"I told you- he was Mexican" is a very interesting quote to me because this shows a clear prejudice against Mexicans such as Candido. It also spoke to me because if you look at the character of Delaney proves that he doesn't fully believe the ideal of equality, which is what our reality is like. A lot of us tend to judge others based on their skin color and based on their background to me its something we should all work at, not judging others based on their skin color and their background. Not everyone that's Latino is Mexican, not everyone that's Caucasian is American, not everyone that's African American is from Africa, you know we tend to put these labels on the world, but we've never stopped and asked ourselves why? Why do we label others like that, why do we car what they do, why do we care how they lived their lives we are all entitle to live our lives as we pleased. The color of our skin shouldn't define who we are on the contrary it should make us proud where we come from and proud that we're out there showing that anything and I mean anything is possible if you work hard and put your mind and heart into it believe me when I say anything can happen. After reading this book it made me realized that we are one in the same, we are all humans trying to survive the real world and that maybe, and just maybe we all just try a little harder to get along show the love not the hate.
I agree with you Joaquin because people are so judge mental that they do not know the background of a person to judge they just go by their skin color. I know that Mexicans are hard workers and they try thier best to give thier families the best life they can and provide for thier families even if its working out in the fields which is hard labor.
Joaquin, I agree, people are so quick to judge based on looks that they forget it is also important to take into consideration a person's character. It saddens me to see that this is the reality that most Mexicans must face on a daily basis.
You picked a great quote! I found this one interesting too because it shows the clear prejudice against Mexicans and the stereotypes that Mexican have to face.
Hi Joaquin, This quote was one of the few that made my stomach turn. I totally agree with you! I can honestly say it saddens me to know that people still have such hatred in their hearts to be mean to others based solely on their external appearance.
Hello Joaquin. I agree that this one quote that made me feel like what is going on in this world. Being Mexican in the Valley we don't see it here as much but hatred solely based on appearance is still out there.
"That's what he'd tried to tell Kyra over this wall business-- it might keep them out, but look what it keeps in". I thought this was a powerful quote in the story because as the story progresses Delaney becomes more open with his prejudices towards Mexicans. He is at first against the wall and when given an opportunity to try to protest it's construction he backs out of it. And then he overhears his friend's son talking and reflects about his own stepson, wanting to keep people who are different then them out of their neighborhood and wondering if Jordan will turn out like this. He already knows the answer, the influence of the children's prejudices and xenophobia are coming from the parents. They judge someone based on the color or skin, where they were born or what their clothes look like and become afraid when it isn't what they feel safe with.
Jose you are totally right. There is a bigger threat from the people who want to build the walls or hide behind them. I think ignorance is running wild in Tortilla Curtain. Understanding different cultures, traditions and societies is important to moving forward as an American society. Being afraid of a man that wants to put a roof over his wife and child's head and food in their stomach is sickening.
Sean, I like that quote as well, it has a deep meaning because like you said, they are judging based on the way they look, it also emphasizes on those stereotypes created towards Mexicans; and about the prejudice and xenophobia you are right, children are not born to hate certain people because of how they look, sadly they are taught to hate.
Once that quote is said by Delaney, I think that's honestly when the messages start explicitly coming out into the open. I think there's quite a lot of meaning to what he said, because as you state, his latent racism and prejudices start to come to realization.
I agree the author does an excellent job showing stereotypes from both perspectives. I think when America is thinking that quote she remembers how hard she worked without complaining for eight hours, while Mary complains, uses the bathroom, talks on the phone and ultimately gets paid more. America's hard work goes unnoticed because of her employers prejudices. Mary is the type of character that would take all the credit for everything, and wouldn't feel bad about any of it as long as she could go home with cigarettes and alcohol.
Jose, the was a nice choice of quote and I also think that and wonder if every American has the same mentality as the one in the book, its really hard to point them out but to be honest its reality and that's how the world is portraying some cultures.
"The man red-flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray in the heavy black brush of the mustache." This quote interested me the most due to the fact of the truth behind it. Being from Mexico and seeing people like this everyday, I could picture everything so clear and vivid in my head. The blood coming out of Candido's mouth and it being all over his thick mustache. His face scratched and clothes torn apart after being struck violently by the car. The fact that this Candido had nothing but bad luck the entire novel goes back to this moment. His string of bad luck starts at the beginning of the novel, but you have to admire this worn torn man never gave up a single time. Even almost dying by being struck by the car, all he ended up doing was asking for 20 dollars just to get his wife something to eat. its amazing what lengths someone will go through for the people they love.
I agree, I though the author did a great job describing this scene and many others in the book. While reading, it's easy to close your eyes and picture the scene before you.
I was so shocked when all he got was $20 out of being hit by a car. It's so sad that that's what some have to take because they don't have healthcare and are afraid of being deported. Things like this really make me grateful.
Candido's father's advice towards his son is probably one of the most memorable quotes in the book for me. "In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, 'ponte pared' - make like a wall." This piece of advice definitely seems like something the previous generations would give to the current one, and something that Candido certainly could not hold up throughout the story. It is definitely something related to masculinity when it comes to presenting their feelings. Men are told to never display their emotions - to never cry, to never show weakness, and above all to show that you are strong. When the rough gets going, you get tough, and that's all there is to it. Despite all of that, Candido has shown that he was in a pretty awful position throughout the entire story. Along with being homeless, and being far away from his mother country, there was basically nowhere to run and no one to go to due to his illegal status. That quote, along with the future quote about how Candido was a wall, yet crumbling, easily was the most memorable part of the book overall. I think the quote could also apply to Delaney as well, who seems opposed to the idea of walls, but also has to show bravery when it comes to attending the meetings and opposing what everyone else is saying. Eventually, however, he does seem to crumble himself, much like Candido, once his latent prejudice begins to show.
I think you wrote a good discussion post. This is because you clearly interpreted that “making like a wall”, means to be a strong man. This reminds me of all the Narnia and Harry Potter male heroes, who hardly cried, hardly showed their weaknesses, and represented their courage and bravery. These characters used teamwork, strategies, and strength to fight their difficult forces. I noticed that Candido and Delaney had a few weaknesses, even though they were overcoming some of their own obstacles in their lives. Candido had a scary life, living like a nomad where wild animals were present. Delaney struggled with a lot of issues at home (the death of his dogs) and at work (debating a controversial issue). It was also a disturbing issue, when his Thanksgiving feast was ruined (due to an outside fire). I want to let you know that I admired Candido for his survival skills, in times of hunger and difficulty. Candido encountered difficulties living in the wilderness, but he somehow survived. Both Candido and America were able to find some jobs and make livings, even though they encountered some hardships. Overall, you wrote a very nice post. I hope you enjoyed reading the Tortilla Curtain.
Hi Michael, This quote was amazing and I agree with you this quote seems something a parent would advise their children these days. I love that in the story they published this quote because it made the reader see why Delaney showed signs of bravery when he was against his own wife because he would say what he thought.
"Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t."
Being a first generation American, this quote really hits home with me because I say the very same thing. What I find sad is that the saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same," is never more true than with immigration and hostilities towards the immigrants. The Asians in the 1800's, as they were integral in the constructing of the Transcontinental Railroad and other laborious work, yet it wasn't until almost century later when they were finally acknowledged and thanked for the contributions to the developing of the U.S., in an official capacity. The saying "Not a China man's chance" comes from that period, too. The Irish, Germans, and Italians, and other Euro's were next to be discriminated against beginning in the late 1800's, through the 1900's. The Japanese prior and during WWII, and the Internment Camps they were forced to live in during the war, losing everything, and having nothing to go back to. The Arabs, Mexicans, Indians, Africans, and other Asian nations arriving were added to the mix, along with whoever else I missed. Frankly, it disgusts me as I look back and see the nation change with industrialization, the development of the interstate highway, mass technological advances, and yet....we still do the same thing to immigrants, just different faces or skin color and a different period in time.
Being the Native Americans are the "natives" of the land, I can't help but feel next to the slaves, they were -pretty much- f*cked over the worst. Having read and learned much of the history, along with talking to many Native Americans -- some who are friends-- there is no nice way of putting what happened to a nation of peoples as proud as the Indian Nations.
As long as humans exist, sadly, hostilities towards whoever the newcomers are will always happen. In saying that, that rings true to those moving to another state, city, town, etc. It's in our nature to single out, and I wish I had a solution for a problem that has been around as long as this nation has existed. #LoveSeesNoColor
I agree with you! It would be amazing if we lived in a world where humanity stuck together and discrimination didn't exist, but as we can see that sadly doesn't exist. If only there was a solution for this hatred? But I do think we can help by starting to correct those that we come across and that are used to making these harsh remarks. I mean we might possibly even start with the people that are close to us. I say this because we might know someone that just honestly doesn't know that he/she is being discriminatory or that likes to joke around with racist comments. I believe taking small steps like this one can soon make a huge difference.
You're right, Gracie, it starts with us and how we choose to react, and the examples we demonstrate with our own actions. We are taking small steps, and compared to other nations like China, Russia, Saudi Arabia (and similar nations in the Middle East), North Korea, etc., we are far ahead of the curve, but it still doesn't make it all good, just better than most, but we still have a lot of work to do.
I feel the love Scott. One of the reasons why, in this country in particular, we keep repeating this cycle, is that this nation thinks of itself as being right, and righteous. We as a nation, along with our leaders, refuse to have meaningful dialogue about the past sins of the country. How could we move forward if we refuse to come to terms with our past and right the wrongs that we have done. One big problem is that it is not in the best interest of commerce in the short term, and we know how this country thrives on immediate gratification.
Hello Scott. I would have to agree with you 100% as in fact this country was built completely on immigrants. Still to this day, I believe it is immigrants that keep this country great and running smoothly.
Wow, Albion, your words carry so much stinging truth. Though the nation has thrived, many suffered in the route to the nation prospering. That being said, it's hard to do more than just acknowledge the wrongs, albeit for the best of intentions because those responsible are long gone and buried other than not repeating the same mistakes once made.
There were a lot of quotes from the book that made me cringe and clench a fist because I hate reading it about as much as I hate hearing someone say it. Good choice of quote, Jose.
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills, all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.” There were other quotes that were good but this one got my attention. It's not til this quote when I realized what Tortilla Curtain meant. It means where the Mexicans come from. It's sad to know that there are people out there that think that Mexicans are only here to offer their strong backs when in reality they come here to have a better life and give their children a better life and education. Mexican immigrants come here to find work and most of them start in the fields and then if they can they move on up. Life in Mexico is not easy and people there are limited to what they can do and they are limited in education because it is not free like here. This is why they come here to have better opportunities and to give their children those opportunities. I do not see anything wrong with this. We should be treated equally and if there are people here who are doing the right thing I do not see anything wrong by them being in this country. This quote really got me thinking and was a bit upset hearing Jack say these things to Delaney.
I completely agree. Hardworking people should be appreciated. There are too many negative stereotypes for everyone and it is not a good way to coexist among different people.
Claudia, you couldn't have said it any better than this, although many of these immigrant might not have the education they desired they are hard working people that are willing to do anything in order to help their families. Sadly not very seems to appreciate that
Hi Claudia, I also did not know what "Tortilla Curtain" meant until this quote. I agree with people thinking that Mexicans are only here for labor; they all want a better life with better opportunities. We should not be punishing hard-working people, but rather, helping them.
I agree this was upsetting and not right that they did that to their stuff. they had no respect for someone who had so little. I am not into politics either but it is sad what is going one in this world now a days.
"Everybody is an immigrant from somewhere".- This quote in particular caught my attention because it represents the reality that we currently are facing in America. There is absolutely no doubt that this country is composed of immigrants from all over the world and that is what makes it unique. We are a mixture of many cultures from all over the world and there is no need to travel miles to experience those cultures and their foods because we can find them just around the corner. We all come from somewhere and unless one is a Native American than the rest of us are considered immigrants. This quote is powerful because it relates a lot to some current issues that affect immigrants due to other Americans wanting them out of this country. Of course opposition to immigration is not new but I find it ironic that at some point in history we looked for immigration when we needed workers to fill labor shortages, and turned our backs toward immigrants at other times. I feel like this quote empowers and helps embrace the fact that we are all considered immigrants and that does not make us any less Americans. I feel like as Americans we should be proud of the fact that other people are willing to leave their cultures to come to American and have a better life . When I came across this quote I knew the meaning behind it was deeper than just simply saying everyone comes from somewhere but rather the fact that immigrants are what make this country a great one. Although most of the book emphasized the stereotypes and prejudice towards Mexicans, I felt as if this quote justified the action of being an immigrant because it points out at every other immigrant not only Mexicans. This quote says a lot about what we currently face and makes us wonder that in fact we all came from somewhere and if we weren't the ones who came from somewhere then someone in our family did so that we could have the opportunity to be Americans.
Deisy, the explanation for your choice is great. We have a similar concept, and I definitely agree with what you said, "We are a mixture of many cultures." I believe people just need to stop the discrimination, and become accepting of one another.
Yes, we definitely need to learn to be more accepting of each other because at the end of the day that is what makes this country what it is, I'm glad you found my explanation to be great!
Jose, Great quote! Now that you mentioned it I am wondering myself if that is the perception Americans have on us. it saddens me to see how people have created certain labels towards us Mexicans, it's sad because as a part of such community one knows that those stereotypes that are put upon us are erroneous.
Devon, This particular quote was hard to read, it is hard to believe how much hate and racism actually exists around us, unfortunately there's only so much we can do to try to make close minded realize that their actions are wrong.
The quote that I found most interesting in Tortilla Curtain was "That's what he'd tried to tell Kyra over this wall business-- it might keep them out, but look what it keeps in.” I found this quote interesting because it makes you think that these walls are always a conflict of interest. Yes, the walls keep things out but it also keeps bad things inside our walls and boarders. The pros and cons to these wall are very conflicting so when are we ever to determine if these walls are beneficial or not. This quote also shows when Delaney becomes conflicted with the decision of keeping the wall.
You wrote a very good discussion post. This is because you clearly understood the representation of the “walls”. When you read the book, you noticed that the “walls” keep undesirable objects inside, and not just outside. It reminds me of the coyotes who entered into Delaney’s territory, and ate Sachaverell and Osbert (who were his dogs). Walls actually block negativities from exiting territories, and they keep other negativities from entering territories as well. While I read your post, I realized that the “walls” symbolize both good and bad. When I think of walls, I think of symmetrical reflections and deflections (like the walls reflecting and deflecting white light in the PS2 games I always play). Mirrors are also resemblances of walls, since they reflect and deflect light. Some people say that mirrors keep some of the negative features of images away. Overall, I enjoyed reading your post. I hope you enjoyed the book as well.
One quote that stood out to me was "Why should we be providing jobs for these people when we're looking at a ten percent unemployment rate right here in California- and that's for citizens." Jack is saying this to protest the labor exchange. This was what was helping many immigrants in their area and the quote stood out to me because we hear the same thing being said today, when dealing with the immigration issue. I have always felt our country should make it easier for people to come and find better lives here, although this book did point out a lot of harsh realities many people don't know about. I am such a caring person, I hate thinking so many people are out there struggling, but what is even worse is societies way of stereotyping and discriminating them.
Hi Jade, I agree that the country should be make it easier for immigrants to find jobs. There is a lot of hard working people out there and they only want a better life for themselves and families.
Jade, I thought that quote was really powerful because they think that the immigrants would take their jobs; in reality most of the people wouldn't even do the jobs they were doing for so little money.
A quote that I found interesting was, "In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, ponte pared, make like a wall." This was advice from father to son and the son had taken this advice. It is interesting that it is compared to a wall. Nothing can get through a wall and it blocks parts that do not want to be seen. In any type of situation that seems impossible to overcome, it is good to block any negativity like a wall. If a wall is put to block all the negativity from the mind or people, then you will be able to push yourself forward. You will not be focused on failure, but rather success and believe that the impossible can be possible.
You wrote a good discussion post, because you clearly interpreted what it means to “make like a wall”. Your post was concise and clear. I really enjoyed reading it. In my case, I will try to pick a compassionate Delaney quote. There are so many nice quotes in this book, and you chose a really good one. I am kind of unfamiliar with certain quotes, so I will try to pick the quote which best suits me. I realized that this book has both positives and negatives, and I am making sure I pick a really positive quote. I noticed that all of the characters (in the Tortilla Curtain), may have had positive and negative sides, but I will think of a really good quote. I noticed that this book contains humor as well. I hope you enjoyed reading this book.
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills, all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.”
I chose this quote for two reasons. The first reason is obvious; it automatically stood out to me because this was the only time that the Tortilla Curtain was even mentioned. And the second was because I’m currently taking a Sociology class on Latino Experience and Immigration, so it tied in perfectly. We have learned and discussed that what Candido, America, and other Mexican immigrants experienced in this book was exactly the same experience they encountered before, during, and after WWII. Some Americans thought that Mexican immigrants should always remain at the bottom of the racial hierarchy. That they were uneducated, dirty, etc., but just good enough for work. And even that opinion came to an end. The opinion that Mexicans were good for work came to a stop when Americans and Mexican Americans began to sense that Mexican immigrants were becoming a threat towards specific industrial jobs. At this point they began to oppose to the contracted migration of Mexicans. Mexican Americans activists began organizations that were primarily expressing that Mexicans were curving away the opportunity for Mexican residents to become citizens and be offered other American rights. So basically Mexicans immigrants were only being used, and by this they never really received the civil rights that they were promised. Furthermore, it’s sad for me to mention that these types of stigmatization still occur between races now. I have witnessed how migrants have had to work double as hard in order to become accepted, and even worse I have heard of how some have even tried so hard to forget their cultures in order to assimilate to the American life. This is so depressing and frustrating to me, and I wish discrimination just faded away!
Wow, I could never imagine casting my Greek/Italian traditions and cultural roots to the side as if they never existed in order to be accepted, NO WAY!! It's sad that there are those that feel they have to take such measures in order to assimilate, rather then introducing their cultures along with American cultures.
A quote that I found very interesting was “Of course, some days went better than others. He tried to confine himself to the flora and fauna of Topanga Canyon and the surrounding mountains, increasingly he found himself brooding over the fate of the pupfish, the Florida manatee and the spotted owl, the ocelot, the pine marten, the panda. And how could he ignore the larger trends- overpopulation, desertification, the depletion of the seas and the forests, global warming and loss of habitat? (32) I think this example is a good display of affection towards nature common to many people in California, including myself. While I spend my time outdoors, I like to enjoy nature for what it is however, a small part of me feels guilty. I feel guilty of the fact that us as a species does a lot to destroy habitats. Our behavior causes a variety species of animals to become extinct and we have yet to maintain an environment that does not cause damage to nature. Although, I believe there is still hope to improve the condition of the environment. I think we are becoming more technologically advanced and hopefully there will be a way to clean the air, water, and earth. If we continue to try and look for ways to live in harmony on this planet I believe we can succeed. The future generations should live to see the beauty of nature for what it is and not what is was. They deserve to learn and experience the outdoors and witness the many beauties of the state.
While many quotes in this book stood out to me, a lot of them mentioned above, one that was interesting to me would have to be the last line of the book “But when he saw the white face surge up out of the black swirl of the current and the white hand grasping at the tiles, he reached down and took hold of it.” This quote stuck with me because it goes to show that we make a choice everyday whether to do the right thing or not. Candido could have let Delaney pass by and drown; especially after all that Delaney had done to Candido. However, he chose to reach out and save Delaney. Both sides made so many assumptions throughout the story and I feel like this ending reverses how people would have pictured the ending. It would have been easy to have Delaney save Candido and his family, but that would have completely changed the message too. They both lead very different lives, but both had things going against them and what they believed to be right. In the end they were both just trying to make the right decisions and do what was best for their family.
Great thoughts! I completely agree with is. At the end of the day most people are just trying to do what is best for them and their families. Sometimes, along the way, people slip up and end up hurting others without even noticing. I would hope that people learn from this book and to treat people with kindness more often.
There are many things that are very interesting about this book. One quote that got my attention was when America was crying, she was moaning about her husbands pain. For example the author mentioned, "“She cried when he couldn’t say her name, cried when he wouldn’t wake up, cried through the long morning, the interminable afternoon and the eternal night." This shows how much she loves Candido. It felt like she wanted to help her husband but she couldn't do anything because the lack of money and not also that they can get help because the chance of getting deported is at large. Candido in the other hand is a lot of pain, although he's almost dying he didn't want to get help because all the hard work that they have done to get to the other side of the border will be crushed. He is sacrificing himself for the betterment of America.
I agree. They both really loved each other and she showed her true love by sticking with him through all of those hard times. I really felt bad for her during this quote because she was so alone.
The quote I liked the most was "Life may be inveterately grim and the surprises disproportionately unpleasant, but it would be hardly worth living if there were no exceptions, no sunny days, no acts of random kindness". I thought this quote was the one that caught my attention because life is hard sometimes but there's a reason behind all of those hardships. Those hardships make up who we are. Also, life wouldn't be as amazing if everything was given to us. Sometimes we may complain but in reality if something is worth it its not going to come easy. It helps us become better people.
Hi Neida, I really like this quote too, and I think it is a really uplifting message in a book that was full of a lot of hatred and negativity. It really is all about perspective, and how we decide to handle what life throws at us. Thanks for sharing!
I think this is a great quote too. Hardship produces character and perseverance. I totally agree with you when you say life wouldn't be the same if we were handed everything.
There were multiple quotes that made my stomach turn in this novel. One that stood out to me the most was “Do you realize what you’re saying? Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t.” Sadly to say, but everything mentioned in the Tortilla Curtain is very relevant to current times. The prejudiced mentality of the residents of Topanga Canyon was to be honest, hard to read. So when i read this quote, it made me feel better about the story. because it represents my exact feelings towards the topic at hand. This country is full of immigrants and that's what makes it so beautiful and different. We do not have to travel to a different country to see/hear different cultures, languages or traditions. its all just a short drive away! I feel some people spend so much unnecessary time being mean and rude towards others based on their accent or color of their skin. I know racism will not go away from one day to the next, but if we all stop wasting our time judging each other by the stupidest reasons, this country believe it or not, could still be so much better than it already is.
"The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us" (pg. 104). I chose this quote because I feel like it represents the overall attitude of the Americans in the story, and even in today's world. It struck a chord with me, especially with the recent election and all of the debate about building a wall to separate America and Mexico. It makes me so sad that people hold such negative views against other people, to the point where they become so hateful. Throughout the book, I couldn't help but be reminded of how lucky I am to have grown up without having to face the trials and tribulations that we see the Rincon family going through. It's hard to imagine how hard it is for immigrants to come into the country, who are only seeking the same opportunities I have been afforded every day. This is what the tortilla curtain means to me; its the way that we turn a blind eye to these hardships, and the negative attitudes towards these people who could potentially help strengthen our country if given the opportunity.
The quote that stood out to me the most is “transients used those carts. Bums. The homeless and displaced. Crazies. Mexicans. Winos.” It remembered this quote as I read the book because I think it showed the racism that Kyra felt against Mexicans. She easily grouped Mexicans with homeless and displaced people just because of their race. The thought that first came to her just because she saw a deserted shopping cart in the neighborhood. She struggled with the way she felt with Mexicans but the way she saw it, it was bad for business and that was what she focused on. Her husband also struggles with racism throughout the book even though he tries not to feel the way he does. Racism is seen time and time again with different people some more racist than others. Even Jack Jr. has already taken after his dad and is only 16.
"She looked at the coyote so long and so hard that she began to hallucinate, to imagine herself inside those eyes looking out, to know that men were her enemies- men in uniform, men with their hats reversed, men with fat bloated hands and fat bloated necks, men with traps and guns and poisoned bait-"
I fell in love with this quote, and it was longer but had to cut it short, because it displayed a lot of America's agony and her empathy towards the coyote's point of view. She made some sort of connection with it, instead if running away or fearing it. After all, she was most afraid of the men who harmed and wrecked her. Just like the coyote was afraid of anyone who would harm it. T.C. Boyle wrote this part of the book beautifully. It made me feel almost as if I were America. Executing her emotions perfectly.
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"Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country— we’re a nation of immigrants— and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t." I chose this quote because it really brings immigration into light and shows a new side of reality, that I feel many people don't acknowledge. I think especially now with the election and the talks of building a wall between us and Mexico, the immigration argument is now of more concern than ever. I think its important for Americans to realize their ancestors were not given everything upon arrival to this country, and they had to work to build a reasonable life for their family. Generations later, this hard work has paid off, and Americans can live a comfortable life with access to health care and a multitude of job opportunities. Every family, at one point in their life, were at the bottom of the immigration glass and life wasn't so comfortable. Just like it isn't comfortable for many in the Tortilla Curtain. Candido and America struggle everyday to build a comfortable life for themselves, while someone like Kyra, a privileged white women, outcasts them and makes their journey harder. If Kyra would remember her background and was even shown a glimpse of the hardships her newly immigrated family faced, I think she would feel much differently.
Hi Kaci, I agree, all of us were immigrants at some point. Some have been here longer than others, but we all started at the bottom. Some believe they are more entitled because they have been here longer, but we all deserve the same opportunities.
The quote I'm going to choose is this: "I can't believe what I'm hearing," the man said...If we'd wanted a gated community we would have moved to Hidden Hills or Westlake, but we didn't. We wanted an open community, freedom to come and go and not just for those of us privileged enough to be able to live here, by for anyone, any citizen, rich or poor. I don't know, but I cut my teeth on the sixties, and it goes against my grain to live in a community that closes its streets to somebody just because they don't have as fancy a car as mine or as big a house." This quote really interested me because I thought it was very courageous, and I was thinking about the times we are living in now and how there is this big controversy of a wall. I completely commend people who have the willingness to speak out against something they're so passionate about. I love to hear people stand up for those who are poor and for the needy. I'm not saying we can always help them, but envisioning a world where we wouldn't need gates or walls is pretty cool. I wish we could all just live in harmony and love one another, but hey, we're humans. But, that being said, we could try to make the best of our humanity by treating each other with respect and kindness. It's a deep subject.
I looked up valuable quotes from the Tortilla Curtain, and picked one of them on page 127. This quote stated the following, “She felt a surge of hope: the worst of it was behind them now.” I picked this quote, because this quote symbolized that America’s and Candido’s lives were gradually climbing out of despair. This also meant that America and Candido would find jobs, and make a fair amount of money to support them. The hope could also signify life, comfort, and safety. The couple’s lives would gradually get better, as time went on. I noticed that some of the quotes in the book were controversial, so I decided to pick this one which best suited me. I noticed that two wall quotes, and one universal Delaney quote were pretty good quotes. The rest of the quotes in the Tortilla Curtain, were so hard for me to select. Somehow, I tried to carefully select good quotes from the Tortilla Curtain. This book contained a lot of conflicting viewpoints, and this was what made me choose the quotes in a nice manner. This book contained a lot of humor, and it contained both positive and negative parts.
The Tortilla Curtain also contained a couple of animals, which held particular symbols. One example was that the coyotes symbolized danger, death, and scariness. Candido and America struggled so hard, living in the wilderness. They had to watch out for animals and people, and they had to make sure that they found jobs to live in a dwelling with a fair amount of food, water, and shelter. They wanted a television and a yard as well. This book was funny, controversial, and thrilling until the last page was over. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
The quote that I am choosing is, “There are always surprises. Life may be inveterately grim and the surprises disproportionately unpleasant, but it would be hardly worth living if there were no exceptions, no sunny days, no acts of random kindness.” This quote stuck out to me because this book has so much negativity and this quote was a sense of hope for those who go through bad things. The part in the book where Candido was helped by a man who could have easily turned him in, but instead made a phone call and had a lady help Candido out is an example of showing that not everyone in the world is cold and mean hearted. Candido was so grateful that he gave the woman who helped him his laminated card of the Virgin de Guadalupe he carried for good luck. Like mentioned in the quote, life would not be worth living if there was no good in the world. No matter how small or big a negative situation can be, any form of positive act can change the perspective or mood of a person.
Hi Jennifer, I like that you chose a positive quote out of the book, since most of it is negative. It's true, the good always makes life worth living, especially when the world is a dark place.
Tortilla Curtain had many interesting quotes but one that made me laugh was “ A few men stayed behind, of course- the ones who had business, the congenially rich, the crazies- and some of them the unscrupulous ones, took advantage of the loneliness of the forlorn and itching wives to put horns on the heads of the men breaking their backs in the land of the gringo.” This quote was funny to read because it made me think of people I have seen in Mexico that cheat on their husbands that are working hard in U.S. to provide a better future. It is sad because since everyone knows everyone in the little town people just make fun of the husband. Also, I have seen it go both ways. For example, a family friend who petitioned for his residency was punished for a year and sent to Mexico, his wife was in U.S. working while he was out there cheating on her with his Sanchas. It is sad to see these kinds of things because the man or women does not value what their partner is doing for them. In the story I am happy that Resurreccion had left with Teofilo because Candido did not have to live with those horn on his head forever. Candido had send Resurreccion money and she had spend it with her Sancho when he found out that she had left with him he became an alcoholic and a disaster. This quote and scene made me think why did Resurreccion had to cheat on him? Why couldn’t she have told Candido she wasn’t going to be able to wait for him? It is sad that in the real world things like this happen and I believe people become affected and feel as if there life is worthless and become alcoholics.
I also asked myself the same questions about Resurreccion and the decisions she made to cheat with Candido. It made me so sad to hear how hard Candido took it.
“The homeless and displaced. Crazies. Mexicans. Winos. But no, that was a city problem…” I found this quote interesting. In the past, I did a lot of work in private communities throughout Southern California and found that this type of mentality really does exist. Well to do people that move to these communities to escape the drudges of the city, whether well meaning or not, and they eventually lose track of what the real world is like. They watch the news that offers up repetitive negative stories that to makes things appear worse than they really are. Many of them become disconnected to the rest of the larger community, which could then become a problem with dehumanizing the “others” in the city, as we see in Kyra’s statement above. I actually had one lady look at her husband in shock and said, “he knows how to read,” when she saw me reading an owners manual. Yes, this was in 1993 or so. What is sad is that these types of communities are in demand. All we need to do is look at what happened in Porter Ranch with the natural gas leak. One would expect the property values to drop, but that was not the case. Property values were almost unchanged and in some cases, the values actually rose exponentially because the demand was so high. In any case, when these adults raise their children in communities such as these, the children grow up with a misunderstanding of the struggles of the city dwellers, and this could reinforce the us versus them mentality and thus breakdown the true meaning of community.
It is sad, but we are doing something about it right now, taking classes like this one where we interact with each other and seeing that we are all after the same goals; we want to make life better and safer for ourselves, our children, and future generations no matter where we are from.
Hi Devon, It is sad that the kids being young adults they were racist. That only tells us that their parents have raised them full of racism. I agree with you that this is something happening today because there was another quote in the book that said they were building the wall to keep crime rate and bulgaries out of their community since it was already becoming common. It is sad that Jake was referring of the Mexicans.
One of the quotes that grabbed my attention from "Tortilla Curtain" was a quote that stood out to me because of a personal experience. The quote was "The valet parking attendant with Mexican, of course - Hispanic, ". It stood out to me because I find it really racist especially at the end of the quote. "Of course", as stated in the quote, this tells me that it is assumed that every Mexican is to have a low/ hard paying job. So in my experience I was working back in retail a few months ago when I was judged by a white couple that assumed I didn't speak English. They were absolutely so rude that I overheard them call me "Mexican" and I heard the girl say she didn't want to "pay with me". In that moment I looked at them very rude and walked away. I personally believe racism is disgusting because you just can't judge someone by their looks and color. Overall, this quote stuck with me because of this experience.
Its crazy how rude some people can be to complete strangers! I had one customer tell me and another coworker we should go back to where we came from recently. So sorry to hear you experienced that.
That's pretty bad. It's horrible to hear how rude people can be. Hopefully that experience made you stronger and didn't effect you negatively in any way.
Throughout this book, for me, the story connects to me on a sort of personal level. Growing up in a Mexican family, I have seen people discriminate against my grandparents because of their accents or because they don't speak English as fluently. The quote that really grabbed my attention was, “coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They’re peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills—all they’ve got to offer is a strong back". Especially due to current events, this quote really represents a significant amount of people. People are so privileged that they do not see their own ignorance. What struck me the most was the part where they mentioned, the people coming into America have no skills or no education, these people come to America in hopes of a better life, that way they could obtain skills and pursue an education or maybe for their children to receive an education. I definitely enjoyed the book because I felt I could relate to it in a sense.
To be honest, I didn't enjoy the book. I was getting depressed along with America. I was hopping for a happy ending, instead it got worst. I mean, it's a good story that tells the reality of the illegal immigration struggle. But to me, it's to sad and depressing. Too much.
It's a shame that racism is still as strong as it was before our times, and yet it continues to grow even in the current generation. I think it won't disappear any time soon, unfortunately, because despite what teachers can do in school, we can't control what kids hear at home, on television, on the radio, and especially the internet.
My favorite quote from the tortilla curtain is actually from the beginning of the book when Delaney hit Candido with his car. The vivid picture that Delaney puts into your mind here and throughout the rest of the book is interesting to me. He states " Everywhere he turned he saw those red flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray int he heavy black brush of the mustache - they infested his dreams" pg 3. This quote shows just how Delaney felt after hitting a human being. I think this gives readers a good feel for what kind of person Delaney is. This quote sets the scene for the rest of the book if you ask me.
After hitting someone it probably would make you nervous that it would occur again. Flashbacks of the exact situation down to the persons physical appearance will occur.
There was a lot in this book that was a bit cringe worthy and quotes that were very vulgar. So, the quote I chose was on page 28, "Lettuce? Fruit? This isn't Bakersfield, this is L.A". I just love when people talk about Bakersfield, it is my home and I'm proud of the diversity and the things we produce. I think Bakersfield is so homey and the cost of living is much more reasonable then the area of Arroyo Blanca that is talked about in the book. Overall, I chose a quote that kept it neutral, not one that brought the feelings of hate or anger.
I thought the same exact thing, it is always nice to hear about familiar places just as in the book it pointed out many areas that I am familiar with in Los Angeles
The quote that interested me was the one that says “She had to walk back up the canyon in the bleak light of the declining day while the cars swished by her in a lethal hissing chain, and in everyone a pair of eyes that screamed, Get out, get out of here and go back where you belong!- and how long before one of them tore up the dirt in front of her and the police were standing there demanding her papers?” It’s crazy to think how incidents like these are happening today. There are so many people getting told racial and mean things to people and threaten to call ICE on them. This quote reminded me a lot of immigrant families, in particular, a family friend who is scared of going even to the mall because they said that they once saw ICE close by. They think that by going to the mall or that maybe close by the mall they will have a stop to try to catch people. There are so many people who have actually encountered immigration before and have had to hide so they won’t get caught, in the same way America is saying. America and Candelario are good real life examples of the worries and struggles of people today. It’s crazy how much this book represents what is going on today even though, it wasn’t written recently. They represent the struggle and American Dream people have when they come over and all the struggles that comes with it.
I think what is sad is to see how discrimination against immigrants, especially Mexican immigrants has not change. As you mention even though "The Tortilla Curtain" was written a while back, we still see many people struggle and live in fear due to racism that people still exist. One example which has caused many people to exhibit racist feelings and acts, is the Donald's Trump comments about illegal immigrants, thus it has allowed Americans to freely show their racism feelings about immigrants.
One quote that stood out to me the most was when Delaney defended immigrants from Jack Jardine racist comments by saying "Do you realize what you're saying? Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country--we're a nation of immigrants--and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn't," (101). This stood out to me because it is true, many Americans forget where they came from, especially when they make racist comments about immigrants coming to the United States looking for the American Dream. When in reality the United States was made of immigrants that came to take over the Native Indian lands. Another reason why this quote also stood out to me was because of the contradiction that Delaney's words about defending immigrants had when he saw Candido outside the supermarker, thus, he automatically assumed that he was hassling people for money and does nothing to help him even after he knows that what he did to him was not right, especially by giving him only 20 dollars to get away with his actions.
I agree. I was confused throughout the book because Delaney kept contradicting himself. At first he paid a man $20 to get away with his actions and then he was defending immigrants throughout the book. I don't know, I was a little confused.
The quote that really caught my eye at the beginning of the book was on pg. 4, “Delaney’s first thought was for the car... then for the insurance rates... and finally, belatedly, for the victim.” This quote begins the books' themes of prejudice, racism, and selfishness. This quote gave me a very bad view of Delaney and made me dislike him as soon as I read it. I felt that he was so selfish and cruel for not instantly worrying about the victim. If I were to accidentally run over someone, the first thought that would flash through my mind would be the victim that I hit with my car. After reading more of the book, I realized the sad thing is that Delaney had a lot of money and I don't. Why was he so worried about the car and insurance when he has the money for it? It really just shows how selfish he was in that moment. And I would never be okay with giving a man $20 for running him over. I felt like this opened up the themes of prejudice and racism because I wondered if Delaney would have thought of the victim first if it was a white man, woman, or child?
Hello Brianna, I would have to agree with you and everything you said. I've grown up facing discrimination, racism and prejudices everyday of my life. It's amazing to me when you ask somebody what would of happened if it was a white person. Like for example if a white Catholic Church got shot up by a black man or by anybody the police and government would of went all out to bring the assailant down. It's just crazy how even in 2017 the same things still goes on.
Brianna, this quote instantly pulled my attention. I couldn't fathom that someone would consider the life of another to be less important than their car insurance rates.
"It was a private community, comprising a golf course, ten tennis courts, a community center and some two hundred and fifty homes, each set on one-point-five acres and strictly conforming to the covenants, conditions and restrictions set forth in the 1973 articles of incorporation." This quote spoke so much volume to me being African American and growing up in an okay neighborhood but we still had the gang activity and drug wars going on in south central of Los Angeles. My neighborhood didn't do things like this and because of that the gangs and criminals would cause so much havoc the neighborhood that had good civilians were scared to do something because of the gangs. If all communities in low poverty areas and high gang/criminal activities came together I think the feeling of safety would be better.
I agree with what you have said, low income neighborhoods are more prone to this type of activity. Fighting these gang/criminal activities will always be a reoccurring problem until the poverty issue itself is resolved or decreased.
The quote that really interested me was " And thats legal immigrants, people with skills, money, education. The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the one that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills- all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day..." (104)I thought that this quote was really interesting because it relates directly to today's society. We continue to have mass number of immigrants moving into this country. These individuals generally lack education, skills, and moneys to be self sustaining. With technology advancing faster and faster the services they are able to provide aren't needed. So as we progress as a society more and more immigrants are going to eventually become jobless and struggle. The American Dream will potentially become much more difficult to obtain.
Hi Joshua, I do agree with you. As we are moving into a more technology dependent society, many people that lacks the skill to keep up with it, will struggle to survive on a near future.
In the book, The Tortilla Curtain, there were so many quotes that really opened my mind. One particular quote that stuck with me was when America told Candido on page 323, "I want to go home and I don't care whether you're coming with me or not. I've had it. I'm finished. If you think I'm going to raise my daughter like a wild animal with no clothes, no family, no proper baptism even, you're crazy. It's you they want, not me. You're the one."
America started off the movie so hopeful and full of dreams for her life with her husband. She refused to go back to Mexico because she knew she wanted to be with her husband. Fast forward to the end of the book and she's done; she's put up with all of the terrible things that have happened and lost all hope of a life in the United States. It's so unbelievable to me the state of living they had to be in, because of no food and work. This really opened my eyes to the troubles that many immigrants face and how terrible life can be for them. All they came to the United States was for something better, yet they couldn't even maintain a roof over their head.
This one also interested me and it was hurtful to read about. The racism is very real, and it always has been. It is sad that people treat others this way as if they're better than each other.
“Maybe you can live like this, but not me,” “My family’s respectable…” America tells to Candido as he is trying to find something to eat in the trash dumpster. “Eat, mi vida,” Candido said (Page 239). This quote is so powerful to me. It was the worst thing that could happen to America. She refused to eat the whatever it was that smelled like mold, rot, decay, and filth. I try to imagine myself in her situation, and I can’t. Inside her, there was human pride. She refused to eat from the trash can. She was not an animal. She had been so humiliated, abused, rejected. Not only illegal immigrants get to experience situations like this. In our community are homeless people with nothing to eat. People that pick whatever they could find from the floor. Even worst, they look for food into the trash cans. It is hard to believe that, we, been one of the most powerful nations in the world, we have the highest rates for homeless people. And like Candido said. “you’re going to need it to keep up your strength.” This sounds like: “this is all what you can pick from, and nothing you can do to change the reality.”
"If she wasn't feeling nauseous and if her feet weren't blistered and if she knew where she was going to sleep tonight and if she had something to chew on- anything, a slice of bread, a cold tortilla- this waiting would be nothing"
While I understand that this book is centered around the racism, prejudices, and hate that takes place so close to home, what I take away from it most is the sacrificing that is being made. I can only imagine what America was going through while living with Candido in the canyon while pregnant and hungry. This quote stood out to me the most because I see the sacrifice America is making for her new life here in the United States. And of everything that she is going through, she is pregnant and in need. Immigrating to a country with hopes and dreams and being met with such poverty and prejudice was probably a big shock to her. With no medical care, shelter, family aside from Candido, food to eat, and sense of security, American was facing mothering a baby in the most difficult circumstances.
!!!!NO MEETING THIS SATURDAY!!!! (we will meet later in the semester)
EMAIL: bschmoll@csub.edu
Greetings,
This course has some weekly assignments that you must keep up on. There are also a few other papers and books to read throughout the semester. But if you keep up with the weekly assignments on here, your writing will improve and you will put yourself in a great position to do well in this class!
These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline(Saturday) each week. Furthermore, if you are in the habit of writing everything on Saturday you will not receive full credit. Why? There would be no time for others to interact with your writing. Write early; write often! Right? Right!
HERE IS THE WORK THAT MUST BE COMPLETED EACH WEEK...
FIRST, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
SECOND, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
THIRD, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS IN PART THREE EACH WEEK.
"I told you- he was Mexican" is a very interesting quote to me because this shows a clear prejudice against Mexicans such as Candido. It also spoke to me because if you look at the character of Delaney proves that he doesn't fully believe the ideal of equality, which is what our reality is like. A lot of us tend to judge others based on their skin color and based on their background to me its something we should all work at, not judging others based on their skin color and their background. Not everyone that's Latino is Mexican, not everyone that's Caucasian is American, not everyone that's African American is from Africa, you know we tend to put these labels on the world, but we've never stopped and asked ourselves why? Why do we label others like that, why do we car what they do, why do we care how they lived their lives we are all entitle to live our lives as we pleased. The color of our skin shouldn't define who we are on the contrary it should make us proud where we come from and proud that we're out there showing that anything and I mean anything is possible if you work hard and put your mind and heart into it believe me when I say anything can happen. After reading this book it made me realized that we are one in the same, we are all humans trying to survive the real world and that maybe, and just maybe we all just try a little harder to get along show the love not the hate.
ReplyDeleteJose, you're right life is hard as it is and imagine having to go through this all the time its stressful and painful.
DeleteI agree with you Joaquin because people are so judge mental that they do not know the background of a person to judge they just go by their skin color. I know that Mexicans are hard workers and they try thier best to give thier families the best life they can and provide for thier families even if its working out in the fields which is hard labor.
DeleteJoaquin,
DeleteI agree, people are so quick to judge based on looks that they forget it is also important to take into consideration a person's character. It saddens me to see that this is the reality that most Mexicans must face on a daily basis.
You picked a great quote! I found this one interesting too because it shows the clear prejudice against Mexicans and the stereotypes that Mexican have to face.
DeleteHi Joaquin,
DeleteThis quote was one of the few that made my stomach turn. I totally agree with you! I can honestly say it saddens me to know that people still have such hatred in their hearts to be mean to others based solely on their external appearance.
Hello Joaquin. I agree that this one quote that made me feel like what is going on in this world. Being Mexican in the Valley we don't see it here as much but hatred solely based on appearance is still out there.
Delete"That's what he'd tried to tell Kyra over this wall business-- it might keep them out, but look what it keeps in". I thought this was a powerful quote in the story because as the story progresses Delaney becomes more open with his prejudices towards Mexicans. He is at first against the wall and when given an opportunity to try to protest it's construction he backs out of it. And then he overhears his friend's son talking and reflects about his own stepson, wanting to keep people who are different then them out of their neighborhood and wondering if Jordan will turn out like this. He already knows the answer, the influence of the children's prejudices and xenophobia are coming from the parents. They judge someone based on the color or skin, where they were born or what their clothes look like and become afraid when it isn't what they feel safe with.
ReplyDeleteJose you are totally right. There is a bigger threat from the people who want to build the walls or hide behind them. I think ignorance is running wild in Tortilla Curtain. Understanding different cultures, traditions and societies is important to moving forward as an American society. Being afraid of a man that wants to put a roof over his wife and child's head and food in their stomach is sickening.
DeleteSean,
DeleteI like that quote as well, it has a deep meaning because like you said, they are judging based on the way they look, it also emphasizes on those stereotypes created towards Mexicans; and about the prejudice and xenophobia you are right, children are not born to hate certain people because of how they look, sadly they are taught to hate.
Once that quote is said by Delaney, I think that's honestly when the messages start explicitly coming out into the open. I think there's quite a lot of meaning to what he said, because as you state, his latent racism and prejudices start to come to realization.
Delete“Mary was nowhere in sight. Probably drunk in her little redwood house sitting in front of a refrigerator stocked with hams.” Throughout the book, there are numerous examples of discrimination, stereotypes, and hateful accusations toward Mexicans. This quote stood out to me because it is a reversed example. It is easy to portray the residents of Topanga Canyon as being hateful or discriminatory, but I think if we are all honest with each other, we can agree that everyone is guilty of having a thought like this at one time or another. This does not make you a racist. Rather, I believe it makes us human. Humans are flawed, fallible creatures. The mistake is not in having these thoughts. The mistake is in being so unapologetically set in these beliefs that we are unable to see the good in the group of people we are criticizing. América was a strong, hard-working woman; there is no doubt about that. What else can you call a mother in her third trimester of pregnancy who does 8 hours of physical labor to provide for her family? But I also think she allowed her circumstances to dictate her emotions and depiction of others.
ReplyDeleteI agree the author does an excellent job showing stereotypes from both perspectives. I think when America is thinking that quote she remembers how hard she worked without complaining for eight hours, while Mary complains, uses the bathroom, talks on the phone and ultimately gets paid more. America's hard work goes unnoticed because of her employers prejudices. Mary is the type of character that would take all the credit for everything, and wouldn't feel bad about any of it as long as she could go home with cigarettes and alcohol.
DeleteJose, the was a nice choice of quote and I also think that and wonder if every American has the same mentality as the one in the book, its really hard to point them out but to be honest its reality and that's how the world is portraying some cultures.
ReplyDelete"The man red-flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray in the heavy black brush of the mustache." This quote interested me the most due to the fact of the truth behind it. Being from Mexico and seeing people like this everyday, I could picture everything so clear and vivid in my head. The blood coming out of Candido's mouth and it being all over his thick mustache. His face scratched and clothes torn apart after being struck violently by the car. The fact that this Candido had nothing but bad luck the entire novel goes back to this moment. His string of bad luck starts at the beginning of the novel, but you have to admire this worn torn man never gave up a single time. Even almost dying by being struck by the car, all he ended up doing was asking for 20 dollars just to get his wife something to eat. its amazing what lengths someone will go through for the people they love.
ReplyDeleteI agree, I though the author did a great job describing this scene and many others in the book. While reading, it's easy to close your eyes and picture the scene before you.
DeleteI was so shocked when all he got was $20 out of being hit by a car. It's so sad that that's what some have to take because they don't have healthcare and are afraid of being deported. Things like this really make me grateful.
DeleteCandido's father's advice towards his son is probably one of the most memorable quotes in the book for me. "In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, 'ponte pared' - make like a wall." This piece of advice definitely seems like something the previous generations would give to the current one, and something that Candido certainly could not hold up throughout the story. It is definitely something related to masculinity when it comes to presenting their feelings. Men are told to never display their emotions - to never cry, to never show weakness, and above all to show that you are strong. When the rough gets going, you get tough, and that's all there is to it. Despite all of that, Candido has shown that he was in a pretty awful position throughout the entire story. Along with being homeless, and being far away from his mother country, there was basically nowhere to run and no one to go to due to his illegal status. That quote, along with the future quote about how Candido was a wall, yet crumbling, easily was the most memorable part of the book overall. I think the quote could also apply to Delaney as well, who seems opposed to the idea of walls, but also has to show bravery when it comes to attending the meetings and opposing what everyone else is saying. Eventually, however, he does seem to crumble himself, much like Candido, once his latent prejudice begins to show.
ReplyDeleteMichael,
DeleteI think you wrote a good discussion post. This is because you clearly interpreted that “making like a wall”, means to be a strong man. This reminds me of all the Narnia and Harry Potter male heroes, who hardly cried, hardly showed their weaknesses, and represented their courage and bravery. These characters used teamwork, strategies, and strength to fight their difficult forces. I noticed that Candido and Delaney had a few weaknesses, even though they were overcoming some of their own obstacles in their lives. Candido had a scary life, living like a nomad where wild animals were present. Delaney struggled with a lot of issues at home (the death of his dogs) and at work (debating a controversial issue). It was also a disturbing issue, when his Thanksgiving feast was ruined (due to an outside fire). I want to let you know that I admired Candido for his survival skills, in times of hunger and difficulty. Candido encountered difficulties living in the wilderness, but he somehow survived. Both Candido and America were able to find some jobs and make livings, even though they encountered some hardships. Overall, you wrote a very nice post. I hope you enjoyed reading the Tortilla Curtain.
Roshaan S.
Hi Michael,
DeleteThis quote was amazing and I agree with you this quote seems something a parent would advise their children these days. I love that in the story they published this quote because it made the reader see why Delaney showed signs of bravery when he was against his own wife because he would say what he thought.
"Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t."
ReplyDeleteBeing a first generation American, this quote really hits home with me because I say the very same thing. What I find sad is that the saying "the more things change, the more they stay the same," is never more true than with immigration and hostilities towards the immigrants. The Asians in the 1800's, as they were integral in the constructing of the Transcontinental Railroad and other laborious work, yet it wasn't until almost century later when they were finally acknowledged and thanked for the contributions to the developing of the U.S., in an official capacity. The saying "Not a China man's chance" comes from that period, too.
The Irish, Germans, and Italians, and other Euro's were next to be discriminated against beginning in the late 1800's, through the 1900's. The Japanese prior and during WWII, and the Internment Camps they were forced to live in during the war, losing everything, and having nothing to go back to. The Arabs, Mexicans, Indians, Africans, and other Asian nations arriving were added to the mix, along with whoever else I missed. Frankly, it disgusts me as I look back and see the nation change with industrialization, the development of the interstate highway, mass technological advances, and yet....we still do the same thing to immigrants, just different faces or skin color and a different period in time.
Being the Native Americans are the "natives" of the land, I can't help but feel next to the slaves, they were -pretty much- f*cked over the worst. Having read and learned much of the history, along with talking to many Native Americans -- some who are friends-- there is no nice way of putting what happened to a nation of peoples as proud as the Indian Nations.
As long as humans exist, sadly, hostilities towards whoever the newcomers are will always happen. In saying that, that rings true to those moving to another state, city, town, etc. It's in our nature to single out, and I wish I had a solution for a problem that has been around as long as this nation has existed. #LoveSeesNoColor
Hi Scott,
DeleteI agree with you! It would be amazing if we lived in a world where humanity stuck together and discrimination didn't exist, but as we can see that sadly doesn't exist. If only there was a solution for this hatred? But I do think we can help by starting to correct those that we come across and that are used to making these harsh remarks. I mean we might possibly even start with the people that are close to us. I say this because we might know someone that just honestly doesn't know that he/she is being discriminatory or that likes to joke around with racist comments. I believe taking small steps like this one can soon make a huge difference.
You're right, Gracie, it starts with us and how we choose to react, and the examples we demonstrate with our own actions. We are taking small steps, and compared to other nations like China, Russia, Saudi Arabia (and similar nations in the Middle East), North Korea, etc., we are far ahead of the curve, but it still doesn't make it all good, just better than most, but we still have a lot of work to do.
DeleteI feel the love Scott. One of the reasons why, in this country in particular, we keep repeating this cycle, is that this nation thinks of itself as being right, and righteous. We as a nation, along with our leaders, refuse to have meaningful dialogue about the past sins of the country. How could we move forward if we refuse to come to terms with our past and right the wrongs that we have done. One big problem is that it is not in the best interest of commerce in the short term, and we know how this country thrives on immediate gratification.
DeleteHello Scott. I would have to agree with you 100% as in fact this country was built completely on immigrants. Still to this day, I believe it is immigrants that keep this country great and running smoothly.
DeleteWow, Albion, your words carry so much stinging truth. Though the nation has thrived, many suffered in the route to the nation prospering. That being said, it's hard to do more than just acknowledge the wrongs, albeit for the best of intentions because those responsible are long gone and buried other than not repeating the same mistakes once made.
DeleteI love the hashtag.
DeleteThere were a lot of quotes from the book that made me cringe and clench a fist because I hate reading it about as much as I hate hearing someone say it.
ReplyDeleteGood choice of quote, Jose.
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills, all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.” There were other quotes that were good but this one got my attention. It's not til this quote when I realized what Tortilla Curtain meant. It means where the Mexicans come from. It's sad to know that there are people out there that think that Mexicans are only here to offer their strong backs when in reality they come here to have a better life and give their children a better life and education. Mexican immigrants come here to find work and most of them start in the fields and then if they can they move on up. Life in Mexico is not easy and people there are limited to what they can do and they are limited in education because it is not free like here. This is why they come here to have better opportunities and to give their children those opportunities. I do not see anything wrong with this. We should be treated equally and if there are people here who are doing the right thing I do not see anything wrong by them being in this country. This quote really got me thinking and was a bit upset hearing Jack say these things to Delaney.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. Hardworking people should be appreciated. There are too many negative stereotypes for everyone and it is not a good way to coexist among different people.
DeleteClaudia I agree, it seems that they were judged just because they were immigrant. They didn't bother to wonder what their real intentions were.
DeleteClaudia,
Deleteyou couldn't have said it any better than this, although many of these immigrant might not have the education they desired they are hard working people that are willing to do anything in order to help their families. Sadly not very seems to appreciate that
Hi Claudia,
DeleteI also did not know what "Tortilla Curtain" meant until this quote.
I agree with people thinking that Mexicans are only here for labor; they all want a better life with better opportunities. We should not be punishing hard-working people, but rather, helping them.
I agree this was upsetting and not right that they did that to their stuff. they had no respect for someone who had so little. I am not into politics either but it is sad what is going one in this world now a days.
ReplyDeleteThis was a good choice and very interesting because it is sad that there are people still today who think this way about Mexicans.
ReplyDelete"Everybody is an immigrant from somewhere".- This quote in particular caught my attention because it represents the reality that we currently are facing in America. There is absolutely no doubt that this country is composed of immigrants from all over the world and that is what makes it unique. We are a mixture of many cultures from all over the world and there is no need to travel miles to experience those cultures and their foods because we can find them just around the corner. We all come from somewhere and unless one is a Native American than the rest of us are considered immigrants. This quote is powerful because it relates a lot to some current issues that affect immigrants due to other Americans wanting them out of this country. Of course opposition to immigration is not new but I find it ironic that at some point in history we looked for immigration when we needed workers to fill labor shortages, and turned our backs toward immigrants at other times. I feel like this quote empowers and helps embrace the fact that we are all considered immigrants and that does not make us any less Americans. I feel like as Americans we should be proud of the fact that other people are willing to leave their cultures to come to American and have a better life . When I came across this quote I knew the meaning behind it was deeper than just simply saying everyone comes from somewhere but rather the fact that immigrants are what make this country a great one. Although most of the book emphasized the stereotypes and prejudice towards Mexicans, I felt as if this quote justified the action of being an immigrant because it points out at every other immigrant not only Mexicans. This quote says a lot about what we currently face and makes us wonder that in fact we all came from somewhere and if we weren't the ones who came from somewhere then someone in our family did so that we could have the opportunity to be Americans.
ReplyDeleteDeisy, the explanation for your choice is great. We have a similar concept, and I definitely agree with what you said, "We are a mixture of many cultures." I believe people just need to stop the discrimination, and become accepting of one another.
DeleteYes, we definitely need to learn to be more accepting of each other because at the end of the day that is what makes this country what it is, I'm glad you found my explanation to be great!
DeleteI really like how you interpreted this saying. It is true, that the diversity of America is what makes this country such an amazing one.
DeleteJose,
ReplyDeleteGreat quote! Now that you mentioned it I am wondering myself if that is the perception Americans have on us. it saddens me to see how people have created certain labels towards us Mexicans, it's sad because as a part of such community one knows that those stereotypes that are put upon us are erroneous.
Devon,
ReplyDeleteThis particular quote was hard to read, it is hard to believe how much hate and racism actually exists around us, unfortunately there's only so much we can do to try to make close minded realize that their actions are wrong.
The quote that I found most interesting in Tortilla Curtain was "That's what he'd tried to tell Kyra over this wall business-- it might keep them out, but look what it keeps in.” I found this quote interesting because it makes you think that these walls are always a conflict of interest. Yes, the walls keep things out but it also keeps bad things inside our walls and boarders. The pros and cons to these wall are very conflicting so when are we ever to determine if these walls are beneficial or not. This quote also shows when Delaney becomes conflicted with the decision of keeping the wall.
ReplyDeleteRaven,
DeleteYou wrote a very good discussion post. This is because you clearly understood the representation of the “walls”. When you read the book, you noticed that the “walls” keep undesirable objects inside, and not just outside. It reminds me of the coyotes who entered into Delaney’s territory, and ate Sachaverell and Osbert (who were his dogs). Walls actually block negativities from exiting territories, and they keep other negativities from entering territories as well. While I read your post, I realized that the “walls” symbolize both good and bad. When I think of walls, I think of symmetrical reflections and deflections (like the walls reflecting and deflecting white light in the PS2 games I always play). Mirrors are also resemblances of walls, since they reflect and deflect light. Some people say that mirrors keep some of the negative features of images away. Overall, I enjoyed reading your post. I hope you enjoyed the book as well.
Roshaan S.
thanks, I appreciate the feedback!
DeleteOne quote that stood out to me was "Why should we be providing jobs for these people when we're looking at a ten percent unemployment rate right here in California- and that's for citizens." Jack is saying this to protest the labor exchange. This was what was helping many immigrants in their area and the quote stood out to me because we hear the same thing being said today, when dealing with the immigration issue. I have always felt our country should make it easier for people to come and find better lives here, although this book did point out a lot of harsh realities many people don't know about. I am such a caring person, I hate thinking so many people are out there struggling, but what is even worse is societies way of stereotyping and discriminating them.
ReplyDeleteHi Jade, I agree that the country should be make it easier for immigrants to find jobs. There is a lot of hard working people out there and they only want a better life for themselves and families.
DeleteI agree, many people face different hardships, especially those from other countries. Their experience should be acknowledged.
DeleteJade, I thought that quote was really powerful because they think that the immigrants would take their jobs; in reality most of the people wouldn't even do the jobs they were doing for so little money.
DeleteI agree with you. Many people face different problems and come here seeking to improve their living. We should help each other out.
DeleteI agree completely. This quote made me angry and it really saddened me in the book when they took away the immigrants location of work.
Delete"However, I cannot help to be anything less than disappointed in humanity when stuff like this occurs and when it is viewed as acceptable behavior."
ReplyDeleteI get disappointed, and discouraged, in humanity too, Devon. Your selected quote was among many in the novel that made me cringe.
A quote that I found interesting was, "In times of extremity, his father said, when you're lost or hungry or in danger, ponte pared, make like a wall." This was advice from father to son and the son had taken this advice. It is interesting that it is compared to a wall. Nothing can get through a wall and it blocks parts that do not want to be seen. In any type of situation that seems impossible to overcome, it is good to block any negativity like a wall. If a wall is put to block all the negativity from the mind or people, then you will be able to push yourself forward. You will not be focused on failure, but rather success and believe that the impossible can be possible.
ReplyDeleteThis is true Emily, but unfortunately sometimes it's just easier said than done. A person can only take so much at one time.
DeleteEmily,
DeleteYou wrote a good discussion post, because you clearly interpreted what it means to “make like a wall”. Your post was concise and clear. I really enjoyed reading it. In my case, I will try to pick a compassionate Delaney quote. There are so many nice quotes in this book, and you chose a really good one. I am kind of unfamiliar with certain quotes, so I will try to pick the quote which best suits me. I realized that this book has both positives and negatives, and I am making sure I pick a really positive quote. I noticed that all of the characters (in the Tortilla Curtain), may have had positive and negative sides, but I will think of a really good quote. I noticed that this book contains humor as well. I hope you enjoyed reading this book.
Roshaan S.
Yes definitely easier to say than be done.
DeleteRoshann, thank you! Yes so many nice quotes and I hope you find a quote that stands out to you.
“The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills, all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day because we've got robotics and computers and farm machinery that can do the labor of a hundred men at a fraction of the cost.”
ReplyDeleteI chose this quote for two reasons. The first reason is obvious; it automatically stood out to me because this was the only time that the Tortilla Curtain was even mentioned. And the second was because I’m currently taking a Sociology class on Latino Experience and Immigration, so it tied in perfectly. We have learned and discussed that what Candido, America, and other Mexican immigrants experienced in this book was exactly the same experience they encountered before, during, and after WWII. Some Americans thought that Mexican immigrants should always remain at the bottom of the racial hierarchy. That they were uneducated, dirty, etc., but just good enough for work. And even that opinion came to an end. The opinion that Mexicans were good for work came to a stop when Americans and Mexican Americans began to sense that Mexican immigrants were becoming a threat towards specific industrial jobs. At this point they began to oppose to the contracted migration of Mexicans. Mexican Americans activists began organizations that were primarily expressing that Mexicans were curving away the opportunity for Mexican residents to become citizens and be offered other American rights. So basically Mexicans immigrants were only being used, and by this they never really received the civil rights that they were promised. Furthermore, it’s sad for me to mention that these types of stigmatization still occur between races now. I have witnessed how migrants have had to work double as hard in order to become accepted, and even worse I have heard of how some have even tried so hard to forget their cultures in order to assimilate to the American life. This is so depressing and frustrating to me, and I wish discrimination just faded away!
Great entry g! The information you provided was helpful in understanding things in relation to the book and life.
DeleteWow, I could never imagine casting my Greek/Italian traditions and cultural roots to the side as if they never existed in order to be accepted, NO WAY!! It's sad that there are those that feel they have to take such measures in order to assimilate, rather then introducing their cultures along with American cultures.
DeleteA quote that I found very interesting was “Of course, some days went better than others. He tried to confine himself to the flora and fauna of Topanga Canyon and the surrounding mountains, increasingly he found himself brooding over the fate of the pupfish, the Florida manatee and the spotted owl, the ocelot, the pine marten, the panda. And how could he ignore the larger trends- overpopulation, desertification, the depletion of the seas and the forests, global warming and loss of habitat? (32) I think this example is a good display of affection towards nature common to many people in California, including myself. While I spend my time outdoors, I like to enjoy nature for what it is however, a small part of me feels guilty. I feel guilty of the fact that us as a species does a lot to destroy habitats. Our behavior causes a variety species of animals to become extinct and we have yet to maintain an environment that does not cause damage to nature. Although, I believe there is still hope to improve the condition of the environment. I think we are becoming more technologically advanced and hopefully there will be a way to clean the air, water, and earth. If we continue to try and look for ways to live in harmony on this planet I believe we can succeed. The future generations should live to see the beauty of nature for what it is and not what is was. They deserve to learn and experience the outdoors and witness the many beauties of the state.
ReplyDeleteWhile many quotes in this book stood out to me, a lot of them mentioned above, one that was interesting to me would have to be the last line of the book “But when he saw the white face surge up out of the black swirl of the current and the white hand grasping at the tiles, he reached down and took hold of it.” This quote stuck with me because it goes to show that we make a choice everyday whether to do the right thing or not. Candido could have let Delaney pass by and drown; especially after all that Delaney had done to Candido. However, he chose to reach out and save Delaney. Both sides made so many assumptions throughout the story and I feel like this ending reverses how people would have pictured the ending. It would have been easy to have Delaney save Candido and his family, but that would have completely changed the message too. They both lead very different lives, but both had things going against them and what they believed to be right. In the end they were both just trying to make the right decisions and do what was best for their family.
ReplyDeleteI like your reflection of this quote. Both men made mistakes, but I believe every decision they made they hoped would improve their family's lives.
DeleteGreat thoughts! I completely agree with is. At the end of the day most people are just trying to do what is best for them and their families. Sometimes, along the way, people slip up and end up hurting others without even noticing. I would hope that people learn from this book and to treat people with kindness more often.
DeleteThere are many things that are very interesting about this book. One quote that got my attention was when America was crying, she was moaning about her husbands pain. For example the author mentioned, "“She cried when he couldn’t say her name, cried when he wouldn’t wake up, cried through the long morning, the interminable afternoon and the eternal night." This shows how much she loves Candido. It felt like she wanted to help her husband but she couldn't do anything because the lack of money and not also that they can get help because the chance of getting deported is at large. Candido in the other hand is a lot of pain, although he's almost dying he didn't want to get help because all the hard work that they have done to get to the other side of the border will be crushed. He is sacrificing himself for the betterment of America.
ReplyDeleteI agree. They both really loved each other and she showed her true love by sticking with him through all of those hard times. I really felt bad for her during this quote because she was so alone.
DeleteThe quote I liked the most was "Life may be inveterately grim and the surprises disproportionately unpleasant, but it would be hardly worth living if there were no exceptions, no sunny days, no acts of random kindness". I thought this quote was the one that caught my attention because life is hard sometimes but there's a reason behind all of those hardships. Those hardships make up who we are. Also, life wouldn't be as amazing if everything was given to us. Sometimes we may complain but in reality if something is worth it its not going to come easy. It helps us become better people.
ReplyDeleteHi Neida,
DeleteI really like this quote too, and I think it is a really uplifting message in a book that was full of a lot of hatred and negativity. It really is all about perspective, and how we decide to handle what life throws at us. Thanks for sharing!
I think this is a great quote too. I am glad you chose it! Really positive and quite true.
DeleteI think this is a great quote too. Hardship produces character and perseverance. I totally agree with you when you say life wouldn't be the same if we were handed everything.
DeleteThere were multiple quotes that made my stomach turn in this novel. One that stood out to me the most was “Do you realize what you’re saying? Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country—we’re a nation of immigrants—and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t.” Sadly to say, but everything mentioned in the Tortilla Curtain is very relevant to current times. The prejudiced mentality of the residents of Topanga Canyon was to be honest, hard to read. So when i read this quote, it made me feel better about the story. because it represents my exact feelings towards the topic at hand. This country is full of immigrants and that's what makes it so beautiful and different. We do not have to travel to a different country to see/hear different cultures, languages or traditions. its all just a short drive away! I feel some people spend so much unnecessary time being mean and rude towards others based on their accent or color of their skin. I know racism will not go away from one day to the next, but if we all stop wasting our time judging each other by the stupidest reasons, this country believe it or not, could still be so much better than it already is.
ReplyDelete"The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us" (pg. 104). I chose this quote because I feel like it represents the overall attitude of the Americans in the story, and even in today's world. It struck a chord with me, especially with the recent election and all of the debate about building a wall to separate America and Mexico. It makes me so sad that people hold such negative views against other people, to the point where they become so hateful. Throughout the book, I couldn't help but be reminded of how lucky I am to have grown up without having to face the trials and tribulations that we see the Rincon family going through. It's hard to imagine how hard it is for immigrants to come into the country, who are only seeking the same opportunities I have been afforded every day. This is what the tortilla curtain means to me; its the way that we turn a blind eye to these hardships, and the negative attitudes towards these people who could potentially help strengthen our country if given the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that stood out to me the most is “transients used those carts. Bums. The homeless and displaced. Crazies. Mexicans. Winos.” It remembered this quote as I read the book because I think it showed the racism that Kyra felt against Mexicans. She easily grouped Mexicans with homeless and displaced people just because of their race. The thought that first came to her just because she saw a deserted shopping cart in the neighborhood. She struggled with the way she felt with Mexicans but the way she saw it, it was bad for business and that was what she focused on. Her husband also struggles with racism throughout the book even though he tries not to feel the way he does. Racism is seen time and time again with different people some more racist than others. Even Jack Jr. has already taken after his dad and is only 16.
ReplyDeleteDenise, I personally like the quote you chose because people do struggle with racism.
DeleteThis quote was also one that stood out to me. Those kids are so young and already so racist.
ReplyDelete"She looked at the coyote so long and so hard that she began to hallucinate, to imagine herself inside those eyes looking out, to know that men were her enemies- men in uniform, men with their hats reversed, men with fat bloated hands and fat bloated necks, men with traps and guns and poisoned bait-"
ReplyDeleteI fell in love with this quote, and it was longer but had to cut it short, because it displayed a lot of America's agony and her empathy towards the coyote's point of view. She made some sort of connection with it, instead if running away or fearing it. After all, she was most afraid of the men who harmed and wrecked her. Just like the coyote was afraid of anyone who would harm it. T.C. Boyle wrote this part of the book beautifully. It made me feel almost as if I were America. Executing her emotions perfectly.
For anyone who needs this: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK(8255) ...you are enough.
I love how the author had animals (coyotes in particular) as a huge theme in the book. It really interested me and this is a great quote you chose.
Delete"Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country— we’re a nation of immigrants— and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn’t." I chose this quote because it really brings immigration into light and shows a new side of reality, that I feel many people don't acknowledge. I think especially now with the election and the talks of building a wall between us and Mexico, the immigration argument is now of more concern than ever. I think its important for Americans to realize their ancestors were not given everything upon arrival to this country, and they had to work to build a reasonable life for their family. Generations later, this hard work has paid off, and Americans can live a comfortable life with access to health care and a multitude of job opportunities. Every family, at one point in their life, were at the bottom of the immigration glass and life wasn't so comfortable. Just like it isn't comfortable for many in the Tortilla Curtain. Candido and America struggle everyday to build a comfortable life for themselves, while someone like Kyra, a privileged white women, outcasts them and makes their journey harder. If Kyra would remember her background and was even shown a glimpse of the hardships her newly immigrated family faced, I think she would feel much differently.
ReplyDeleteHi Kaci,
DeleteI agree, all of us were immigrants at some point. Some have been here longer than others, but we all started at the bottom. Some believe they are more entitled because they have been here longer, but we all deserve the same opportunities.
The quote I'm going to choose is this: "I can't believe what I'm hearing," the man said...If we'd wanted a gated community we would have moved to Hidden Hills or Westlake, but we didn't. We wanted an open community, freedom to come and go and not just for those of us privileged enough to be able to live here, by for anyone, any citizen, rich or poor. I don't know, but I cut my teeth on the sixties, and it goes against my grain to live in a community that closes its streets to somebody just because they don't have as fancy a car as mine or as big a house." This quote really interested me because I thought it was very courageous, and I was thinking about the times we are living in now and how there is this big controversy of a wall. I completely commend people who have the willingness to speak out against something they're so passionate about. I love to hear people stand up for those who are poor and for the needy. I'm not saying we can always help them, but envisioning a world where we wouldn't need gates or walls is pretty cool. I wish we could all just live in harmony and love one another, but hey, we're humans. But, that being said, we could try to make the best of our humanity by treating each other with respect and kindness. It's a deep subject.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great quote! I agree with you, I think we should all help each other out instead of trying to knock each other down.
DeleteI looked up valuable quotes from the Tortilla Curtain, and picked one of them on page 127. This quote stated the following, “She felt a surge of hope: the worst of it was behind them now.” I picked this quote, because this quote symbolized that America’s and Candido’s lives were gradually climbing out of despair. This also meant that America and Candido would find jobs, and make a fair amount of money to support them. The hope could also signify life, comfort, and safety. The couple’s lives would gradually get better, as time went on. I noticed that some of the quotes in the book were controversial, so I decided to pick this one which best suited me. I noticed that two wall quotes, and one universal Delaney quote were pretty good quotes. The rest of the quotes in the Tortilla Curtain, were so hard for me to select. Somehow, I tried to carefully select good quotes from the Tortilla Curtain. This book contained a lot of conflicting viewpoints, and this was what made me choose the quotes in a nice manner. This book contained a lot of humor, and it contained both positive and negative parts.
ReplyDeleteThe Tortilla Curtain also contained a couple of animals, which held particular symbols. One example was that the coyotes symbolized danger, death, and scariness. Candido and America struggled so hard, living in the wilderness. They had to watch out for animals and people, and they had to make sure that they found jobs to live in a dwelling with a fair amount of food, water, and shelter. They wanted a television and a yard as well. This book was funny, controversial, and thrilling until the last page was over. Overall, I enjoyed this book.
Source: https://tcboyletortillacurtain.wordpress.com/additional-materials/valuable-quotes/
Hi Roshaan, I'm going to agree with you on this one. There is some sense of humor throughout the novel that makes it easier to read.
DeleteThe quote that I am choosing is, “There are always surprises. Life may be inveterately grim and the surprises disproportionately unpleasant, but it would be hardly worth living if there were no exceptions, no sunny days, no acts of random kindness.” This quote stuck out to me because this book has so much negativity and this quote was a sense of hope for those who go through bad things. The part in the book where Candido was helped by a man who could have easily turned him in, but instead made a phone call and had a lady help Candido out is an example of showing that not everyone in the world is cold and mean hearted. Candido was so grateful that he gave the woman who helped him his laminated card of the Virgin de Guadalupe he carried for good luck. Like mentioned in the quote, life would not be worth living if there was no good in the world. No matter how small or big a negative situation can be, any form of positive act can change the perspective or mood of a person.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
DeleteI like that you chose a positive quote out of the book, since most of it is negative. It's true, the good always makes life worth living, especially when the world is a dark place.
- I also loved this quote, Jennifer. Great choice!
DeleteTortilla Curtain had many interesting quotes but one that made me laugh was “ A few men stayed behind, of course- the ones who had business, the congenially rich, the crazies- and some of them the unscrupulous ones, took advantage of the loneliness of the forlorn and itching wives to put horns on the heads of the men breaking their backs in the land of the gringo.” This quote was funny to read because it made me think of people I have seen in Mexico that cheat on their husbands that are working hard in U.S. to provide a better future. It is sad because since everyone knows everyone in the little town people just make fun of the husband. Also, I have seen it go both ways. For example, a family friend who petitioned for his residency was punished for a year and sent to Mexico, his wife was in U.S. working while he was out there cheating on her with his Sanchas. It is sad to see these kinds of things because the man or women does not value what their partner is doing for them. In the story I am happy that Resurreccion had left with Teofilo because Candido did not have to live with those horn on his head forever. Candido had send Resurreccion money and she had spend it with her Sancho when he found out that she had left with him he became an alcoholic and a disaster. This quote and scene made me think why did Resurreccion had to cheat on him? Why couldn’t she have told Candido she wasn’t going to be able to wait for him? It is sad that in the real world things like this happen and I believe people become affected and feel as if there life is worthless and become alcoholics.
ReplyDeleteI also asked myself the same questions about Resurreccion and the decisions she made to cheat with Candido. It made me so sad to hear how hard Candido took it.
Delete“The homeless and displaced. Crazies. Mexicans. Winos. But no, that was a city problem…” I found this quote interesting. In the past, I did a lot of work in private communities throughout Southern California and found that this type of mentality really does exist. Well to do people that move to these communities to escape the drudges of the city, whether well meaning or not, and they eventually lose track of what the real world is like. They watch the news that offers up repetitive negative stories that to makes things appear worse than they really are. Many of them become disconnected to the rest of the larger community, which could then become a problem with dehumanizing the “others” in the city, as we see in Kyra’s statement above. I actually had one lady look at her husband in shock and said, “he knows how to read,” when she saw me reading an owners manual. Yes, this was in 1993 or so. What is sad is that these types of communities are in demand. All we need to do is look at what happened in Porter Ranch with the natural gas leak. One would expect the property values to drop, but that was not the case. Property values were almost unchanged and in some cases, the values actually rose exponentially because the demand was so high. In any case, when these adults raise their children in communities such as these, the children grow up with a misunderstanding of the struggles of the city dwellers, and this could reinforce the us versus them mentality and thus breakdown the true meaning of community.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that people of privilege tend to think or act that those with lessor means from another country are from the stone age, or something.
DeleteIt is sad, but we are doing something about it right now, taking classes like this one where we interact with each other and seeing that we are all after the same goals; we want to make life better and safer for ourselves, our children, and future generations no matter where we are from.
DeleteHi Devon,
ReplyDeleteIt is sad that the kids being young adults they were racist. That only tells us that their parents have raised them full of racism. I agree with you that this is something happening today because there was another quote in the book that said they were building the wall to keep crime rate and bulgaries out of their community since it was already becoming common. It is sad that Jake was referring of the Mexicans.
One of the quotes that grabbed my attention from "Tortilla Curtain" was a quote that stood out to me because of a personal experience. The quote was "The valet parking attendant with Mexican, of course - Hispanic, ". It stood out to me because I find it really racist especially at the end of the quote. "Of course", as stated in the quote, this tells me that it is assumed that every Mexican is to have a low/ hard paying job. So in my experience I was working back in retail a few months ago when I was judged by a white couple that assumed I didn't speak English. They were absolutely so rude that I overheard them call me "Mexican" and I heard the girl say she didn't want to "pay with me". In that moment I looked at them very rude and walked away. I personally believe racism is disgusting because you just can't judge someone by their looks and color. Overall, this quote stuck with me because of this experience.
ReplyDeleteIts crazy how rude some people can be to complete strangers! I had one customer tell me and another coworker we should go back to where we came from recently. So sorry to hear you experienced that.
DeleteThat's pretty bad. It's horrible to hear how rude people can be. Hopefully that experience made you stronger and didn't effect you negatively in any way.
DeleteThat is so sad what they said about you. I feel like this has been happening more recently.
DeleteThroughout this book, for me, the story connects to me on a sort of personal level. Growing up in a Mexican family, I have seen people discriminate against my grandparents because of their accents or because they don't speak English as fluently. The quote that really grabbed my attention was, “coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the ones that are killing us. They’re peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills—all they’ve got to offer is a strong back". Especially due to current events, this quote really represents a significant amount of people. People are so privileged that they do not see their own ignorance. What struck me the most was the part where they mentioned, the people coming into America have no skills or no education, these people come to America in hopes of a better life, that way they could obtain skills and pursue an education or maybe for their children to receive an education. I definitely enjoyed the book because I felt I could relate to it in a sense.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, I didn't enjoy the book. I was getting depressed along with America. I was hopping for a happy ending, instead it got worst. I mean, it's a good story that tells the reality of the illegal immigration struggle. But to me, it's to sad and depressing. Too much.
DeleteIt's a shame that racism is still as strong as it was before our times, and yet it continues to grow even in the current generation. I think it won't disappear any time soon, unfortunately, because despite what teachers can do in school, we can't control what kids hear at home, on television, on the radio, and especially the internet.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite quote from the tortilla curtain is actually from the beginning of the book when Delaney hit Candido with his car. The vivid picture that Delaney puts into your mind here and throughout the rest of the book is interesting to me. He states " Everywhere he turned he saw those red flecked eyes, the rictus of the mouth, the rotten teeth and incongruous shock of gray int he heavy black brush of the mustache - they infested his dreams" pg 3. This quote shows just how Delaney felt after hitting a human being. I think this gives readers a good feel for what kind of person Delaney is. This quote sets the scene for the rest of the book if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteI agree. That quote caught my attention and as soon as you read "red flecked eyes" throughout the book, you knew who he was talking about instantly.
DeleteAfter hitting someone it probably would make you nervous that it would occur again. Flashbacks of the exact situation down to the persons physical appearance will occur.
DeleteThere was a lot in this book that was a bit cringe worthy and quotes that were very vulgar. So, the quote I chose was on page 28, "Lettuce? Fruit? This isn't Bakersfield, this is L.A". I just love when people talk about Bakersfield, it is my home and I'm proud of the diversity and the things we produce. I think Bakersfield is so homey and the cost of living is much more reasonable then the area of Arroyo Blanca that is talked about in the book. Overall, I chose a quote that kept it neutral, not one that brought the feelings of hate or anger.
ReplyDeleteIt shocked me a little when I read "Bakersfield". Wasn't expecting that! haha
DeleteI thought the same exact thing, it is always nice to hear about familiar places just as in the book it pointed out many areas that I am familiar with in Los Angeles
DeleteThe quote that interested me was the one that says “She had to walk back up the canyon in the bleak light of the declining day while the cars swished by her in a lethal hissing chain, and in everyone a pair of eyes that screamed, Get out, get out of here and go back where you belong!- and how long before one of them tore up the dirt in front of her and the police were standing there demanding her papers?” It’s crazy to think how incidents like these are happening today. There are so many people getting told racial and mean things to people and threaten to call ICE on them. This quote reminded me a lot of immigrant families, in particular, a family friend who is scared of going even to the mall because they said that they once saw ICE close by. They think that by going to the mall or that maybe close by the mall they will have a stop to try to catch people. There are so many people who have actually encountered immigration before and have had to hide so they won’t get caught, in the same way America is saying. America and Candelario are good real life examples of the worries and struggles of people today. It’s crazy how much this book represents what is going on today even though, it wasn’t written recently. They represent the struggle and American Dream people have when they come over and all the struggles that comes with it.
ReplyDeleteI think what is sad is to see how discrimination against immigrants, especially Mexican immigrants has not change. As you mention even though "The Tortilla Curtain" was written a while back, we still see many people struggle and live in fear due to racism that people still exist. One example which has caused many people to exhibit racist feelings and acts, is the Donald's Trump comments about illegal immigrants, thus it has allowed Americans to freely show their racism feelings about immigrants.
DeleteOne quote that stood out to me the most was when Delaney defended immigrants from Jack Jardine racist comments by saying "Do you realize what you're saying? Immigrants are the lifeblood of this country--we're a nation of immigrants--and neither of us would be standing here today if it wasn't," (101). This stood out to me because it is true, many Americans forget where they came from, especially when they make racist comments about immigrants coming to the United States looking for the American Dream. When in reality the United States was made of immigrants that came to take over the Native Indian lands. Another reason why this quote also stood out to me was because of the contradiction that Delaney's words about defending immigrants had when he saw Candido outside the supermarker, thus, he automatically assumed that he was hassling people for money and does nothing to help him even after he knows that what he did to him was not right, especially by giving him only 20 dollars to get away with his actions.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I was confused throughout the book because Delaney kept contradicting himself. At first he paid a man $20 to get away with his actions and then he was defending immigrants throughout the book. I don't know, I was a little confused.
DeleteSo disrespectful and disappointing that some people really talk like this.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that really caught my eye at the beginning of the book was on pg. 4, “Delaney’s first thought was for the car... then for the insurance rates... and finally, belatedly, for the victim.” This quote begins the books' themes of prejudice, racism, and selfishness. This quote gave me a very bad view of Delaney and made me dislike him as soon as I read it. I felt that he was so selfish and cruel for not instantly worrying about the victim. If I were to accidentally run over someone, the first thought that would flash through my mind would be the victim that I hit with my car. After reading more of the book, I realized the sad thing is that Delaney had a lot of money and I don't. Why was he so worried about the car and insurance when he has the money for it? It really just shows how selfish he was in that moment. And I would never be okay with giving a man $20 for running him over. I felt like this opened up the themes of prejudice and racism because I wondered if Delaney would have thought of the victim first if it was a white man, woman, or child?
ReplyDeleteHello Brianna,
DeleteI would have to agree with you and everything you said. I've grown up facing discrimination, racism and prejudices everyday of my life. It's amazing to me when you ask somebody what would of happened if it was a white person. Like for example if a white Catholic Church got shot up by a black man or by anybody the police and government would of went all out to bring the assailant down. It's just crazy how even in 2017 the same things still goes on.
Brianna, this quote instantly pulled my attention. I couldn't fathom that someone would consider the life of another to be less important than their car insurance rates.
Delete"It was a private community, comprising a golf course, ten tennis courts, a community center and some two hundred and fifty homes, each set on one-point-five acres and strictly conforming to the covenants, conditions and restrictions set forth in the 1973 articles of incorporation." This quote spoke so much volume to me being African American and growing up in an okay neighborhood but we still had the gang activity and drug wars going on in south central of Los Angeles. My neighborhood didn't do things like this and because of that the gangs and criminals would cause so much havoc the neighborhood that had good civilians were scared to do something because of the gangs. If all communities in low poverty areas and high gang/criminal activities came together I think the feeling of safety would be better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you have said, low income neighborhoods are more prone to this type of activity. Fighting these gang/criminal activities will always be a reoccurring problem until the poverty issue itself is resolved or decreased.
DeleteThe quote that really interested me was " And thats legal immigrants, people with skills, money, education. The ones coming in through the Tortilla Curtain down there, those are the one that are killing us. They're peasants, my friend. No education, no resources, no skills- all they've got to offer is a strong back, and the irony is we need fewer and fewer strong backs every day..." (104)I thought that this quote was really interesting because it relates directly to today's society. We continue to have mass number of immigrants moving into this country. These individuals generally lack education, skills, and moneys to be self sustaining. With technology advancing faster and faster the services they are able to provide aren't needed. So as we progress as a society more and more immigrants are going to eventually become jobless and struggle. The American Dream will potentially become much more difficult to obtain.
ReplyDeleteHi Joshua, I do agree with you. As we are moving into a more technology dependent society, many people that lacks the skill to keep up with it, will struggle to survive on a near future.
DeleteIn the book, The Tortilla Curtain, there were so many quotes that really opened my mind. One particular quote that stuck with me was when America told Candido on page 323, "I want to go home and I don't care whether you're coming with me or not. I've had it. I'm finished. If you think I'm going to raise my daughter like a wild animal with no clothes, no family, no proper baptism even, you're crazy. It's you they want, not me. You're the one."
ReplyDeleteAmerica started off the movie so hopeful and full of dreams for her life with her husband. She refused to go back to Mexico because she knew she wanted to be with her husband. Fast forward to the end of the book and she's done; she's put up with all of the terrible things that have happened and lost all hope of a life in the United States. It's so unbelievable to me the state of living they had to be in, because of no food and work. This really opened my eyes to the troubles that many immigrants face and how terrible life can be for them. All they came to the United States was for something better, yet they couldn't even maintain a roof over their head.
This one also interested me and it was hurtful to read about. The racism is very real, and it always has been. It is sad that people treat others this way as if they're better than each other.
ReplyDelete“Maybe you can live like this, but not me,” “My family’s respectable…” America tells to Candido as he is trying to find something to eat in the trash dumpster. “Eat, mi vida,” Candido said (Page 239). This quote is so powerful to me. It was the worst thing that could happen to America. She refused to eat the whatever it was that smelled like mold, rot, decay, and filth. I try to imagine myself in her situation, and I can’t. Inside her, there was human pride. She refused to eat from the trash can. She was not an animal. She had been so humiliated, abused, rejected. Not only illegal immigrants get to experience situations like this. In our community are homeless people with nothing to eat. People that pick whatever they could find from the floor. Even worst, they look for food into the trash cans. It is hard to believe that, we, been one of the most powerful nations in the world, we have the highest rates for homeless people. And like Candido said. “you’re going to need it to keep up your strength.” This sounds like: “this is all what you can pick from, and nothing you can do to change the reality.”
ReplyDelete"If she wasn't feeling nauseous and if her feet weren't blistered and if she knew where she was going to sleep tonight and if she had something to chew on- anything, a slice of bread, a cold tortilla- this waiting would be nothing"
ReplyDeleteWhile I understand that this book is centered around the racism, prejudices, and hate that takes place so close to home, what I take away from it most is the sacrificing that is being made. I can only imagine what America was going through while living with Candido in the canyon while pregnant and hungry. This quote stood out to me the most because I see the sacrifice America is making for her new life here in the United States. And of everything that she is going through, she is pregnant and in need. Immigrating to a country with hopes and dreams and being met with such poverty and prejudice was probably a big shock to her. With no medical care, shelter, family aside from Candido, food to eat, and sense of security, American was facing mothering a baby in the most difficult circumstances.
Joanna, I too like this quote. It carries so much truth. I also agree that tolerance and acceptance are easily forgotten in the modern day.
ReplyDelete