ISHI in Two Worlds - Essay Example

ISHI in two worlds Introduction Living in the same country but among different people literally sounds like living in two different worlds. Ishi had habited the United States of America all his life; this was his home just as it was home to other Americans. He knew the terrain of the land just like any other, in fact there was no other home a part from the United States of America. Unfortunately, he was the last of his type, he thus had to live among new cruel people who thought themselves more qualified to be more Americans than he was. He faces a number of challenges trying to fit into the clearly segregated society. The people around him fail to understand him and are always trying to change him. Ishi does not require any help from all these “Americans” around him. He knows his way through the region he has lived here all his life. However, the people are always trying to offer him help since they believe that he is not civilized enough to live in the modern day American society. The tribulations faced by Ishi are similar to those faced by millions of people who migrate into the United States of America on a daily basis. Unfortunately, I am one of such victims of circumstance (Kroeber 76). Ishi eventually dies out of medical complications developed from the strange treatment he receives right within his mother land. I on the contrary refuse to die and assimilate to the ways of these who purport to be the actual Americans. The only problem associated with the assimilation lifestyle I adopted is that one gets to forget his own identity and acquires another. This is a difficult life, one in which your skin color and the persona deep within me keeps reminding me of the me who once lived in Africa but the life and the experiences necessary to survive in this strange life continually perfect my new personality. I in most cases end up torn between the two worlds. Civilization is relative; every age in the history of human development had its own civilization. This refers to the cultural practices, religious beliefs and the general way of life lived by people habiting a given region. It is therefore wrong to claim supremacy of a culture just because one lives in a developed country. Ishi was rom a tribe known as Yahi, these were the red Indians who coincidentally were the indigenous habitant of the region currently siting the United States of America. They had their own unique life style that enabled them to live the lives they led. they were hunters and gatherers and depended on rain fed agriculture for crops. They had their own unique religion and believed in myths additionally, they had their own language. In brief, this was their civilization. The value of life in humanity is equal irrespective of how one lives his or hers. Had a group of Yahi youth tumbled upon a modern day American nineteen year old boy, in their own civilization I guess they could have referred to the boy as uncivilized. I came to the United States of America from a third world country. Back home we had our own civilization, it could not have been the best but we lived it and we were happy. I had my own religion and my way of eating and my language; these basic aspects define humanity. My skin color does not make me a lesser human being than any other of my white classmate. We interact at all the time and they even consult me in the study groups. This does not make me or them better humans. We are all relative in our capacities, it is therefore wise to acknowledge the uniqueness in the other but not capitalize on it as a weakness. Some of the people I first interacted with were insensitive and did not behave the superiority they claimed their race bestowed on them. Everyone has his or her own space, at the end of the day when it is all said and done I proceed to my place and spend the rest of my day there while another does the same. We thus are all in control of our little private spaces and this eventually makes us equal. Claiming superiority kills or suppresses the self-esteem of another, seven years later I know the streets of New York just like any other American who has lived here all his life. I lead my own independent life protected by the same constitution that protects my previous oppressors. I no longer see their superiority but the treatment is still imprinted on my mind and it would be difficult to let go. This denies the world peace as we live in hatred and constant mistrust and suspicion. Currently, the lack population continues to increase as more inter racial marriages take effect. It is thus very objective to state there will be neither black nor white, in such a situation which race shall have won the battle for supremacy. Religion defines a person; we all choose to believe in different things concerning the origin of man. Despite the teachings of all the holy books and spiritual leaders deep down we know that religion was a creation of human. Ishi had his own religion, he believed in the doctrines of his religion and lived in accordance to the provisions of the religion (Kroeber 41). Currently, Islam and Christianity are engaged in a battle for supremacy and no one bothers to ask what shall happen next after either Christianity or Islam has won? Christians confess of the mighty power of God and all that He has done to make them who they currently are. Telling such a person that God does not exist and that the person is delusional is tantamount disputing the validity of the life he has lived all along. Such comments have often sparked wars in Nigeria and other regions habited by both Islamists and Christians. Ishi must have therefore felt hurt when the goals gathered around him questioning everything he did and some referring to him as an ape. Rubbishing the beliefs of a full grown person is equal to rubbishing the person himself. The” wild man” drew the attention of on passersby. Africa is unique and beautiful; it could be underdeveloped and poor but within the remoteness is abundant love and natural beauty, I am therefore very proud to have been born an African. My first interaction with Americans was always accentuated with questions of how Africa looks like and how the region is ravished with poverty and the AIDS scare. It is fair enough to lack knowledge on certain regions especially those that do not interest one but is unacceptable to give a rudimentary application of the scanty knowledge on every person who comes from there. It is not only segregating but also dehumanizing. Work Cited Kroeber, Theodora. Ishi in Two Worlds: A Biography of the Last Wild Indian in North America. Berkeley, Calif. [u.a.: Univ. of California Press, 2004. Print. Read More