Harold Gonsalves- A born hero

                Harold Gonsalves was a very young Marine who fought in World War II back in 1943-1945. Gonsalves was a young Hispanic male who was only 17 years old when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves.  Gonsalves first started his training at local Marine bases in California and eventually later in his first year of service was moved down to Camp Pendleton down in San Diego. Approaching being on active duty for almost a year with the Marines, Gonsalves was assigned to 2nd Pack Howitzer Battalion, which was stationed in Hawaii at the time. After being stationed here for almost six months, Gonsalves was promoted to Private First Class and a few months later with his battalion they became part of the 22^nd Marines. Gonsalves took part in many duties in places such as the Marshall Islands and Guam. His biggest assigned duty was when he was when he was assigned to the 15^th Marines of the 6^th Marine Division. It was with this battalion that Gonsalves found himself landing on the island of Okinawa, Japan. When Gonsalves along with a few other members moved to the actual front lines, Gonsalves was acting Scout Sergeant of the group. Their mission was to place telephones lines for ways of communication. As soon as they started this they were under fire from the Japanese. One Japanese solider launched a grenade in front of the guys and Gonsalves without hesitation jumped on the grenade. When the grenade exploded, because Gonsalves had taken the whole explosion the other men with him were left completely unharmed and touched. Because of this selfless and quick action, Gonsalves was awarded with the highest military honor of the United States, the Medal of Honor.

                This story just goes to show that even back in history people may have been discriminated against but this didn’t stop them from doing things like fighting for our country. Gonsalves was of Hispanic heritage, which of course back then would have received discrimination against him, which isn’t right. Gonsalves was a brave solider who just thought fighting for his country is what he wanted to do. Especially being enlisted in the Marines, which have been known to be the toughest branch of the military, just goes to show that Gonsalves was brave and just cared about his country. Someone who is willing to go out and risk their lives each day to save and protect our country should not be discriminated against. He was going out to keep all those people who would have discriminated on him safe. How does it make to know that those people who were discriminating against those of Hispanic heritage would end up being protected by them as well since they were fighting for our country? Luckily as times have changed this issue has gotten better here in the United States. Most people would never dare to discriminate against a solider fighting in our military because most people know these people are out there doing one thing, protecting all people regardless of race.

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My Personal Reaction

In our final project we have combined the American flag and the Mexican Flag together in the artwork. Both of the flags are blended together across the picture. We wanted to show by blending the flags together it shows that even if you are Mexican, you are still an American. No matter what your race is when you live here in America you still are considered an American. It shows that just because you are of a different race doesn’t mean you are a whole different person from everyone else. All people are the same even if they are not of the same race.

The purpose behind doing our project this way was to show that being of a different race doesn’t matter here in the United States. Everyone should be treated the same while living here in the Unite d States. No person deserves any discrimination or special treatment because they are of a certain race. In the United States it seems people still have an issue when it comes to discrimination, and it shouldn’t still be happening.

Concept Sketches, Part One

For our final project, we as a group have decided to a combination of concepts explored in varying detail through our posts: Hispanic assimilation through street art. Our final project is of course in progress, but we have here a small snippet of what we plan to do. There will be a heart, inspired by the “Me Tienes Atado a Ti” street art, representing the close union between the United States and Hispanic culture. The graffiti will  look similar to the samples down below, which are witty sayings in both English and Spanish. (One for the road with a animal overtone, or ‘Nos Vale”). The graffiti will be in the red, white and blue colors for Spanish phrases, and red green white for English phrases, symbolic of the melding of two cultures.  There will be some other additions planned, but those will of course be a surprise. Stay Tuned!

Aztec Influence

Tucson’s downtown visual art scene is heavily influenced by Hispanic culture. In particular, given its proximity to the border, Tucson Hispanic culture is largely Mexican based, so to speak. It is interesting to note how even through the Aztec Empire was conquered in 1519, vestiges of this culture are still a vital part of Mexican identity, just as Greco-Roman symbols and language influence Europeans. This image below is one of a larger mural, parts of which have already been analyzed in this blog. It clearly references the Aztec practice of human sacrifice, which deservedly or not has become transfixed with Aztec culture. Yet there is more to it; looking closely on sees two indigenous bodies embracing, over the face of Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god found on the famous Aztec Calendar in Mexico City. Just like in the real world, art is capable of combing various cultures and linking them together, far longer than those cultures exist in history. Art truly is a preserver of culture.

“Atado a Ti”

The sketch that I drew was based off a picture of a street art that I found downtown in an alley. In the sketch it is a heart and has what appears to be veins attached and they are going through the heart. Also in the picture it has ” me tienes atado a ti” which is Spanish means ” I am attached to you”. In my drawing I put the English translation because I thought it was important to let people know what this picture is really about. Even though the artists is unknown, you can assume that this painting most likely had something to do with the artists love life or past life.

My guess is that the artist of the original piece was a woman who was trying to express her feelings or something about her love life that has been bothering her. This sketch was something I could relate to just because of past events with a past relationship and it shows that the artists is letting her feelings out. Besides trying to find an actual meaning of the picture, I liked it when I saw it because it caught my eye. It was part of a mural of street art in the alley but this little piece of it stood out to me because of the colors and the design. Of course my sketch isn’t the exact image of the original but I was adding my own touches on it to make it my own.

We the People

There are certain phrases that are identified as strictly American. Phrases that somehow identify with our shared culture. These words, when spoken to people around the world may hold little or no meaning. But, to most American these phrases hold a very deep meaning,

“The land of the free and the home of the brave.” A phrase found in our national anthem.

“We the People.” The opening words of the constitution.

“E pluribus unum” ​A Latin phrase meaning “Of many, one.” Found on the Seal of the United States

“Don’t tread on me”

“Give me liberty or give me death”

“From sea to shining sea.”

“Of the people, by the people, for the people.”

“Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

“United we stand, divided we fall” The state motto of Kentucky

“One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

“I have a dream.”

You are now green

There are two opposing viewpoints within Mexican-American culture; try to retain your culture or try to fully integrate.  The photo taken of the Marine recruiting poster is a good example of Hispanic Americans trying to integrate into American society, putting aside your culture of origin.  The posters shows a white, black, and a Hispanic man in their Marine dress uniform.  Wearing the uniform symbolizes shrugging off any of your old allegiances and joining a new family.  The military, being over represented by minorities, prides itself on being a meritocracy.  This mean that no matter your race, socio-economic class, or gender you have a fair shot of being successful.  This attitude is embodied in the common phrase in the military:  “If your daddy is a doctor or if you come from the projects in East St. Louis or a reservation in Arizona, it no longer matters. Black. White. Mexican. Vietnamese. Navajo. The Marine Corps does not care! Your drill instructors do not care! You are now green!” – Jarhead

 

This is a choice all young people must make, what group they want to associate themselves with.  Will you identify yourself as a Hispanic American or an American who just happens to be Hispanic?  What do you value?

Hispanic Assimilation Accelerates At Fast Pace

Hispanic Assimilation exist all over the United States but there is an emphasis here in Tucson since it is less than 60 miles away from the border to Mexico. One interesting thing about this increasing assimilation is the role that it plays with street art. Some people view it as simply street art but there are many other perspectives to it. For example, in this picture we see the Virgen de Guadalupe, which has origins from Mexico, accompanied with the Mexican and American flags in each side. This can be interpreted as there being and intercorrelation between Americans and Mexicans through religious views or also that there is a separation amongst the two with there being something in between that creates a difference. The way in which many street art is interpreted can change from person to person but the most common idea between all is that all of this art relates to the concept that Hispanics are assimilating at a fast pace. To me, this picture signifies that the two races are united and that Hispanics are part of American culture. The Virgen plays an immense role in both Mexico and America and she does not necessarily indicate a separation between the both but instead unity amongst them. Hispanic assimilation plays a great role in our daily lives and street art is one way inwhich we can see this in action.

Tucson Street Art and Hispanic Assimilation: Part Two

 

 

 

 

 

Hispanic Assimilation is a complex thing: it is a fluid and constantly changing process. Sometimes, it seems as if there as many divergent opinions on this as there Hispanics. Consider these images, in particular the skull-faced (the calavera) Statue of Liberty. How to interpret this? Someone on the political Left might call it a blending of an American icon with a Hispanic tradition-Dia de Los Muertos, or possibly a statement on the migrant deaths in the Sonora desert. On the other hand, someone on the political Right might ask why do so many Hispanics bother immigrating to the United States if death is what they associate with it? Why not instead be grateful for the opportunities that exist here? (The effects of the Great Recession notwithstanding). Compare that image with the Marine Corps advertisement that is prominently displayed upon a billboard on Prince Road. Hispanics currently comprise 18% of all enlisted Marines today; the largest percentage in any service branch. The steel-eyed young Latino, flanked by his brother Marines, seems to offer a vision of Hispanic assimilation that totally disregards race: race is less important in an organization that is built solely on merit and honor, something that the poster wants to instill in its audience. Regardless of the position one takes on the issue of assimilation, the diverse points of view in the debate are as diverse as the United States itself.

Tucson Street Art and Hispanic Assimilation: Part One

         

Tucson is a unique city in the Southwestern United States. Like most cities in the U.S. there is a substantial amount of diversity; one can go for a stroll downtown and see people of many different ethnicties and beliefs. In particular, with the U.S./Mexico border less than a hundred miles away, there is a substantial amount of Hispanic influence: Sonoran hotdogs are a local specialty and many buisnesses have Spanish translations on their signs. Without question, Tucson is an epicenter for Hispanic assimilation into the United States and is a window into how this process is coming along. One way to gauge this assimilation is to view the street art.