Question 15

 

 

In class we were assigned a group and given a set of questions to blog about the book, Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven. One of the questions stood out to us in the group. 15. In "Someone Kept Saying Powwow," Junior describes Norma as "a cultural lifeguard." After he revealed to her how he had joined with others to mistreat a struggling black basketball player during college, why was she finally able to forgive him?  Where else in the collection does the theme of forgiveness play a role?  Early in this chapter, Sherman states that he is outside of his culture. He identifies with the homosexuals, (no one wants them either) according to the general thinking. He identifies with the black basketball player that he himself berated and taunted, much to the attention of the entire nation. He doesn't understand why he did that except to try and fit in with his white teammates. Through all of this he talks of a girl/woman named Norma who seems for lack of better words to keep him anchored in his heritage. She does not accomplish this through pride of nation but with examples of what it must feel like to be shamed. How is it okay for him to shame others when so much of it is being done to the Indian? She gives the example of Pete Rose, one of the greatest players of all time being remembered for his exploits off the field rather than on it. In some way, Alexie can connect here. The Indian people as a whole are judged by their past and stereotypes, drunks, lazy, dumb, fierce. Throughout this book, however, we see him connecting with outsiders, like 7-11 clerks, and dumb kids who blow there fingers off.

     Forgiveness is an abstract concept at its most powerful. "I forgive you", is a simple unpronounceable phrase. It is seldom said and even more seldom, acted upon. Even in this book, it is seldom seen and more than once placed with blame and shame. Responsibility should be an ongoing process, but progress cannot be made with a blame anchor attached. Knowledge of atrocities should be taught in the realm of not letting it happen again.