Good Thoughts On “Superman And Me” Essay Example

Sherman Alexie’s piece that was reprinted in the Los Angeles times in 1998 is a model for all people, regardless of racial background or historical bias, to strive to be better and achieve greater heights in one’s life.
What started as an interest in reading a Superman comic book that his father brought home, eventually turned out to be his career path. He really wanted to read and understand stories that a typical Native American child at that time would not try to bother doing so.
His father seemed to be the person of influence in his life with all the books that he bought from various shops in the neighborhood. It was through his purchased books that the author became more aware around the world around him. He describes the world as paragraphs which give distinctions to everything that he observes.
He also seemed to break ground on the stereotype in his Indian reservation. He describes that the other kids were not fond of him because of his excitement in reading. Some of the elderly people think that it is more of a fruitless pursuit rather than a noble enterprise. To them, life should go on as it is. To them, the status quo must be preserved and there is some indirect order for other tribesmen to toe the line on this issue.
Of course, change is something that is not embraced well in the world. One may think sacrificing old tribal traditions due to western thinking such as novels or graphic literature is bad overall. In some cases it is. In some cases it is not.
There are two points of view in his story: the community’s point of view as a whole and his point of view, which is the one that is stressed in the article overall.
The community’s point of view is that of resistant to change, to which I don’t blame them. So much is at stake when changes are done as old cultural practices will definitely disappear and their identity as a whole is at stake. There are also stereotypes from people outside their community that think that they should stay in their backwards state because they live in a reservation. Such racism and discrimination should really be condoned much like what the author said.
His view on life is more progressive, yet he still seems to adhere to his roots. He just wants to have a deeper knowledge in this world through reading. Every time there was something that was posted he wanted to see. Every story, poem, essay and other literary materials he seemed to be interested in. Now, there are others who want to be like him now.
Overall, he changed paradigms in learning based on curiosity and thirst for knowledge. He in turn writes novels, which is considered rare for a Native American if his article is to be believed. He wanted to tell the world his message that despite the problems or previous misgivings regarding knowledge and change, this should still be embraced if one wants to keep moving forward. This should be instilled in one’s mind if he really wants to improve his own, his family, and the people around him.
I commend the author on his piece and the story that lies behind it. I can imagine even when I close my eyes after reading it that I was in his home reading his father’s books or that Superman comic book. Something like that changed his life and turned him to one of the few but one of the best writers in America when it came to Native American fiction.
Children should learn from his experience, no matter where you come from or from what ethnic background you belong to. As long as there is a thirst for progress, success and knowledge, one should reach for it. Greatness is for those who those who pursue it.