So far I think I´m already used to the challenging classes of professors Howard and Arnesen. It´s somewhat rewarding to observe their efforts for showing us various versions of the same historical facts, no matter if the greatest myths of American History are smashed violently for the sake of truth. Father Christmas does not exist, so Jerry from South Africa says...that is the exact impression he´s got once he´s told Lincoln´s views on slavery being submitted to the sacred concept of the Union. That´s right, nothing is what it seems, especially when we deal with History, regarding how biased most historians turn out to be.
A constitution for the people…but not everybody was considered people…slaves, for instance, were just 3/5 of a human being, which is, at least, eye-catching, or women, who simply did not have the right to vote. If we kept on counting minorities who were excluded, we´d find out that just a few had the rights, that just a few were real people…
Afternoon session with professor Arnesen and a visit throughout a nation of immigrants, racism and economy, welcoming and hostile bunches, Ellis Island and
Angel Island. Can´t help think about my home country, full of locals whose fathers and mothers emigrated back in the 60s and 70s refusing the integration of those who get away from pain, poverty and a more than probable death. Debate lightens up quickly, social assumptions, social truths and social problems based on the concept of race. We do get back to it again because…at the end of the day, what is race? Let´s escape from biological detailed enumerations and let´s face the truth: race is a social construct, a made up excuse, an inaccurate barrier.
Great Neil and Eric have taken us to the
Chicago Art Museum where we are recommended to visit the Modern Art Wing. We do so and encounter absolutely delighting masterpieces by, among others, Spaniards like Picasso, Dalí, Miró or Juan Gris, needless to say a sort of special pride is felt from head to toes ... the guys discover an overwhelming terrace on
Millenium Park: photo session, loud gang of foreigners becoming predictable and a good laugh…
Back home Jutta (from
Austria) just bets on visiting this more than typical American cafeteria where Manto (
Italy), Mark (
Japan) and myself head in. We feel like in the movies when the Afro American girl goes: “hi, my name is
Alice and I´ll be your waitress tonight!”, we do decide to complete the stereotype and taste magnificent Chicago burgers (cheese and bacon) to ensure our American experience will add wise knowledge to our lives and some extra kilos of weight…
Our only hope is, as the saying goes, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…well, let´s see if we are able to leave those kilos behind whether in Vegas or not.
Time to go to bed, my Japanese lad must be overcoming his REM phase, I´ll try not to be noisy! Javier Barbero
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