Farmington Maine: A Personal Analysis

1. Using symbolic interaction theory as your guide, explain how the terms “aliens” and “illegals” helped shape public opinion/attitudes in Farmingville towards Latino day laborers. What do these words mean? How did these definitions influence perceptions and behaviors?

Alien in one definition is: “Too different from something to be acceptable or suitable,” and Illegal in one definition is “Not allowed by the law.” (Mirriam-Webster Dictionary) The words ‘Alien’ and ‘Illegal’ have inherent negative connotations. A person does not need to know the intimate or factual circumstances associated with those words to understand their symbolism. When those words are used to label the social group of undocumented Latino day laborers the inherent reaction is to see them in a negative way. The individuals become a stigmatized group. The people against undocumented immigrants in Farmingville saw the Latinos through the lens of the stigmatized group “illegal aliens.” They thus became

The history of Farmingville, New York started in 1791, when areas of the town became part of the “Great Division of Land” that was laid out. The first settlers did not come to the town until 1770, however. At the time, the area was used for farming. Unfortunately, the land was not suitable for crops, so many families turned to raising animals. The area got its first school district in 1813. In the early 1900s, the town got its first electrical installation and fire department, and development of the Farmingville Gardens.[1]

Barnstable Town, Massachusetts (MA) is located is an affluent section of Cape Cod. The town is comprised of several village communities, including the exclusive island communities of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. With a population of just over 45,000 people and a median family income of $54,026, one wouldn't expect to find many addiction issues in the area. Unfortunately, Barnstable Town, Massachusetts has more than its fair share of addicts that need help.

The daily life of the Connecticut colony was very busy and included that the women worked in home, raising the children, cooking meals, sewing clothes and weaving cloth. The girls have to learned the skill to manage a home, the men worked hard outside in the farms and fields (plantations) the had to do all in hand. The boys were helped the father, cleared land, built fences, butchered animals and split wood, and the girls helped the mother, sometimes they did go to school but it was more important that the boys learned to read and write because they worked outside with the men and they thought that it was important to know. They just had one religion named Puritans that it was like the catholic religion.

The Underground Railroad in Farmington On the Underground Railroad, Farmington was known as the “Grand Central Station” and was one of the most popular locations for fugitive slaves to use and travel through (Farmington Historical Society). The Underground Railroad was the most popular way for all of these slaves to escape from former owners. Farmington played a huge part in its success and had a significant involvement. This was because of the different houses located within the town.

Often we hear that Maine can be broken up into two separate bodies based on terms of socioeconomic status, urban vs. rural, or even North vs. South. Maine is a diverse state, and the idea that there are, “Two Maines,” is a plausible theory that can be applied based on these terms. Based on urban-rural division, the state could be divided in two, with the counties who have coast line, including Androscoggin, and Kennebec rely heavily on their fishing industries and tourism for their economy. The Northern counties, on the other hand, rely more upon agriculture and farming to support themselves. This divide also separates rural from urban, where “large” city centers are found near the coast, and the rural population is more predominant in the

view on the world. We all live in the same world and are exposed to other cultures every day. If

Based on my life I have seen many different things because I have two different cultural backgrounds. I was born in the United States, but my family is from Iraq and we are first generation immigrants to the United States. I am the first child in my family to be born in the United States I am the 11th child in my family I have 6 sisters and 4 brothers almost all, but two were born in Iraq. One of my older sisters was born in a refugee camp in Saudi Arabia when my parent fled Iraq. I have been to many countries and have had my mind opened to many different cultures and the way it may affect each society and in turn changed my life.

New England is a region located in the northeast corner of the United States, which was made up of six different U.S. states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. New England’s economy relied a lot on the ocean. Fishing (especially codfish) was most significant to the New England economy, but whaling, trapping, shipbuilding, and logging were important too. There was also very few slaves in New England, because most households relied on the labor of their own members, including women in the home and children in the fields. Sons would stay unmarried until their mid-twenties because that’s when they were expected to receive land from their fathers, local authorities, or by moving into a new town.

When it comes to the culinary tourism in the USA, Maine comes atop the list of top foodie destinations in our country. Maine’s internationally renowned seafood dishes, pristine beaches and small town charm appeals to most visitors. However, the recent scenario of Maine’s tourism is seen taking a new route. With the increasing popularity of wilderness camping options in Maine, the local tourism is offering better scopes for avid wilderness entrepreneurs.

In class we have been discussing the analogy of perspectives. A perspective is a way of seeing, also thought of as a ‘point of view’. This mental view or outlook can both enhance and constrain how we view the world in our own eyes. In the field of psychology and sociology there are many ways to perceive our world in which we live. No one perspective alone can define the world. Each perspective has its own distinctive strengths and blind spots. In class we have discussed different theories and analogies to better understand the complexity of perspectives.

Realizing we have more in common than not, when I meet new people, I look at them as individuals. I take into consideration the concrete, the behavioral and the symbolic for they all have their place in a person being who they are. Yes, I wish others could see and gain understanding for other cultures through my eyes. For example, “it is possible to acquire a new culture by becoming disabled, moving to a new country or region, or by a change in our economic status. When we think of culture this broadly we realize we all belong to many cultures at once” (Community Tool Box, 2013).

The world in itself is a paradox. It appears boundless from our meager perspectives, but is a speck of dust in the grander scheme of the universe. The world is full of beauty. Beauty, as they say, lies in the eye of the beholder. Therefore, I want to experience the beauty of the world instead of just hearing about it. I want to see the world because the people of the world have so much to offer. I want to soak up stories like a sponge from every person I meet. When I experience people of other cultures perspectives, I obtain more profound insight

A worldview is a system of beliefs that we model our lives after. It is how we perceive the world and others around us (Rusbult, n.d.). A person’s worldview is affected by how he/she is raised, his/her culture, his/her living situation (Rusbult, n.d.). A person’s parents and upbringing plays an important part in how that person interacts with others and thinks. A world view is like wearing colored glasses (Gutierrez, 2014). The way we see things, or perceive things, is based on the color of the glasses we are wearing. Where did we get these colored glasses? We obtain our “worldview glasses” from our parents, our culture, our friends, the media, and our religious beliefs. (109 words)