Outside Reading #9

Many times stories can teach us how to be humans. In "Star Quilts and Jim Thorpe," Brenda Child describes her grandmother's experience with the Flandreau Indian School. After describing how students native learned words and phrases from each other, she states, "This peculiarly pan-Indian quality of the boarding schools is not what assimilationists, who were committed to the repression of tribal languages and culture, had in mind when they founded the institutions" (2). This positivity shows how people can maintain their identity even in the worst of times and oppression. Stories also teach us to be human through contrasting reality with intentions. In "Pipestone" Addie describes how the whites would check the Native American boys for nits or lice. He describes, "I hold my breath as that bug rake  goes through my hair over and over. It takes only one louse to fall on the sheet, and off I go to Paul Smith. I cry as those hair clippers chomp off my hair...we're lonely, bald-headed, our clothes don't fit, and we smell awful" (22-3). This scene presents the intentions of the whites to prevent the students from having nits or lice and the pain that results from these good intentions. Stories like these can teach us to think ahead to the consequences of our actions and the effect they have on people.

Outside Reading #8

Stories can serve to facilitate the understanding of loss. The song "If I Could" by Jack Johnson does just this by telling a story of loss that Jack Johnson experienced. He sings, "I heard some words/from a friend on the phone/that didn't sound so good/the doctor gave him two weeks to live/I'd give him more if I could." Jack lays out the abruptness with which loss can come. Jack continues in the song to develop a positive message about the circle of life. He sings, "New life makes losing life easier to understand/words are kind/they help ease the mind/I'll miss my old friend/and though you gotta go/we'll keep a piece of your soul/one goes out/one comes in." In this part of the song, Jack suggests that although people die, their "soul" stays and their influence in other people's lives remains. Stories such as that of the song, "If I Could," can help in the dealing with loss.