PatelD

As depicted in the movie, there are some characters such as Rosario, Carlitos, Oscar and Enrique who face many conflicts. Of those, I think one that stands out the most to me in terms of conflict is Carlitos. The reason why is that he is a character who faces internal conflict at a young age. He has to decide what is right and what is wrong. For example, the day of his birthday, his aunt and uncle came to take him away from his grandmother; however, he decided to stay with his grandmother. One special thing about Carlitos is that he makes good decision. Moreover, he is mature enough to be able to make good decision. It is very tough for Carlitos because he does not have his mother or father with him to support and give guidance. I think it is very sad to have no support or guidance when you are at this young age. Thus, making good decisions is his internal conflict. Making good decisions include whether Carlitos should go see her mother in America, run away from his house in Mexico, and taking the risk of going with strangers to America.

     Carlitos’s major conflict is the absence of his mother. He is ready to do anything for her mother and that is why he decides to go to America to see his mother and resolve his conflict. There is a saying that ‘It is easier to say than to do.’ Comparing other teenagers throughout the world, I think Carlitos is a very brave young teenager. First of all, going to America from Mexico is not an easy task. Secondly, it is difficult to trust strangers because they might turn out good people or bad people. Carlitos was fortunate enough to have a person like Enrique to help him to achieve to his goal which was to find his mother, Rosario.

In this case, since he had the extreme love for his mother, he did not care what is will happen to me if he gets caught, he just wanted to meet her mother. To resolve his conflict of the absence of his mother, he did everything that he could do to meet his mother. As a result, he was able to see his mother in America at the end of the movie.

After watching this movie, I was very surprised from Carlitos’s life. There are so many lessons that I can implement in my life. For example, Carlitos never gave up on his goal. He was much focused and very creative in a way to achieve the goal he wanted. In my life, I learn that I also have to be focused in order for me to achieve my goals. In general, it is very fascinating to see how immigrants live and how they resolve their situations and conflicts to come to America. My perception of immigrants has changed after watching this movie. I believe that everybody has some kind specialty in them. It is the matter of looking at that specialty. I think that all kinds of immigrants are here in America for reasons and those reasons might be family, education, opportunities, freedom, and simply, a better life. I believe that immigrants do not harm a country; immigrants teach us new lessons of life everyday.

Immigration; an experience of

Change

                Discovery and

                                A new beginning

Of life that allows different perceptions of

People

                Society and

                                A new system,

Which enable a person to

Explore

                His/her own

                                Talents

To the world and feel to be

Superior

                Confident and

                                Passionate

Hence, immigration is a structure that allows people to

Experience

               Learn and

                                Introspect

On LIFE, CULTURE and FAMILY

This is my definition of

Immi-

       Gra-

             Tion   

        The power of media is a very big issue and crucial discussion in today's society. There are many systemic in the media. Moreover, it has had extremely negative contributions in the lives of teenagers. However, one of the contributions is the sexuality in young age.  Majority of the young teenagers are very much involved in the use of computer, television, and music which lead them in a negative path. For example, when teenagers watch television, they might not know but whatever they watch is affecting them when they leave their home. As far as music, words are very strong and have the ability to change a person.

       Therefore, the music that teenagers listen to is very relative in terms of sexuality. Majority of the teenagers listen to rap and hip hop which deal with boyfriend, girlfriend, and simply girls and this influences the young people when they see girls when they are out. In essence, the music which young people listen to affects their behavior. Media is a form of oppression in the lives of young people because the teenagers will try to imitate what they see or hear from the media.

       Without any media, young people will feel depressed and irrational because they are so attracted to the media. Everywhere you go, you will see young people either listening to music or going online and talking to friends. Hence, media plays a very huge part in young people's lives. Media is also a form of battery mentally.  Moreover, media is daily litany to the teenagers. Most of the stuff that young people watch or listen to deal with sexuality. The reason why is because the media is using women as an attraction. For example, if a company is trying to sell a car, they would use attractive women to catch people's mind. There are so many commercials that are shown in television which include women in it to get attraction.

The statement by Harvey Mansfield, "Young males still pick fights, often with deadly weapons. What we suffer from today, is a lack of intelligent criticism of manliness", is very true. I agree with Harvey Mansfield because there many young people who think that being tough and acting superior in front of people is very cool and it is the sign of being ‘man'. This is not true. I believe that to be a man, one does not need to fight or to show other people one's toughness. The way people look at the definition of ‘man is very different from the time where people looked at men as being respectful, having able to protect their family, and being supportive. Hence, the whole concept of being man has been changed.

                 Men are supposed to take care of their family and have loyalty. However, in present day, many young men are married and they cannot afford money and support their family because they think that hanging out with friends is cool. Nevertheless, this is a true example of what I mean by the definition of man has been changed. Many young people who go to high school and college think that they are ‘man' because they hang out in a gang or in a group of people who feel education is not that important.

                My definition of ‘man' is to be able to make right decisions in life, know what is right and wrong, and become a leader, to set an example of an ideal student or a family member. I think that by hanging out with friends who leads you in a wrong path can be weaken one from being a man. In my life, I have always taught that men are suppose to be strong both physically and mentally, that are suppose to respectful, responsible, and being able to have a auspicious life.  As Harvey Mansfield mentions, "Traditionally, the performance of a man's duties has required him to protect and support his family". I agree with Harvey Mansfield and this is the true definition of ‘man'.

            The video clip, "Slip of Tongue" was a very attractive and appealing video. At the bus stop, the boy who was trying to know the girl was very amazed by her personality and her view on what ‘ethnic makeup' is. Moreover, the girl came out to be one of those people who are very proud of their culture and their ethnicity.  The video clip was also creative due to the fact that the whole conversation between the boy and the girl was said and written in the form of poetry.  In addition, in the poem, the girl's part was also creative because she took the entire concept of makeup and used it in her point of view of ethnic makeup.

            The message of the video clip is that people should know their culture and should have pride in their culture or ethnicity. In this day, people care less about their culture and are more focused on how they look and how they can fit with other people. Therefore, one should sustain the greatness of their culture and not recall their culture. Many people who come to the United States of America, most of those people have a tendency to forget about their culture and as a result, they try to fit in with their friends. However, ideally, a true identity of a person is where he is born and his culture.

            The video clip is very relative to me because I am born in a religious family and I grew up religiously and culturally. Honestly, I am very great to have such family who is very supportive and very privileged to have a religion which keeps me motivated to do well in school, teaches me to be loyal to my family, and to be successful in life. Most importantly, it is my culture and religion which prevents me from going in a bad path. Therefore, with all being said, it is very crucial to maintain one's true identity, true friends, true family, and an ideal way to live a life.