The Analysis of Kaiser and the War by Simon J. Ortiz

Simon J. Ortiz is a internal Ameri foundation who was born on May 27, 1941 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He belongs to the Acoma Pueblo tribe. He is considered as one of the most respected autochthonous American writer. He grew up in the Acoma village of McC prowessys and spoke his native tongue of Keresan with his family. Ortizs set about was a railroad and a wood carver. As a member of the Acoma Pueblo tribe, his father was tasked to preserve the tradition and religious beliefs of the clan (Wiget, 1994, p. 115)Simon J. Ortiz went to the McCartys Day School and and so to St. Catherines Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In school, Native Americans were prohibited to speak their native language. Ortiz had a difficult time assimilating with the unseasoned culture he was exposed to. He began to write in his diary his experiences and create short stories. He channeled his energy to read books (p.117)While studying away from his family, Ortiz cant bear his loneliness and returned to his hometown. He enrolled at the Albuquerque Indian School. The school is a vocational school which taught the students plumbing and mechanics. Ortiz learned metal and woodworking. After graduating from Grants last School in Grants, New Mexico, Ortiz worked at Kerr-McGee uranium plant. His experience at the mining plant inspired him to write his work, Fight Back For the pastime of the people, for the Sake of the Land (p.123)Through an educational grant, Simon J. Ortiz was able to attend Fort Lewis College and he majored in Chemistry (p.125).Simon Ortizs C arer PathOrtiz served the U.S. Military for three years. Fresh from the army, he enrolled at the University of New Mexico. He pursued his passion for writing and he was able to write his life experiences as a Native American. In 1968, he became a fellow at the University of Iowa. In 1982, he was made an editor at the Pueblo of the Acoma Press. In 1988, he was tasked to be an interpreter for the Acoma Pueblo tribe and the follo wing year Ortiz became the commencement exercise Lieutenant Governor for the clan (p.130)Throughout the years, Ortiz was recognized and given numerous a contendds for his literary works. He received the Pushcart prize for his work From Sand Creek emergent in This Heart Which Is Our America. He was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work Returning the Gift (p.133)Literary ThemesSimon J. Ortiz presented issues common to people curiously the plight of his Acoma Pueblo tribe. His work discusses themes of alienation, colonialism, Native American struggles, the environment and the effects of technology (Native American Literature, 1985, p.178)Kaiser and the WarWe can not divorce the life of the author from his art because his life experiences have a profound influence on his literary works. A case in point is Simon Ortizs short story, Kaiser and the War.The story revolves roughly a man who had little knowledge of the English language Kaiser, the protagonist opposed the idea of being enlisted in the U.S. Military Service. As a result, he escaped to the Black Mesa Mountains while being pursued by the county sheriff and the muster in board agents. As I see it, Kaiser avoided the draft because he feels that the war is senseless. Like most Native Americans who mostly lived in their communities, he does not feel an affinity towards mainstream America. So, why would he go to war? His flight for avoiding the draft is the only way he could free himself from the dictates of the Americansociety. It is a sense of freeing himself physically and spiritually.. It is also a way of expressing his desire to return to his roots and his burden as a human being. His escape to some extent provided him the option of dealing with his chaotic life. However, Kaisers escape did not only alienate him level more from the society it also alienated him from his family. Finally after years of hiding, Kaiser surrendered and he was sent to jail for escaping the draft. After ser ving his time in prison, Kaiser becomes marooned from society. From this experience, Kaiser succumbed to depression. He was unable to keep his life together after what transpired. He failed to reunite with his family. In the end, he lived alone and died a broken man.The themes of alienation and disengagement surround the story. In the Norton Anthology of American Literature, Nina Baym, implies that this theme represents the Native Americans struggle, (Baym, 1997, p.2778). The story also include events that transpired in Ortizs life like his childhood experiences in school where he had limited knowledge of the English language and lastly, his enlistment to the U.S. Military. The tale appears to link the past and the present with regards to feelings of alienation and separation (Encyclopedia of American Literature, 1998, p. 858).The Economic, affectionate and Political Conditions of the Native Americans TodayTowards the 21st century, the themes of alienation and displacement thrive in the Native American communities. They are always dealing with issues and struggling to keep up with the changes in the American society.Many Native American tribes seek to be recognized by the government. There are currently 561 Native American tribes recognized by the U.S. government. These tribes are designated to have their own form of government, to enact laws, to establish tribal memberships, to issue license and regulate activities (The U.S. Relationship to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes, 2005).Today, Native American Indians continue to be a part of the American landscape and in the U.S. economy. Native American tribes established their own governments that offer services in law enforcement and disaster management. Most of the Native American tribes have their own legal system to settle disputes (Bureau of Indian Affairs, 2006).Gambling has become a big diligence for the Native Americans. Most casinos operated by the Native American governments are seen profitab le and has encouraged business diversification (Columbia Law Review, 2006).Sadly, most people are insensible of the plight and struggle of the Native American communities. For many Native Americans they still believe that they are still outsiders in the country and many feel that they are mistreated by the general public.Simon Ortiz used his own personal experiences from to shape his story. He tried to reach his audience by exposing the issues that surrounds the Native American association and their continued plight. His works reveal that the Native Americans want to restore their sense of self in order for them to fight for their rights and preserve their way of life.ReferencesA Resolution By the Native American Caucus. (2006). http//www.turtletrack.org 8 February2006. Retrieved on 15 declination 2007.Baym, Nina. (1997). Norton American Anthology of American Literature. (p.2778). LondonOxford University Press.Bureau of Indian Affairs. (2006). http//www.doiu.nbc.gov/orientation. 8 February 2006.Retrieved on 15 December 2006.Encyclopedia of American Literature. (1998). (p.858). Connecticut Greenwood Press.Kaplan, Karen. (2005). Ancestry In A Drop Of Blood. http//www.racesci.org. 30 August2005. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.Mixing Bodies and Beliefs The Predicament of Tribes. (2006).Columbia Law Review.http//www.columbia.org. 8 February 2006. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.Rock, Roger O. (1985).Native American Literature. Connecticut Greenwood Press.The Black Mesa Syndrome Indian Lands, Black Gold. (2006).http//www.shundahai.org.8 February 2006. Retrieved on 15 December 2007.The Mukeman Ohlone. (2007). http//www.mukema.org. 22 June 2007. Retrieved on 15December 2007.The U.S. Relationship to American Indian and Alaska Native Tribe. (2006). http//www.usinfo.state.gov.8 February 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2007.ReferencesWalking A Mile A Qualitative Study Exploring How Indians and Non-Indians Think AboutEach Other. (2007). http//www.publicagenda.org. 7 December 2 007. Retrieved 15December 2007.Wiget, Andrew. (1994). Dictionary of Native American Literature. (pp.115-133). New York mixture Press.