#1. Interpret/explain/explore the context and significance of the quote "We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child". (Kitahna)

             The significance of the quote "We  were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child."(Alexie 35) is not necessarily to kill "Indians", but to kill/strip them of their culture.People around Mr.P's time didn't like the Indians or anything about their culture. They wanted to destroy their heritage. In the quote "...no, it's just a saying....We were supposed to make you give up being Indian."(Alexie 35) Mr.P explains that he was basically obligated to try and demolish the backgrounds of Indian children and turn the child  "behind the Indian" into a "normal" one. Teachers beat the culture out of children and believed that it was for a good reason. In the long run, was it really worth abolishing their culture that was inherited from past generations?  In this quote said by Mr.P it states, "But I can apologize to you."(Alexie 35). This quote shows Mr.P's remorse for his wrong-doings towards Indians and their culture and also his wanting to use Arnold as a representation for all Indians. He has been searching for a student like Arnold who he knows won't give up on himself. Mr.P wants the best for Arnold and doesn't want to see him fail. He has seen too many people go from inspirational dreamers to alcoholics. Mr.P knows that if Arnold stays in the Spokane reservation  any longer he will end up like every other person who has started out trying and ended up failing because of their surroundings.

#1 Interpret/explain/explore the context and the significance of the quote "We were supposed to kill the Indian to save the child" (35) (Hattie)

When Alexie says that "We were to kill the Indian to save the child"(Alexie 35) he was saying that they the teachers were all trying to break the spirit of the kids and their culture. Mr. P says that everyone in the rez is killed and has their dreams crushed and that when he was being trained to be a teacher, he was to do the same. "I hurt a lot of Indian kids when I was a young teacher,"(Alexie 35) This quote shows that Mr. P was trained to break the spirits of the kids, and their bodies. They were trying to "save" the kids by making them disciplined and break their traditions of songs and dancing and stories. I think it was wrong that Mr.P tried to break Indian kids because there is nothing wrong with who there are.

#4 Responding to one of the quotes to note. Identify, speaker, interlocuctor, context and signifigance.

I am responding to the quote “My sister is running away to get lost, I am running away because I want to find something.” (46 Alexie) In this quote the speaker is Junior expressing his burden of despair, disappointment and hope to the interlocutors, his reader. As expressed in this quote “ You’re going to find more and more hope the farther and farther you walk from this sad, sad, sad reservation.” (43 Alexie) This quote is by Mr. P telling Junior that what he wants to find is success away from the disappointing reservation. In the quote “I want to go to Reardan.” (45 Alexie) This quote shows that Junior is looking for a better life, at a prosperous, rich school unlike his sister who throws all her hopes and dreams into the basement. He wants something other than the visuals of cement walls; he wants something better than drunken nights at the reservation. “I had to add my hope to someone else’s hope. I had to multiply my hope by hope.” (43 Alexie). This quote shows that Junior wants to find the answer to hope multiplied by hope, away from the reservation. Junior wants to find something successful outside of the depressing reservation, avoiding the depressing basement walls.

Question 2 What is Mr. P's advice to Junior? Why does he give this advice?(Benjamin)

Mr. P’s tells Junior to leave the reservation so that he doesn’t give up hope and so that he can accomplish his dreams. He thinks that if Junior stays then he will become like his sister and fade away. While explaining to Junior, he says, “You can’t give up. You won’t give up. You threw that book in my face because somewhere inside you refuse to give up” (Alexie 43). He believes that there is hope for Junior and wants to help his future. Unlike all of the other people on the reservation who gave up ages ago, Junior still has fight in him. Mr. P is different than other adults and is so motivated to help because he has to watch Indians grow up with hopes and dreams but suddenly give up when they see that their dreams are impossible and unrealistic. This is why he is one of the few adults that wants to create a hopeful future and life for Junior. Mr. P has the willpower and kindness to attempt to push Junior to have a better future because he too hasn’t given up. 

#3 Why does Junior say "it sucks to be poor..." (13)? What does "poverty teach you (13)"? Explain. (Talia)

Arnold lives in deep poverty which rules his everyday life. Arnold claims that, "it sucks to be poor" (Alexie 13). Junior's family has difficulty providing him with basic necessities such as health care and food. How can someone learn if their stomach is empty (Alexie 8)? Their lack of resources results in having to kill the family dog because they don't have the money to take Oscar to the doctor. His parents want to be able to cater to Arnold's every need and it deeply pains them that they are not able to produce a heavy income in order to give Arnold that happy life he deserves. The text states, "Dad just looked down at me with the saddest look in his eyes. He was crying. He looked weak." They too had to give up their dreams because of responsibility and economical issues (Alexie 11). Arnold is trapped in a vicious circle with what feels like no escape. Poverty is beginning to teach Arnold that he deserves his lack of luck. He feels that he has been put in this situation just because of his race and the stereotypes that come with being an Indian. The text states, "It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it," (Alexie 13). Arnold doesn't get the same opportunities that the higher class has, he is trapped just like his parents, grandparents, and great grandparents before him (Alexie 11). All that poverty teaches you is that you are poor and that you can have no aspirations. Poverty just teaches you to give up. Hopefully, Arnold has the motivation to overcome his situation and achieve his dreams in becoming a cartoonist. What do you think? Can Arnold rise above the low expectation set for him?

#4 What is "absolutely the saddest thing in the world" (31)? Explain why Junior says this and the implication. (Alexandra)

The absolutely saddest thing in the world is that Juniors family can't afford to take Oscar to the vet. Oscar was Juniors best-friend, "he was the only living thing I could depend on." (pg. 9 Alexie)  I think that they could relate a lot because Oscar was found alone on the streets, homeless. Even though Junior isn't homeless he could relate because he is very poor. On the rez pets are apparently not valued as much as bullets and amo. You can buy a bullet for 2 cents but it costs a fortune to cure an animal, "a bullet only costs about 2 cents, and anyone can afford that." (pg. 13. Alexie)  Junior is an outcast but Oscar had a significant impact on Junior and his life at home. Even though Oscar was very sick and struggled to stay alive, Junior didn't want to let him go. But when he realized how much pain Oscar  would be relieved from he was willing to give him up for the better. Even now, the saddest thing in the world, was that Junior couldn't save his best friend.

Question 2- The Relationship Between Poverty and Dreams for Junior's Parents (Julia Bingel)

The relationship between poverty and dreams for Junior's parents is that they didn't have the opportunity to do what they wanted because they were poor. Junior's mother wanted to be a teacher or a professor at the college, or any school, but she couldn't afford to go to college, so she didn't have her chance to do what she wanted. She always read books that she could get her hands on, but the knowledge never took her anywhere. She never got to put her amazing knowledge into action. Junior's father wanted to be a musician. He could play many instruments, and he kept a saxophone safe, and untouched like he would join a band any day. If he had the opportunity to leave, and to join a band or start a solo career, he would be so happy, but instead he was not able to leave Spokane. He had to stay with his family, and keep them living a healthy lifestyle, even if it was at the very worst it could be. I think that what Junior is trying to say is that his parents, alike other people, couldn't have their dreams because of their poverty, and the relationship is that they can only be achieved if you have a high lifestyle.

#5 Respond to one of the quotes to note. Please identify speaker, interlocutor ,context,and significance(Chloe)

I am responding to the quote “I draw because words are too predictable. I draw because words are too limited.”(pg.5 Alexie)This quote is significant because Junior is letting the reader know that drawing is an easier way to communicate than speaking. Before this, Junior tells us that he has speech impediments and he stutters and has a lisp.These impediments make him part of the “Black-Eye-of-the-Month Club”( pg.4 Alexie) because he gets beaten up and called a “ Retard” by the  belligerent older kids on the rez. Junior feels it is vital for him to stay at home to be safe from the other kids. Junior tells us that he spends his time drawing,  “I draw all the time”(pg.5 Alexie) and drawing is easier than speaking “I draw because words are too predictable. I draw because words are too limited.”(pg.5 Alexie) Through his drawings he can show us more detail than when he speaks. It is easier for him to get the words out on paper than by talking. His speech impediments slow him down and people and can not understand him, however Junior says ”..when you draw a picture everyone one can understand it” (pg.5 Alexie).

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