Connections

One of the most important themes of Ihimaira’s The Whale Rider is the connection between humans and nature, a connection that has changed significantly over time and often for the worse. The assigned poems and excerpt from Jane Jacobs’ book focus more on the relationship between humans and other humans.
Judith Ortiz Cofer’s “The Game” describes a child who experiences difficulties as a result of being physically deformed. Although Kahu from The Whale Rider is not physically different, she is emotionally and spiritually unique and is not always recognized or appreciated for that by her family. Cruz, the hunchbacked child from the poem, is considered the “shame” of the family. The narrator is one of the few who reach out to her, much like Uncle Rawiri and Nanny Flowers do for Kahu. It’s sad and unfortunate that Cruz is only happy with the pretend family they create during their playtime and not her real one. Just because someone appears or acts different doesn’t mean they have less to offer; in Kahu’s case, what set her apart from others ended up saving her people.
“Slam, Dunk, & Hook” at first read is just about a basketball team. However, it describes the game in a unique way by comparing the players to angels, sea monsters, and hawks. Yusef Komunyakaa is actually portraying the team as a family, a support system, who rely on the game and on each other for much more than rebounds and lay-ups. For example, one player uses it as therapy after the death of his mother. The lines, “In the roundhouse Labyrinth our bodies Created, we could almost Last forever…” show that something magical is happening within the team as they play the game, something that develops a strong unity and deep understanding of one another.
In Robert Frost’s “Mending Wall” an important phrase is repeated: “Good fences make good neighbors.” While explaining his distant relationship with his neighbor, Frost stresses the point that when we put up barriers, literally or metaphorically, we miss an important connection with one another. We are so set on keeping our lives “fenced off” and separate, therefore we lack any resemblance of community.
Jane Jacobs also touches on the notion of barriers, or borders, in the excerpt from The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Jacobs hints at the repercussions of “social borders” in cities, but for the most part she discusses problems with physical boundaries. Reading her thoughts on different types of areas in a city immediately made me think of Baltimore and its attempt to “make a comeback.” Although our city is known for its rather dangerous neighborhoods, there are many gems hidden beneath the filth. Aside from the typical tourist locations such as the Inner Harbor or Fells Point, Baltimore actually has a lot to offer. York Road is notoriously a violent and drug-filled area, but its Belvedere Square and Towson neighborhoods are great spots for dining and shopping. Baltimore’s Little Italy is also a lesser known yet very entertaining district. Loyola College itself is a beautiful stretch of land in the midst of a not-so-great part of the city, but we are completely blocked off in our “Loyola bubble.” Personally, I am not a huge fan of Baltimore yet, but I am beginning to believe in its potential because of things like Loyola’s “Year of the City” project. I think it’s very important that we, the students, take the initiative to venture into new parts of the city, look past the façade, and take a chance on Baltimore.