All That Trouble Down There Analysis

The central theme of the book Just Like Us, is that immigrants both, legal and illegal are both powerful and vulnerable members of American society, and that like everyone else they deal with the daily struggles of life, with the added stress of being told, who deserves to live in America. I believe the author was trying to personalize immigration, by looking at the four top girls and their struggles, as well as looking at their families, critics, and advocates, who all affect or are affected by one of the most sensitive social issues of modern America. And the perspective of the author gives the reader insight into And what happens when we don’t agree. Moreover, the author includes viewpoints other than the four girls, including those opposing

For decades, the history of Latin America has been shrouded in a cover of Spanish glory and myth that misleads and complicates the views of historians everywhere. Myths such as the relationship between natives and conquistadors, and the individuality of the conquistadors themselves stand as only a few examples of how this history may have become broken and distorted. However, in Seven Myths of the Spanish Conquest Matthew Restall goes to great lengths to dispel these myths and provide a more accurate history of Latin American, in a readable and enjoyable book.

The author pleads to the political powers to give countries their fair chance and govern their own countries. “Lower yourselves to the unfortunate and raise them up in your arms…let the country’s natural blood surge and throb through its veins,” (Martí 287). The author asks the people in a higher social positon to be an even level of humanity and celebrate a triumph rather than subject Latin American countries under submission. Martí inquires once again freedom for nations that have been under a certain sovereign power. On a rhetorical level, he is also canvasing for equality through the learning of native languages and culture once again. Writer Carlos Urzaiz proclaims that Martí had centered his writings, “concerned with American indigenous populations, emphasizes their capacity to animate their respective cul-tures and associates the restoration of their respective soul— “identity” in modern terms.” Conserving primitive civilizations had become important to Martí and saw the seriousness of bringing back the abandoned cultures back to the surface as revolutions throughout Latin America were

I am now convinced that all five countries in Central America have, or will, face political and social issues, which will cause many revolutions. And with the continuing support of the United States, these countries will struggle to emerge as a fully independent state, until they decide to no longer accept aid from external forces. But then again, that is almost impossible. Somehow, the great power will always be in a position of authority over developing

In Empire’s Workshop, Greg Grandin argues that the United States engineered a destructive domestic fusion of religious fundamentalism, hawkish neoconservatism, and nationalism - to justify it’s engagement in a jingoistic, self-serving foreign policy in Latin America. Furthermore, his work details the preemptive clash against perceived communist elements, and places the ideological disagreements regarding private-property, as the primary mover in US actions. By examining the Guatemalan coup of 1954, which Grandin describes as the Central Intelligence Agency’s “first full-scale covert operation” in Latin America, we can assess the prototypical reasoning behind US intervention. Moreover, the thorough assessment of the motivations of American

U.S. history is a key structural determinant of why Latinos have faced hardship, but now making up over 33% of the nation’s population have found their voice. In the documentary, Harvest of Empire Journalist and author of the book Juan Gonzalez, “Harvest of Empire” discusses the controversial issue in America of Latino immigration. He examines U.S. intervention in each of the Latin countries which in turn caused them to migrate to North America. “People in the U.S. have no idea why we come to this country. No idea. And if they do, it’s probably the wrong one” says Mariana Cabrera a Guatemalan immigrant (Harvest, 18:51). Her country of Guatemala had many changes going on in terms of government structure. In 1951 Jacobo Arbenz was appointed as President of Guatemala and wanted to help alleviate poverty in the country by land reform. According the documentary 2% of the owners had control of the land and 75% were in the hands of the United Fruit Company. The United Fruit Company was controlled by America and used the Guatemalan land to create an American powerhouse. With Arbenz in rule, Guatemalan government values did not match those of

“If you move, I’ll kill you. I’ll break you in two” (Nazario 87). Enrique’s Journey, a nonfiction book by Sonia Nazario, painstakingly follows the trek of a young teenage boy’s treacherous journey to the United States from Honduras. At the tender age of five, a horrified and confused Enrique watched his mother Lourdes walk away from him and onto El Norte, The North. Eleven years later Sonia Nazario, a project reporter for the Los Angeles Times, traces each bitter step of Enrique’s gruesome and long expedition to reunite with his estranged mother. A novel for the ages, Enrique 's Journey allows for insight into the plight of millions of individuals that cross the border illegally due to life circumstances. This fast paced novel and this critical analysis paper depict and explain a problematic and undeniable issue polarizing the Western world: illegal immigration.

Jay MacLeod’s Ain’t No Makin It: Aspirations and Attainment in a Low-Income Neighborhood follows a group of boys from a low-income housing development called Clarendon Heights. MacLeod interviews the boys multiple times during their lifetime to understand if they remained in lower income areas with the same low aspirations. He follows two groups of boys called the Hallway Hangers due to always hanging around the school hallways and the Brothers. The predominantly white Hallway Hangers participate in a different subculture compared to the predominantly black Brothers. For the Hallway Hangers, their main purpose involves being bad. Their definition of bad involves drinking alcohol and consuming drugs on a regular basis. The Brothers remain active

American attitudes towards Latin America can be summed up as an extension of larger global directives, and the exclusion of foreign powers in the region. This was highlighted especially during the Cold War as US involvement was essentially in competition with the USSR. Latin America was therefore a mere pawn in the larger context of US-Soviet competition for global dominance. The actions and methods used are also characterized by the lack of an international authority, or an atmosphere of inter-state anarchy, which shaped their calculations in the endeavor to increase their influence over Latin America. When one analyzes the situation, it seems only rational that the United States treated its southern neighbors so, due to the geographical

A Panamanian stated that the border between the Zone and Panama was so “irregular not even educated persons [knew] exactly where it [ran]” (40-41). This border indicated the place where Panama stopped and the United States began, which in turn caused the exclusion of Panamanians from this land even though it was once Panama. Military bases were more easily distinguishable, since they were often “demarcated by barbed-wire fences and guarded gates,” and were were very exclusive regarding who was allowed to enter (30). This illustrates the mindset that United Statesians were better and more worthy of being in the Zone than Panamanians. The uneven power dynamic between police and Panamanians was still in play when it came to the border. Oftentimes, police in the Zone “apprehended poorer Panamanians of color who crossed the border” when they were visiting friends or family (43). Police could “‘deport’ Panamanians from a part of their own country” which further demonstrates the power that white, United Statesian men had over their Panamanian counterparts

Located on the Pacific Coastline, El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America, and the most populated. The United States of America foreign policy on El Salvador is best explained by President Obama’s approach on Latin America where the United States is focused on economic growth and equality, energy and climate control, and regional and citizen security (Foreign Policy, 2012). This is best explained using the international level of analysis and neo-liberalism where the global structure and economic interdependence provides the foundation of America’s foreign policy. To ensure that one can see the transparency in United States methodology I will provide the history of El Salvador, the creation of United States interest in El

"Fueled by the Cold War and transnational corporate interests, the U.S. has covertly tinkered with the governments of Latin American countries since World War 2, producing an extremely violent and unstable political climate."

Eduardo Galeano, Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent. New York: Monthly Review Press, 1997

The United States has been a heavily involved in Latin American affairs for a long time, and there is great controversy surrounding how good of a neighbor we have been. As the “Colossus of the North”, this country holds enormous power. The question is; have we used our power for good or for evil? At times, we have been generous to Latin American countries. We returned the Panama Canal to the Panamanians and created free trade with Mexico through NAFTA. However, the negative impact we have had outweighs the good. Time after time, the United States has put dictators into Latin American countries out of the fear of growing communism. We have meddled, taken the situations of our neighbors into our own hands with force, and vilified them for situations like the drug trade dilemma that are partially at the fault of the United States. Due to the selfish overstepping upon Latin American governments, our discrimination and blame upon immigrants and foreigners as well as patronizing actions like the Cuban embargo and the Roosevelt Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, the Colossus of the North has historically been a poor neighbor to Latin American countries.

An important omission from Garcia Marquez's metaphorical history of Latin America is the savagely cruel wars for independence, which last from 1810 to (in Colombia) 1819. We can assume then that these wars are already over by the time Macondo is founded, so that this fictional act corresponds to developments in about 1820 - 1825 in the country's real history. This primitive stage of Macondo is also a time of innocence, a psychological theme important in the book.