Aria by Richard Rodriguez

 In his insightful personal accounts, Richard Rodriguez aims to bring us into his world of contrasting language. He grew up in a state of a cultural divide, a split life that essentially forced him to prioritize one language while slowly losing the other. Speaking on what effects traditional schooling has on secondary English speakers and the trickle-down effects it can curate into their respective home lives. Below are three quotes I believe work to convey Rodriguez's themes of separation and assimilation:

"The silence at home, however, was finally more than a literal silence" (38)

Thoughts: Not only did the spoken language get diluted in the home, but for Richard, a grave separation grew between himself and his parents. Thus, thinning out his connection to his heritage as a whole; fortunately, there was never a time when lost his entire culture but at the lulls of his Spanish usage, an apparent disconnect arose. These disconnects can be hard to admit or even detect as society force-fed English as a primary, leaving his traditions in the dust.

"What would they not do for their children's well-being?" (35)

Thoughts: Taking a dive into the minds of the other side of this issue, parents (hopefully) hold a natural urge to do what is best for their children. If this means confiding to the language your child is being confided into, then that is what they are willing to do. The nuns interrogating his parents in their own home on what forms of communication they use in their own domicile manipulates them into thinking they might be doing something wrong. A direct correlation to the ideas of the culture of power.

"At last, seven years old, I came to believe what had been technically true since my birth: I was an American citizen" (36)

Thoughts: Rodriguez here is describing the three-dimensional aspects of citizenship. Although he has the title of citizen, the stigmas and expectations of a US citizen reach far beyond that in our society, unfortunately. People assume a citizen can speak perfect English, be in touch with all American customs, and make the American culture a priority (including language).