Service Day

Helping clean the park and the house on Thursday was a great experience for me.  I am from Sioux City so I heard about the flood almost everyday, but going out and seeing it with my own eyes on Thursday is really something you can't describe.  It was crazy to see how some of the residents literally tore everything out of their house in order to preserve it.  The house we went to looked like it was currently being built, but really the owners probably tore out all of their carpet, trim, etc.  Seeing these homes really put into perspective that these people will be out of their home for a long time and not everyone is able to find a different place to stay.  Before Thursday I didn't really think the flood was that big of a deal but I definitely do now.

Immigration Readings

The first two readings mainly contain statistics of immigrants into the U.S. and different laws that the U.S. has imposed on immigration.  Whereas the last article is taken from actual immigrates points of view.  All three articles talk about the decision to either show compassion towards the needy people who come to the U.S. only because it is the only way for them to survive or to follow the laws and deny them access.  There are good arguments for both sides which the three articles point out.  For example, the first article talks about how bad the economies and governments are in some of these countries.  This is why people have to immigrate somewhere else.  They don't have any other choice.  Yet on the other side, the U.S. can't let every single person come into the states because there is simply not enough money, resources, or space to hold them all.

Found Identity to Made Identity

Francis starts off relying on his fathers popularity and money.  He is living in his fathers footsteps and this life is pretty much given to him.  This is his made identity.  He begins to find his identity when he is rude to the beggar in his fathers store.  He then states that he will, from then on, listen to anyone who begs in the name of God.  From then on he goes against his made identity when he begs himself and angers his father.  Francis makes the decision to follow in the name of God, against his father, and does some crazy things like walking naked in the plaza to find his found identity.