In Response To Executive Order 906, By Dwight Okita And Sandra Cisneros

“Melting pot” is a common term used to describe the culture of the United States, as the country blends the values and ideologies of an abundance of different groups of people and individuals. As a result, there are a variety of possible positions on what it truly means to be an American. Some may argue that American identity depends on ethnic origin, religious background, or other personal characteristics. Others might claim that being American depends on whether one believes in liberty, equality, individualism, and justice. Nevertheless, Dwight Okita and Sandra Cisneros demonstrate that some perceptions about American identity can induce more harm than others. Dwight Okita's poem and Sandra Cisneros's story illustrate that what makes one

While the narrator has a Japanese background, her likings do not solely consist of traditional Japanese cultural values; instead, the author characterizes her as preferring non-Japanese food and pursuing her interests. The poem states, “I will tell you I have always felt funny using chopsticks and my favorite food is hot dogs.” People usually consider hot dogs as American food, and chopsticks are part of Asian culture; thus, the author demonstrates the narrator's preference for and identification with at least some aspects of American culture. One instance of the author characterizing the narrator as dissociative from Japan or any culture is when the narrator says she has “bad spelling and a messy room.” Meanwhile, the narrator is friends with a peer named Denise, who is not of Japanese descent, as Denise does not become interned like the narrator. While Denise is initially friendly with the narrator, she later accuses the narrator of affiliating with Japan’s opposition against the United States. Denise says, “You’re trying to start a war, giving secrets to the Enemy[.] Why can’t you keep your big mouth shut?” This dialogue’s unjustifiable assertion and discriminatory tone highlights the injustice and inequality the narrator encounters. The narrator facing the conflict of government-mandated internment and Denise’s

“Mericans” uses similes, irony, and allusions to emphasize the main character’s closer connection to American culture than Mexican culture. To exemplify, Micaela compares the smell of churches to the inside of an ear and the smell of holy water to that of tears; she rhetorically asks why Catholic churches are the way they are, which illustrates her disconnect with her Mexican heritage. The author establishes Micaela’s sibling's knowledge of American popular culture by creating allusions to “Flash Gordon” and “Lone Ranger” in games he plays outside the church. An instance of irony in “Mericans” is when the strangers outside the church assume Micaela’s brother talks in Spanish when the audience knows that, in actuality, he may speak in English because Micaela and her other brother can communicate in English. In contrast, Okita’s poem focuses on narration and characterization but does not contain as many literary devices as used in “Mericans.” Nonetheless, both “Mercians” and “In Response to Executive Order 9066” use dialogue to help demonstrate their theme. Okita depicts part of Denise’s confrontation with the narrator through dialogue. Furthermore, Denise’s dialogue highlights her hostile and accusatory tone as she asks a rhetorical question to stress that the poem’s main character is on the side of Japan. In Cisneros’s