Is the book unfairly representing one point of view?
CCQC:
The book does portray one point of view, (the boy Enrique) however, this is not unfair. The story of Enrique is accurate and truthful. He has never harmed or tried to hurt any of the police, bandits, or the mexican immigration authorities. The police, bandits, and the mexican immigration authority are not just doing their job. They are worker, but also killers and rapists. They take advantage of others when they see that their prey can do nothing but cower and lower their head. If the book was in the point of view of the bandits, police, and the mexican immigration authority I would still never be swayed by their words. I have no sympathy for the bandits, police, and the mexican immigration authority because of the actions they commit and the fact they think it is okay to rob a boy of all his money or rip his last piece of worth (his mom's phone number) or rape a 16 year old girl and then stone her after. We all need to treat each other better; love is the answer. In the end, the money you have earned from killing young kids will haunt you in your grave. In Enrique's Journey, there is a quote from a man who lives in Veracruz who talks about the unfairness on the treatment of Enrique and the fellow immigrants. He says, "It's wrong for our Government to send people back to Central America. If we don't want to be stopped from going into the United States, how can we stop Central Americans in our country?" This is a very true quote and I agree fully on it. The central american immigrants want to go to the US just as bad as the Mexican immigrants so instead of the Mexican immigrants treating them poorly they should treat each other with kindness. Enrique's story tells it all and includes his bravery, will to keep fighting, and his eagerness to get to his mom and not stopping to fight back but instead he never gives up.
Jonah,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on the case of the bandits and the gang members. in fact, they are not doing their jobs, they are just preying on those weaker than them. I do disagree with you though on the case of the police and migra officers. Their jobs are to keep people out of their country, and out of America. An example of this could be one piece of evidence that you used, ripping up his mother's phone number. You said that by doing this they were destroying the boys' self worth, when in fact, they were just doing their job. In ripping up the phone number, they were making it harder for the children to make it across the border if they tried to cross through Mexico again right after they dumped them down south. I will agree that there are times when they go too far in terms of stopping people, but there will always be weak links in terms of corruption in any large organization you come across.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe point of view of the immigration officers, police, and gangsters are all very unimportant in this situation. All Enrique sees from them is violence and selfishness. It is wrong to rob someone who is only trying to get a better life, or connect with a lost loved one. Despite the kindness shown to migrants by residents of the small towns the trains pass through, the officers remain brutal. However, priests, people with huge influence in the very religious country of Mexico, welcome migrants. They give them sanctuary in churches, feed them, and provide them with what they need to make a safe passage. Priests in Mexico can even override law enforcement. "The incensed priest, a crowd of a hundred around him, demanded that they let the migrants go. 'This is a church. You have violated this place. Release them!' the priest said. The police let the four go...(112)" Law enforcement in Mexico don't necessarily have to follow the priest's example, but they do need to do THEIR job, which is not to beat and rob migrants. Their job is to uphold the laws, and they need to learn to do so with kindness.
ReplyDeletethis is just a response- not a comment for a grade - i agree with you JULIAAAA
Delete