maybe i’m blind, just throwing darts in the dark feraco search for human potential 20 may 2011

Maybe I’m Blind, Just Throwing Maybe I’m Blind, Just Throwing Darts in the DarkDarts in the Dark

FeracoFeraco

Search for Human PotentialSearch for Human Potential

20 May 201120 May 2011

Things to ConsiderThings to Consider

• Can human nature be changed in such a Can human nature be changed in such a way that man will forget his longing for way that man will forget his longing for freedom, for dignity, for integrity, for love freedom, for dignity, for integrity, for love – that is to say, can man forget that he is – that is to say, can man forget that he is human? Or does human nature have [a human? Or does human nature have [a component] which will react to the component] which will react to the violation of these basic human needs by violation of these basic human needs by attempting to change an inhuman society attempting to change an inhuman society into a human one?into a human one?

• ……Man has an intense [need] for love, for Man has an intense [need] for love, for justice, for truth, [and] for solidarity…justice, for truth, [and] for solidarity…

• Here is my heart for his. Here is my Here is my heart for his. Here is my heart. Here, in my chest, palpitating. heart. Here, in my chest, palpitating. Tear it out if blood is what you want, Tear it out if blood is what you want, but tear it out of me.but tear it out of me.

• The teacher was surprised when, hearing The teacher was surprised when, hearing that they needed a button on the poster that they needed a button on the poster to represent the button industry, the child to represent the button industry, the child tore one off his shirt and offered it to her. tore one off his shirt and offered it to her. She was surprised because she knew that She was surprised because she knew that this was probably the only shirt the child this was probably the only shirt the child had. She didn't know whether he did this had. She didn't know whether he did this to be helpful, to feel like he belonged, or to be helpful, to feel like he belonged, or out of love for her. She did feel the out of love for her. She did feel the intensity of the child's desire and this was intensity of the child's desire and this was what surprised her most of all.what surprised her most of all.

• "They just loved each other so much, "They just loved each other so much, don't you think?"don't you think?"

• "No doubt.""No doubt."

• "No, viejo, don't be mean. Tell them "No, viejo, don't be mean. Tell them that if he doesn't bring them that if he doesn't bring them anything on Christmas Eve, it's anything on Christmas Eve, it's because the Reyes Magos will be because the Reyes Magos will be bringing them something."bringing them something."

• "But...well, all right, whatever you "But...well, all right, whatever you say. I supposed it's always best to say. I supposed it's always best to have hope."have hope."

• "And I went with him to where he "And I went with him to where he lived. And I put him to work right lived. And I put him to work right then and there. The poor guy didn't then and there. The poor guy didn't know where to begin. He had to do it know where to begin. He had to do it all from memory."all from memory."

• "And how did he do it?""And how did he do it?"• "I don't know. I suppose if you're "I don't know. I suppose if you're

scared enough, you're capable of scared enough, you're capable of doing anything."doing anything."

• And when he read them aloud it was And when he read them aloud it was something emotional and serious. I something emotional and serious. I recall that one time he told the recall that one time he told the people to read the poems out loud people to read the poems out loud because the spoken word was the because the spoken word was the seed of love in the darkness.seed of love in the darkness.

• He immediately felt happy because, He immediately felt happy because, as he thought over what the woman as he thought over what the woman had said, he realized that in reality had said, he realized that in reality he hadn't lost anything. He had he hadn't lost anything. He had made a discovery. To discover and made a discovery. To discover and rediscover and piece things rediscover and piece things together. This to this, that to that, together. This to this, that to that, all to all. That was it. That was all to all. That was it. That was everything. He was thrilled.everything. He was thrilled.

Another Meaning for the StructureAnother Meaning for the Structure

• The book is about life, and what it means The book is about life, and what it means to be aliveto be alive– Failure and sadnessFailure and sadness– Beauty and happinessBeauty and happiness– Hatred and loveHatred and love– Isolation and unityIsolation and unity

• This is why the book is structured as it isThis is why the book is structured as it is• Long story, short story – long, short, long, Long story, short story – long, short, long,

short…short…• How does a heartbeat sound?How does a heartbeat sound?• The book is literally pulsing – pulsing in The book is literally pulsing – pulsing in

time with the lives it’s describingtime with the lives it’s describing

Stand and Face the WorldStand and Face the World

• Erich Fromm – or Orwell – wants to know if Erich Fromm – or Orwell – wants to know if we’ll stand up for ourselveswe’ll stand up for ourselves

• Rivera demands that we do, argues that Rivera demands that we do, argues that we must – and gives us two figures who we must – and gives us two figures who follow throughfollow through

• The man in “When We Arrive” couldn’t be The man in “When We Arrive” couldn’t be any more different from the boy in “Under any more different from the boy in “Under the House” if he tried…but they’re sides the House” if he tried…but they’re sides of the same coin, unique but unified, of the same coin, unique but unified, different but inseparabledifferent but inseparable

FreedomFreedom

• Can we be forced to forget our Can we be forced to forget our longing for freedom?longing for freedom?

• Sure – see “The Matrix,” read Sure – see “The Matrix,” read 19841984, , or take a look at some of Rivera’s or take a look at some of Rivera’s characterscharacters

• With the adults, the need to endure With the adults, the need to endure takes precedence over the need to takes precedence over the need to be freebe free

• The children long for it; it’s not clear The children long for it; it’s not clear that the adults do, particularly those that the adults do, particularly those who see their lot in life as God’s who see their lot in life as God’s choicechoice

DignityDignity

• Can we forget our longing for Can we forget our longing for dignity?dignity?

• We must differentiate between the We must differentiate between the (willing) sacrifice of dignity and the (willing) sacrifice of dignity and the absence of desire for itabsence of desire for it

• Plenty of people trade their dignity Plenty of people trade their dignity for success; is this the same as for success; is this the same as forgetting to want that self-respect?forgetting to want that self-respect?

• Have the people in “When We Have the people in “When We Arrive” lost their dignity?Arrive” lost their dignity?

IntegrityIntegrity

• Can we forget our sense of integrity?Can we forget our sense of integrity?• In other words, can external forces In other words, can external forces

rob one of one’s moral compass?rob one of one’s moral compass?• ““Hand in His Pocket”Hand in His Pocket”• ““The Portrait”The Portrait”• What can cause integrity to What can cause integrity to

collapse?collapse?

LoveLove

• Can we forget that we need love?Can we forget that we need love?• ““The Night the Lights Went Out” – The Night the Lights Went Out” –

romantic loveromantic love• Any number of stories featuring Any number of stories featuring

familial lovefamilial love• Love in faith – strangely absent, Love in faith – strangely absent,

replaced by fearreplaced by fear– Indicative of the uncertainty that rules Indicative of the uncertainty that rules

the Chicanos’ livesthe Chicanos’ lives

Other Star PointsOther Star Points

• Independence Independence – From orthodoxyFrom orthodoxy– With respect to controlWith respect to control– Throw a dart at a list of stories – you’ll Throw a dart at a list of stories – you’ll

probably hit one where this is a concernprobably hit one where this is a concern

• IdentityIdentity– Personal identity as one experiences dramatic Personal identity as one experiences dramatic

changechange• ““A Prayer” A Prayer” • ““Hand in His Pocket”Hand in His Pocket”• ““First Communion”First Communion”

– Communal identity with respect to a common Communal identity with respect to a common heritage – history, traditions, desires, heritage – history, traditions, desires, obstacles, etc.obstacles, etc.

Man Has an Intense Need…Man Has an Intense Need…

• For loveFor love– The Night the Lights Went OutThe Night the Lights Went Out– It’s That It HurtsIt’s That It Hurts– The Night Before ChristmasThe Night Before Christmas

• For justiceFor justice– ““There were sixteen dead…”There were sixteen dead…”– The Children Couldn’t WaitThe Children Couldn’t Wait

• For truthFor truth– Vignette #1Vignette #1– A Silvery NightA Silvery Night– ……And the Earth Did Not Devour HimAnd the Earth Did Not Devour Him

• For solidarityFor solidarity– The Lost YearThe Lost Year– Under the HouseUnder the House– Any story where a person is weakened by their isolationAny story where a person is weakened by their isolation

Spin AgainSpin Again

• One of the central questions in One of the central questions in 19841984 – can – can we forget what makes us human? – is we forget what makes us human? – is given a different spin heregiven a different spin here

• Instead of asking if we can forget, Rivera Instead of asking if we can forget, Rivera asks how we can asks how we can remember remember what makes what makes us humanus human

• After all, the migrants are willing to After all, the migrants are willing to continue living their lives – lives of continue living their lives – lives of constant degradation and oppressionconstant degradation and oppression

• If they can remember, they can return to If they can remember, they can return to human existencehuman existence

Erase DistortionErase Distortion

• Knowledge and understanding can unlock Knowledge and understanding can unlock a world of infinite possibilities; if our a world of infinite possibilities; if our freedoms, security, dreams, and identities freedoms, security, dreams, and identities are locked away, enlightenment provides are locked away, enlightenment provides us with a set of keys.us with a set of keys.

• The star diagram for each migrant looks The star diagram for each migrant looks pretty stretched…pretty stretched…

• Rivera’s trying to help people realize that Rivera’s trying to help people realize that there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with there’s nothing intrinsically wrong with them, and that they deserve better lives them, and that they deserve better lives than the ones they’re leadingthan the ones they’re leading

Beginning at the EndBeginning at the End

• The last scene of the book is a The last scene of the book is a significant moment of self-significant moment of self-recognitionrecognition

• The boy is no longer lostThe boy is no longer lost– The community hasn’t come together The community hasn’t come together

yet – but the process has startedyet – but the process has started

• After all of the pain, longing, and After all of the pain, longing, and frustration of the earlier stories, the frustration of the earlier stories, the novel ends on a beautiful, novel ends on a beautiful, transcendent moment of hopetranscendent moment of hope

……and Beyondand Beyond• I love that moment – the moment where I love that moment – the moment where

you realize that there’s a purpose to you realize that there’s a purpose to remembering the migrants’ suffering – remembering the migrants’ suffering – and a hundred others like itand a hundred others like it

• Rivera has an incredible gift for emotional Rivera has an incredible gift for emotional writingwriting– He makes you genuinely sad, or genuinely He makes you genuinely sad, or genuinely

upset, over the affairs of nameless people upset, over the affairs of nameless people • He also has an incredible gift for subtlety He also has an incredible gift for subtlety

– for writing words that contain multitudes – for writing words that contain multitudes of meaningsof meanings

• Finally, his thematic concerns are real and Finally, his thematic concerns are real and important, and resonate long after the important, and resonate long after the initial publication dateinitial publication date

Hitting the StoriesHitting the Stories

• First Communion:First Communion:– Fear and confusion intermingled with Fear and confusion intermingled with

faithfaith– Removal from human existence – the Removal from human existence – the

body as a source of evilbody as a source of evil– The loss of innocenceThe loss of innocence– Accidents and consequencesAccidents and consequences– Hints of unityHints of unity


• Vignette #8Vignette #8– Sacrifice at the heart of loveSacrifice at the heart of love– The need to belongThe need to belong– Do you get what you give?Do you get what you give?– Living life intensely – burning out bright Living life intensely – burning out bright

– because misfortune always lies around – because misfortune always lies around the cornerthe corner

– ““Everything ends badly; otherwise, it Everything ends badly; otherwise, it wouldn’t end.”wouldn’t end.”


• The Little Burnt VictimsThe Little Burnt Victims– Unable to handle responsibility while Unable to handle responsibility while

youngyoung– The world is cruel and arbitraryThe world is cruel and arbitrary– Parents out of homeParents out of home– Hopes crushed once againHopes crushed once again– The next generation can’t live like this The next generation can’t live like this

oneone


• Vignette #9Vignette #9– Moment of beautyMoment of beauty– Happiness within ourselvesHappiness within ourselves– Unity and healthUnity and health– Contrast of birth and deathContrast of birth and death– Can anything last?Can anything last?


• The Night the Lights Went OutThe Night the Lights Went Out– Hopes crushed – nothing left to live forHopes crushed – nothing left to live for– Live hard and burn out brightLive hard and burn out bright– Wants stability in an uncertain worldWants stability in an uncertain world– Not ready to transition into adulthoodNot ready to transition into adulthood– Wants what V9 has; meets same fate as Wants what V9 has; meets same fate as

LBVLBV


• Vignette #10Vignette #10– The universe is cruel and arbitraryThe universe is cruel and arbitrary– Trapped – literally – by their Trapped – literally – by their

circumstancescircumstances– Taking whatever opportunities they canTaking whatever opportunities they can– Injustice and hateInjustice and hate


• The Night Before ChristmasThe Night Before Christmas– Outside world crushing in (agoraphobia)Outside world crushing in (agoraphobia)– Fear and the unknownFear and the unknown– Defeated/limited by expectationsDefeated/limited by expectations– Risking everything for loveRisking everything for love– Everyone’s been displacedEveryone’s been displaced


• Vignette #11Vignette #11– We deserve better than what we’re We deserve better than what we’re

gettinggetting– Disconnect between church and the Disconnect between church and the

peoplepeople– Leaving a mark – we were here, and we Leaving a mark – we were here, and we

mattermatter


• The PortraitThe Portrait– More abuse from mercenary forcesMore abuse from mercenary forces– Hope is weaknessHope is weakness– Taking back controlTaking back control– Settling for something less than you Settling for something less than you

deservedeserve– Believe in what you wantBelieve in what you want


• When We ArriveWhen We Arrive– Constant displacement – never arrives Constant displacement – never arrives

at a plot!at a plot!– We deserve betterWe deserve better– Surrendering to/enduring the Surrendering to/enduring the

circumstances vs. rebelling against circumstances vs. rebelling against exploitationexploitation

– Hope vs. cynicismHope vs. cynicism– Widest range of emotionWidest range of emotion– Seeds of love in the darknessSeeds of love in the darkness


• Vignette #13Vignette #13– Marching out of the darknessMarching out of the darkness– The spoken word – literature and The spoken word – literature and

connectionconnection– Love has the power to hold us togetherLove has the power to hold us together– Interested in the things we recognizeInterested in the things we recognize


• Under the HouseUnder the House– Mission statement for the book – true Mission statement for the book – true

self-recognitionself-recognition– Remembrance of heritage and Remembrance of heritage and

awareness of one’s rightful place in the awareness of one’s rightful place in the universeuniverse

– Peace through connection – “That was Peace through connection – “That was it. That was everything. He was it. That was everything. He was thrilled.”thrilled.”

– The end and the beginningThe end and the beginning– He chooses his direction – no more He chooses his direction – no more

“biting flies” to displace him now that “biting flies” to displace him now that he’s taking control of his lifehe’s taking control of his life

maybe i’m blind, just throwing darts in the dark feraco search for human potential 20 may 2011

Documents

human potential20

considercan human nature

basic human needs

seed of love

throughthe man

short story

intense need

structurethe book