Migrating from one familiar country to another foreign country is a strenuous process, I could only imagine. Being in refugee camps has to be the next worse thing to a prison cell. There were a few moments during the podcast that stuck out to me. One moment in particular was the description of the bathroom conditions, and how most refugees catch infections from bathing in dirt infested river water. Another memorable moment was the scenes where the immigrants who sought asylum were unfortunately told they had to return back to their home countries; because they lacked enough evidence to prove how dangerous their conditions were back home. I loved how the podcast kept the voices of the immigrants in Spanish. It captured my emotions as the audience. It made me feel and understand the pain and anguish the immigrants feel on a daily basis. After listening to “Life on the Border”, it really made me appreciate the blessings I am fortunate enough to have. Two questions I have after listening to the podcast are, Have the conditions of the refugee camps improved in any way since the release of this podcast? Are there any ongoing  investigations being made by the U.S. government regarding conditions of refugees, due to this podcast?

My personal rating: 5/5

After carefully analyzing both readings from Howard Zinn and Scott Foresman, as well as the podcast by National Public Radio, I have reached a conclusion about my argument. Regardless of the years of turmoil and damage Columbus and his sailors bought to the America’s, there are sustantial benefits that came out of it. Both the Indigenous Americans and the Europeans encountered different people with cultures and beliefs opposite of their own. According to Columbus’ notes, in Howard Zinn’s book,  A People’s History of the United States,“They…brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawks’ bells. They willingly traded everything they owned….They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features. . .(pg 1)”.

 

The radio segment “The Movement for Indigenous People’s Day”, sparked more of an interest for me in celebrating Columbus Day, than previously before. What sparked my interest was the interpretation of Columbus Day from a proud Italian’s point of view. For many Italians, Columbus Day reminds them of the pride and victory in “discovering” the “New World”. It’s a piece of history that is widely recognized and venerated by people all across America. Two questions I walked away with after the readings and radio segment are, does the good outweighed the bad in terms of conquering land and its people? Also, is conquering land and its people necessarily for further development?

Self grade 4/5

Migration is an innate human response to inquisition about life. The photo displayed, illustrated by Chris Gash, shows the viewer a dynamic approach to migration. The people portrayed in the image hold on to their countries while yearning to explore other lands. In return, they seek better opportunities for themselves and their people. Along the way, they encounter new people and experiences that help shape their future.