I thought this movie was very powerful as it displayed the effect that Proposition 187 would have on the public. Mayra, a young fifth grader at the Los Angeles Hoover Elementary School, was the main focus of the movie and she was followed throughout the movie at her school as well as her own home. I have never heard of a young girl with so much ambition and hope for her future. You could tell that she truly wanted to make a difference in her community. She was originally from El Salavador, and she made it very clear that she did not want to be sent back. Despite these constant worries, she continues to elucidate a sense of optimism in everything she does. Her fourth grade teacher says she performs her very best at school. It is quite astonishing to watch such a young girl maintain such a positive outlook on life when, at the same time, she is spending her time at home alone because her mother is often working to bring in a decent amount of money for her family. Mayra is surrounded by a community that is hurt by inequality, yet she remains very hopeful. I think that many young children who are born in America should watch this film and learn how Mayra views school. There is a large number of elementary school students who take their education for granted. They need to realize that a good education is such a gift, and they should take full advantage of what they are given. Living in El Salvador, Mayra is able to compare communities, which makes her so thankful to be in America.
In addition, I thought that the difference in Proposition 187 views among the teachers was very interesting. I could not believe one of the teachers (I cannot recall the name) who was pro-Proposition 187 even though she worked with the kids who would directly be affected. She had no problem stating that illegal immigrants should be sent back to their home country. I was so surprised by the extreme statements she expressed throughout the interview. If teachers deal with the same students on a daily basis, they must form some type of relationship with their students. This teacher seemed so emotionless like there are worse things in life.
Overall, this film provided such a great insight into Proposition 187. Viewers are emotionally touched by this film as you see who this proposition would directly be affecting. I loved Mayra's personality and character. She has an incredible amount of determination that will definitely take her far. She does not deserve to be kicked out of an education she takes so seriously.
1 comment:
I agree with Michelle that students should be more aware of how marginalized Latinos are and how much they endure by showing films liket this to children. I also think it was great how determined Mayra was, but it was equally astonished the degree of calmness she exhibited.
It is intriguing how many Latino children who live here do not let on that they are sad, or if they are, they do not show that they are psychologically affected by the turmoil in their life. Living in a neighborhood that is always in the crossfires of gang fights or living in fear of being deported is tough to handle. I think the Latinos' mental hardness is a very useful skill that Americans could benefit from. In contrast to Latinos, Americans do not have the strength or stamina to cope with the slightest problem in their lives; they tend to "lose it" and require the need of psychological services and medications. But, much of this might have to do with the culture here. Here, everyone is generally more selfish than people in other cultures are; everyone is on his own and is fine with seeking the acceptable healthcare treatment. But, in other cultures, concepts such as depression and anxiety may not be realized for treatment to actually occur. Instead, they work through their problems with the support of their friends and family. Despite all the stories that I have heard about Machismo, it still seems as though the family unit bears much more significance in the Latino culture than it does here. And the determination and perseverance Latinos exhibit to work through their problems to remain in the United States it truly remarkable.
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