier Muller was shot and he thought he was going to die. “My last conscious thought I can’t believe it I’m dying, I was dying and for what.” A soldier that during the war enjoyed the shooting and killing, now was faced with death and didn’t know what it was all for. Floyd realized how is flying and bomb harmed the citizens and children of Vietnam. He admits that these tragic bombings that their effects and results on the people never occurred to him. The destruction of what he was doing never dawned onto him. In his mind was the glory of being a good pilot and accomplishing his mission. Which s what the American military wanted. “When I look at my children now I don’t know what would happen and what I would think about?” (Randy Floyd) If he was in the place of the Vietnamese citizens he doesn’t know what he would do. I think many soldiers and Americans wouldn’t know what to do either. There hasn’t been a war fought on American land and they have not had to live with the destruction war causes. At least they realized their actions at the end of the war, so they will be able to make a difference in future wars. Don’t let the same ideologies of honoring your family make you fight a battle you don’t believe in. Or letting your pride block out the truth to what you are actually doing.

updated sources

Annotated Bibliography on Cuba from 1959 to Present

A Nation among Nations: America’s Place in World History

By: Thomas Bender

            In 1989 the American government intervened in Cuba’s revolution against Spain. This reading portion helps me get a little background information on the connection between the Cuban and American governments. American government didn’t want the Cuban government to have its independence, they were making The Cuban government prove them self first. Then the American government had the Cuban government add an amendment in their constitution that America had land in Cuban, known as Guantanamo bay.  That seems to be the start of conflicts and connections between the two nations.

A symbol of rebellion: Fidel Castro

From: New York Times

            The New York Times describes Fidel Castro and why he wanted this revolution in 1959. The Times show him as someone who can relate to the Cuban people and help them. He had encouraging words and was able to motivate them to follow him and over throw the Batista government. Also the Times show Fidel Castro explaining to an interviewer that he wants a democracy in Cuba he has a political mind the Times say.  Castro makes it know that he doesn’t have any anger towards the American government and the American people.  This article helps me to understand the United States reaction to Castro’s revolution in Cuba. The Times analyze Castro’s steps leading to the revolution, the trust the Cubans had for him, and his way of trying to get the trust of the U.S.

Exiles May Take Old Tack With Castro

From: Jeanne Dequine

            This articles introduced me to the Cuban exile community. It helped me to understand what the community was and what they wanted. In 1961 Jose Basulto and other members of this community wanted to over throw Castro’s government in Cuba. Others and Basulto didn’t like Castro. This helped me to understand the Cubans in America point of view of Castro and how they felt about the revolution in 1959.  Many Cubans left Cuba in 1959 and started the Cuban exile community in Miami since then. These Castro activists are planning a non violent approach to over throw Castro. But they realize that change has to happen within the Cuban nation.

Ideologies Led to the Vietnam War

             Imagine being drafted to the Vietnam War. You are 18 years old; you barely finished high school and you’re off to go fight in a war. The American government makes you believe you can do anything and save many people. They encourage you to make you feel you can make the difference. They give you pride in being in the military; they give you pride in fighting for your country. But is that all just an ideology, to believe it’s honorable to be in the military? The film Hearts and Minds revealed many view points of soldiers about the Vietnam War.

            The ideology the soldiers fought with was they had to fight and kill, do anything to win. The American soldiers had to win the war. Many soldiers weren’t aware of what they were doing they just went on their mission and did their task. Most of them felt proud and amazed by what they could do. The air force soldiers were proud of their flying talents. The people over the computers would tell them you’re at the right point, great flying. Then when the bombs would be released they were just amazed by the big explosions. These soldiers felt good about themselves. They thought they were doing great things for everyone. The ideology that the soldiers carry with them, they are proud of the destruction they cause. This is the most important ideology of the war. How the soldier think are important because they are the ones carrying out the task for the war. Now if they go on feeling proud of causing destruction everywhere that is a problem, they aren’t focusing on what the issues are they are just killing. That is why the Vietnam War was fought that way it was. No mercy just killing everyone and hurting innocent people and children.

" A symbol of Rebellion: Fidel Castro"

Today I found three important articles.  “Castro moving to take power”, “A symbol of rebellion: Fidel Castro” and “Exiles may take old tack with Castro”. I think “A symbol of rebellion” gives me a good overview of how Castro started the Revolution and how the United States felt about it. All Castor knew is that he didn’t like the Batista power. He had a way to speak and encourage the people. Castro got them to follow him and he over threw the government at 31 years old. I was surprised to read how Castro was described in the Times. I was expecting to hear bad things about him and how the U.S would not approve of this, but it wasn’t bad at all. An interview with Castro reveals him saying he wants a democratic Cuba not a dictatorship. Also he was no anger or regression towards the U.S. At this time I’m guess this article was so calm about Castro’s over throwing the Batista government because he is looking to make Cuba a Democratic nation. But as we know this has changed because Cuba is a communist nation today. This article makes me want to figure out what has changed and how did cuba become a communist nation.

Brainstorm Cuba

Cuba has been under the rule of Fidel Castro for about 50 years now. I want to look furthere into how the Cubans in Cuban see Fidel and the U.S government. Their opinions and what they would rather have as a rule in their country. Also I want to understand The U.S conflict with Fidel. Why has the conflict been going on for about 50 years now. Did the U.S  rather the Bista ruling over Cuba? What was The U.S government reaction of Fidel's revolution. The view of U.S citizens of the Conflict with Fidel. Also to look more into the Cuban Exile Community. I will be narrowing down my research between 1959 to 1970. That seems to be when most of the conflict got most aroused. My main reason for having Cuba as my topic is to understand the Conflict Between Fidel and the U.S governmant.

Annotated Bibliography on Cuba from 1959 to Present

“The Cuban Diet”

What will you be eating when the revolution come?

By: Bill McKibben

            The Cuban government is faced with embargo acts. The U.S has taken the out of trade with some very valuable nations. The Cuban government has to figure out how they will survive. They found that their only option is to grow mostly everything for them self. They funded back all of their earning into their education system so that the children will turn into experts in agriculture. The nation did prosper and do very well on its own.

A Nation among Nations: America’s Place in World History

By: Thomas Bender

The American government intervened in Cuba’s revolution against Spain. This reading portion helps me get a little background information on the connection between the Cuban and American governments. American government didn’t want the Cuban government to have its independence, they were making The Cuban government prove them self first. Then the American government had the Cuban government add an amendment in their constitution that America had land in Cuban, known as Guantanamo bay.  That seems to be the start of conflicts and connection between the two nations.

Lucy in America

Have you ever compared a new place to where you live? Have you ever had the experience of moving to a new country or ever imagined how you would experience moving to America from another country? Jamaica Kincaid’s novel Lucy reveals the view of America through the eyes of this young woman named Lucy. Her deepest thoughts and emotions take us into a new reality on the things surrounding us. Our everyday surroundings were like hearing new words for her; it was strange and would take some time to understand.   

As she arrives she already starts to judge and examine everything. She can’t see much as the plane descends because of all the fog.  As she leaves the airport and is being driven to where she will live, people point out important buildings, Parks, benches, and street names, etc. Then she reveals her response to how she feels about all of these wondrous places. “In a day dream I used to have, all these places were points of happiness to me; all these places were lifeboats to my small drowning soul, for I would imagine myself entering and leaving them, and just that –entering and leaving over and over again –would see me through a bad feeling I did not know have a name for. I only knew it felt a little like sadness but heavier than that”. (pg.3) Lucy had longed to come to America, nothing would make her happier. She knew there would be more jobs and she would be able to obtain a better education. That she would live a better life and more luxurious life. Kincaid is showing how immigrants depend on coming to America. They come with hopes and dreams, that they will be fulfilled. Lucy’s response is mind blowing because that one place that was a “life boat” for her soul now gives her a heavier feeling than sadness! She was disappointed upon arrival; America did not live up to her expectations. The more she observed and experienced everything she saw how dirty and ordinary it was. It was not a luxurious place or even admirable place to live.

The culture and ways of America are different from what Lucy is used to. She compares these experiences to wearing new under garments. It isn’t always comfortable at first. Everything takes time to get used to. Lucy also observes the family and the way they take to her. “It was at dinner time one night not long after I began to live with them that they began to call me visitor. They said I seemed not to be part of things, as if I didn’t live in their house with them, as if they weren’t like a family to me, as if I were just passing through, just saying one long hallo! And soon would be saying a quick goodbye! So long! It was very nice! For look at the way I stared at them as they ate” (pg.13). Lucy was the nanny for the kids. Her duties are to walk with them to school and take care of them, yet they call her a visitor. Lucy has moved to America to stay. She attends school and works for this family. They try to make her seem like an outsider and say she isn’t part of things. That is way they refer to her as “visitor”. They are trying to keep her out to show their standard of power. They are Lucy’s employers and they don’t seem to have much respect for her on account that she is an immigrant. They want to make sure Lucy feels less than them. Mariah the children’s mother has tried to down grade Lucy by saying she doesn’t know about a season. This might have been Mariah’s way of learning something about Lucy, but she says it plain that she also doesn’t like Lucy. Mariah is trying to show that because Lucy came from another country she doesn’t have the knowledge like she does. Mariah feels she is better than Lucy; she has more knowledge. I think Mariah is the one with the least knowledge for her to judge Lucy on something as small as not knowing very aspect about a season she has never experienced. The power relationship here is that Americans will always have the upper hand over someone new and will judge them. Lucy did not let anything bother her; she was just experiencing everything for the first time. She knew life had its up and downs.

I think from this text Kincaid is describing that America to the world may be an escape for them, some sort of hope in their life. But America can’t live up to everyone’s expectations. Lucy has to get used America and aspect her expectations weren’t real. America is an ordinary place for everyone to live. It does have better opportunities but you have to work your way up. Lucy is learning, observing and understanding America better.

Looking up sources

I am going to focus on Cuba from 1959 to present affairs. We had a reading in Geography called The Cuba Diet. I think this will help me in understanding Cuba government’s will power. This reading describes how The Cuba government worked hard to make sure there nation would still prosper even through the U.S but embargo regulations on their trade with many main useful places. They have a lot of conflict with the U.S. I looked at Wikipedia an over view of Cuba’s history. This helped me to choose that my main focus will be from 1959 to present.  Well I do know that the relationship between the U.S and Cuba is an imperialist on. The U.S is always trying to control Cuba. They come into conflict over war many times.  It is very hard to find an article. I’m not sure what I’m looking for, also to narrow the results to something useful. I'm still looking through articles and sources to use.

My Reaction to Hearts and Minds

Hearts and minds was a very “eye opening” film. Many people cannot tell you all the events of the Vietnam War, many people do not even know why the Vietnam War occurred. That is why I say this film is eye opening, you a revealed so many views and opinions from all sorts of different sides. After this film, you will be able to make you own opinion and view point on The U.S government’s choices and the Vietnam people. I am a person that was lost and did not know much or understood the war. I do not keep up with the news or even global events. It is not as if I do not care, I just feel there is never anything good to hear about on the news. The actions our government makes are what we just have to deal with. We elected a president to run our nation, so we have to trust and believe in him. I just find it easier for myself not to follow everything they say. Most of the time I do not fully understand what is going on anyway. I know I cannot help the situation; Most of it is really upsetting to me. I find I am a very sensitive person so I get emotional and I feel another person’s pain right away.

            Peter Davis Directed Hearts and Minds I believe to help us have an understanding of the Vietnam War. It was a very big and important War. Many people have their own beliefs of the war. Davis shows us different points of views such as soldiers, injured soldiers, the Vietnam citizens affect by the war, government officials, and many other people. The viewpoints that affected me the most was what our soldiers had to say about their experience in the war and those of the Vietnam citizens. The soldiers had many different viewpoints themselves. At the time of the war while they were in battle they were just fighting to fight. They did not even know the reason for fighting anymore. They just knew their mission and accomplished it. After the war as they think back about the bomb droppings and the gases they start to understand how wrong that was. It was emotional for some of them because now they have families and they could not even imagine anything happening to them. I am happy some of the soldiers realized later on the abuse and destruction the war caused for innocent young children of Vietnam. Other soldiers however found the fun in killing. The War did not affect them in an emotional way they enjoyed their missions and just listened to their government. There was one soldier that I felt his reaction to his injury was very imperative. This soldier suffered from his wound and it left him paralyzed. He was a soldier with a lot of pride in his nation and the military. When he knew he was wounded, his thoughts were “wow I’m going to die and for what?” Those would have been his last thoughts. He lost everything he believed in at that moment. His pride in everything about his nation and his military was gone.  I can be sympatric to his change in heart because he was fighting a war that no one knew the real reason it occurred and why they were fighting. 

            They had a lot of interviews from the Vietnam citizen. I think it was important to get their points of views because it’s their country and family that was at stake. Many people were hurt because of all the attacks. They lost their home, families and source of income. Many young children died from all of the bombings and gases. That hurt me the most because they are just children, they probably did not even understand what was going on. To see planes dropping bombs and planes exceeding gas must of scared them and make them wonder about it also. I feel the pain each parents probably feel for losing their children at a young age. Children mean everything to their parents and for a war to make them lose their children they probably can’t cope with the pain. There was one man who did express how it made him feel. And I’m happy and proud of him to express himself because it should be know how children died from these bombings and gas releases. Other than that man many citizen were surprising to me because the mostly they expressed was their pain and grief about everything that happened to them. They did not say anything bad about the U.S government.

                I just wish that there could have been another way to handle whatever reason the U.S government did have this war. Or even if they had to have the war, they could have found a way to keep the children safe. Children have no say and they aren’t doing anything wrong. I know that the U.S government cannot take back anything that happened, but I hope they will make better decisions further on. I am also hoping they will try every alternative before turning to any form of violence.

Cuba

Cuba is my interest to study because I want to know why they don't like America. It really bothers me that they make it so clearly known they do not like America. They should have a good reason since there is so much restriction between us. My goal is to find out the issues they have with America. Can it be fixed? Do the Cubans want it to be fixed? I'm not sure what relations we have with them but I know it's all involved with the government. From what I learned in class something in their constitution says we have part of their land. When they were fighting for their independence America had imposed on it so that may have sparked it. Also America was very racial against them. Other than that time I’m not sure what other relations they have come across with America.   
I Looked up Cuba on Wikipedia and it was mostly giving just basic facts and general information. Information like dates, time periods, wars, weather, population, and statics. It was helpful for all the fact, dates and time periods of war. I knew America and Cuba had issues that involved in wars, I just didn't know what wars were and how they affected their relationship. This is helpful for me to understand the wars and could possibly be why the Cubans hate Americans. I was surprised to read about the foreign relations Cuba has, Cuba supported the Soviet Union. Wikipedia is giving me information about every part and aspect you need to know about a country to understand the history and functions of the nation. I did enjoy reading about the education, health and everything else. But they don’t give anyone’s view points or opinions about anything. How can we know the reality of it if we can’t get a deeper meaning or response?

Lucy

What is America seen as? Jamaica Kincaid’s novel Lucy reveals the view of America through the eyes of this young woman named Lucy. Her deepest thoughts and emotions take us into a new reality. Her search for a better life in terms of living wasn’t what she expected. Lucky gives us her view of the U.S and a view as an outsider.

As she arrives she already starts to judge and examine everything. She can’t see much as the plane descends because of all the fog.  As she leaves the airport and is being driven to where she will live, people point out important buildings, Parks, benches, and street names, etc. Then she reveals her response to how she feels about all of these wondrous places. “In a day dream I used to have, all these places were points of happiness to me; all these places were lifeboats to my small drowning soul, for I would imagine myself entering and leaving them, and just that –entering and leaving over and over again –would see me through a bad feeling I did not know have a name for. I only knew it felt a little like sadness but heavier than that.” Lucy had longed to come to America, nothing would make her happier. She knew she would be better off here for living matters. Kincaid is showing how immigrants depend on coming to America. They come with hopes and dreams, that they will be fulfilled. Lucy’s response is mind blowing because that one place that was a “life boat” for her soul now gives her a heavier feeling than sadness! She was disappointed upon arrival; America did not live up to her expectations. The more she observed and experienced everything she saw how dirty and ordinary it was. It was not a luxurious place or even admirable place to live.

The culture and ways of America are different from what Lucy is used to. She compares these experiences to wearing new under garments. It isn’t always comfortable at first. Everything takes time to get used to. Lucy also observes the family and the way they take to her. “It was at dinner time one night not long after I began to live with them that they began to call me visitor. They said I seemed not to be part of things, as if I didn’t live in their house with them, as if they weren’t like a family to me, as if I were just passing through, just saying one long hallo! And soon would be saying a quick goodbye! So long! It was very nice! For look at the way I stared at them as they ate.” They family had Lucy as a nanny for the kids. She walks with them to school and takes care of them, yet they call her a visitor. Lucy has moved to America to stay. She attends school and works for this family. But they don’t want her to be part of their family. They try to make her seem like an outsider and say she isn’t part of them, she is a visitor they say, which like keeping her out. The power is held within the family. They are Lucy’s employers and they don’t seem to have much respect for her on account that she is an immigrant. There have been other times where her employer Mariah has tried to down grade her by saying she doesn’t know about a season or she isn’t capable of dancing. This might have been Mariah’s way of learning things about Lucy, but she says it plain that she also doesn’t like Lucy. The power relationship here is that Americans will always have the upper hand over someone new and will judge them.

The view of the U.S from Lucy’s responses is that we live in a country where you can have anything you want and be anything you want. They believe that everything over here is perfect and you will be happy all the time. I think from this text Kincaid is describing that America to the world may be an escape for them, some sort of hope in their life. But America can’t live up to everyone’s expectations.

lucy- draft

What is America seen as? Jamaica Kincaid’s novel Lucy reveals the view of America through the eyes of this young woman named Lucy. Her deepest thoughts and emotions take us into a new reality. Her search for a better life in terms of living wasn’t what she expected. Lucky gives us her view of the U.S. and a view as an outsider.

As she arrives she already starts to judge and examine everything. She can’t see much as the plane descends because of all the fog.  As she leaves the airport and is being driven to where she will live, people point out important buildings, Parks, benches, and street names, etc. Then she reveals her response to how she feels about all of these wondrous places. She says “They used to be points of happiness to her, life boats in her small drowning soul. Now they give her a feeling like sadness, but heavier than that”.  This response is mind blowing because that one place that was a “life boat” for her soul now gives her a heavier feeling than sadness! She was disappointed upon arrival; America did not live up to her expectations.

Lucy goes on to compare being somewhere new as wearing new undergarments. It isn’t comfortable at first; you have to give yourself time to adjust. From Lucy’s response we get the feeling that she isn’t happy being here, maybe she even regrets coming. Through her views we see how much she dreamed of being here. When she was being showed famous buildings she revealed that she imagined herself walking in and out of those building and everyone would admire her, but now she see that it isn’t a luxurious place at all. Everywhere looked dirty and worn down. Before she came all she could think about was how she can have a better life and now that she is in a place where she can, she isn’t sure she wants it anymore. She even said the first night she slept soundly because she didn’t want to wake up and experience anymore.

The view of the U.S. from Lucy’s responses is that we live in a country where you can have anything you want and be anything you want. They believe that everything over here is perfect and you will be happy all the time. I think from this text Kincaid is describing America to the world as an escape for them, some sort of hope in their life. But America can’t live up to everyone’s expectations.

Lucky's Recation

Over time many people have immigrated to the United States for all sorts of reasons. No matter what their reasons are they all have the same dream of being here. They have this idea in their head that the U.S. is a better place for them to be. Lucy immigrated to the U.S. and as like everyone else she had hopes and dreams of a better life there. But things aren't always what they seem. Lucky imagined the U.S. as her escape and freedom as does everyone. Her first impressions of the U.S. was disappointing to her. Lucky describes the U.S. as dirty, it wasn't clean around where she lived and she didn't like that. Back in her country she lived in a big house,now her family has to live in a apartment. Lucy describes the apartment as being trapped in a box. The same feeling our early immigrant probably felt when they came from Europe and moved to the cities. The cities were over populated and 10 to 12 or even more had to live in one room apartments. That isn't a good feeling for anyone
Not only where she had to live bothered her, Lucy had many reasons for how she left. She observed how they kept food and the weather. She wasn't used to having a refrigerator and i don't think she likes it. She says putting the food in there for later is just having old food to eat. They used to cook a new meal everyday. I guess she likes to have her food fresh. She is also used to being in a warm or hot climate. Lucy arrived in January and that is a very cold month in New York. So far Lucy isn't enjoying life in the U.S., but she needs to give her self time to adjust.
I was born in New York and i can't even imagine the transition to move here from a country that hasn't really developed. It must be hard and confusing to understand everything and first. Also with most of the people immigrating here they probably expect everyone to have the best of everything and for them self to get everything right away. But people forget that if you want something you have to work hard to get it. The only opportunity that the U.S. gives you is the ability to achieve anything. That doesn't mean people will hand it to you , it means you have to be willing and determine.