Untitled document.docx - B. Garcia 1 Brianda Garcia January...

B. Garcia 1
Brianda Garcia
January 27, 2020
Professor Mumford
SPRK 001 03
Reading and Response 1
1. Rodriguez, pgs. 1-2 : According to the author Richard Rodriguez, immigrants are seen as
unsettling because, “...well because they chatter incomprehensibly, and they get in everyone’s
way” (Rodriguez 1). In this case, society is classifying immigrants as unusual burdens because
they speak different languages that do not correlate with American English and they have to find
ways to keep up with American culture. Although immigrants are trying hard to assimilate to
American culture, many “Americans” might not appreciate that idea and think immigrants are
just in everyone’s way instead of bettering the country.
Immigrants are also “romanticized” according to Rodriguez when he says, “...the United
States will romanticize the immigrant, will begin to see the immigrant as the figure who teaches
us most about what it means to be an American” (Rodriguez 2). In this case, Rodriguez mentions
that society can also see immigrants as hardworking people who leave their countries in search
of the American dream. Immigrants can also be seen as the most hardworking factors in the
country who work day in and day out to give their families a better life. This mentality can also
relate to the idea of what truly makes an American, an American.
The immigrant travels to “the very center of American mythology” to successfully tread a
path to fulfill the “American dream”. Immigrants feel the need to assimilate to American
ideologies to feel somewhat accepted. Some of the myths regarding immigrants that I know is
that immigrants are terrorists, rapists, drug dealers, criminals, and steal American jobs. I do not

B. Garcia 2
agree with these myths, I think individuals are responsible for their actions.
America can be both a nation of immigrants and anti-immigrant because it was founded
by immigrants. America is also anti-immigrant because of stereotypical beliefs. The analogy of
“I might marry your daughter” means that we are pro-immigrant to a point until it becomes
personal. Some people will accept immigrants living within the nation, but will not personally
accept them into their families. What Rodriguez means by this is that people will accept
immigrants to a certain point as long as they don’t intertwine with their personal lives and
relations.
2. Rodriguez, pgs. 2-3 : Rodriguez thinks that the word, Hispanic, is a made-up fictional word
that was incoherently used to classify a group of people who were different from the rest. Society
has made it so that anyone who speaks Spanish, is automatically considered Hispanic, which
doesn’t classify a specific region, it generalizes different cultures to fit one mold. There are
different types of Spanish speakers who all have different cultures, and Hispanics do not
correctly expand on these cultures, people, or regions.