1.) Menchu begins Chapter 19 with a quotation from her father, "You are independent, you must do what you want to, as long as you do it for our people." What do you make of this statement?
Why do you think he included, "as long as you do it for our people?"
Once you are born into this world, the native Guatemalans teach their children to work the land and support the people. In the United States we work to support our family. Whereas Guatemalans work to support their community. The reason why I think Menchu's father included, "...as long as you do it for your people," is because he strongly believes in helping ones in need. Listening to news and stories about other villages that are suffering from the war feels very depressing and almost shameful for a village like Menchu's that doesn't have to go through all that violence. Rigoberta's father knows that she is independent and is ready to make her own choices as an adult. When he says to do it for your people, he is reminding her not to forget what he has taught her and that you must continue life with helping others and fight for what is right.
2.) Take some time and re-read the last paragraph of Chapter 19. Breathe those words in. Why are they monumental?
A situation like that that happened in Chapter 19 is very scary. The situation is something that anyone wouldn't want to go through. Rigoberta's courage and determination is really inspiring. She risked her life for her people. Menchu's words are monumental because those words is what she continued to follow. She continued to help her people fight and defend themselves from the government soldiers. After helping those people in that village it gave her more reason to keep fighting and making a difference for the natives.
3.) Chapter 20 decribes a horrifying scene about the woman in the house. What is your reaction to this? Does there seem to be any humanity? Why do you think that is?
I can't believe someone would want to kill someone like that over something so childish. There's no ounce of humainty in it because the bodyguard who had chopped Dona Petrona into peieces was only punished with fifteen days in jail. The way Rigoberta Menchu starts to describe her body is almost nbearable and depressing because of the image that her words give you. It must be very tramatizing for Dona Petrona's children because of the fact that they were there when their mother was being hacked into pieces. What makes things even worse is that Dona Petrona is one of many who has had something like that happen to them.
4.) Chapter 21 focuses on Rigoberta learning Spanish. Why is this important both culturally and socially?
For Rigoberta Menchu it helped her with her task that she was doing for the CUC. Culturally and socially she is able to represent her people and speak out against the government.
5.) Chapter 22 spends some time talking about General Kjell's policies with land division. What was the general reaction to these policies? Why are they both good or bad?
Kjell's policy was good for the indians because Kjell divided all the land into plots an gave them out to everyone in the communities. The catch though was that Kjell set up the Guatemalan Forestry Commision. It was bad because they couldn't cut down trees because they all owned plots and werent allowed to go outside their own plot. Many protested because no one had wood to have a fire to cook and eat.
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