Borders

[honeycani]

  Thomas King's "Borders" is a reality story about a family trying to cross the border between Canada and America to see her daughter in Salt Lake City. At first, the readers might only think the main border in the story is the dividing line between Canada and the USA. But once the readers read more carefully, they will find that there is a metaphorical border exists in this story- the border that society has imposed for the minorities groups like the Blackfoot citizens. We can clearly know this border when the guard tells the mother she has to be a Canadian or American if she wants to pass the border, yet the mother insists that she is the first nation Blackfoot not Canadian or American. Her firm attitude toward her citizenship shows that she is proud of her identity as a Blackfoot. Also, she feels ironic and confused about why the Blackfoot that is a Native American tribe have to be an American or Canadian so they can pass the border. King successfully uses irony to ignite a sense of realization within the readers on the thought of committing to regard the minority's group's identity as the first nation and break the metaphorical border between the Native American and the society.

 

 Question: What’s your attitude toward the Native American before & after you read Thomas King’s “Border”?

 

Comments

[steambread]

I am not white people, so the my attitudes towards aborigines is always good and positive. After reading this story, I think they are respectful and act with their faith.

[honeycani]

Thinks for your comment:)

I am not white people either so I sympathy them in some degree. Although the government imposes many securities and polities which are good for them, it can’t replace the pain of losing their land and they even can’t get the equal treatment.

[japanlove]

I have many Aboriginal friends, so I always maintain good impressions towards them. Considering some social and political issues that we have seen in recent years between the Canadian government and the Aboriginal government, I hope that both parties can find these sensitive issues settle somewhere amicably.

[elowyn]

Well, I am "white people." And, as much as I hate classifying anyone, I suppose that it is a huge part of life. We'll never be able completely to get away from our ways of classifying and categorizing everyone partly because it's a big part of remaining true to who we really are. If we all think of ourselves as the same then we'll all lose our histories and heritage. So, as much as we all want to be treated the same, we'll never all be the same, and I don't think we want to be. I respect any race, culture or people for who they are. I don't respect people that will resort to anything, including harm, to push their way of life on others. Everyone has the right to their own thoughts and beliefs as long as they're not hurting anyone else. I think I enjoyed both the stories we read so much because both of the women in the story stood their ground, but they did it peacefully and with dignity. I made me want to see them succeed.