Philosophical Similarities

Beliefs are an essential component of human life. It has an effect on an individual’s mood, actions, and behavior. A belief is a subjective view of the universe and its relationships. As a result, personal values, social views, and political ideologies exist. The kinds of relationships that people form are influenced by their values. Furthermore, it influences one’s ability to converge as a group against a specific goal.

Textual studies shed light on the significance and similarity of values. The texts King of the Chicanos by Manuel Ramos and Lost: Child of the River examine themes, characters, and events which are a reflection of my beliefs as an individual in the society. To begin with, I am a liberal individual. As such, I am open to different cultures, beliefs and ideologies. I do not condemn people for being different and neither do I distance myself from individuals. Liberalism entails the ability to accommodate different values and races in the social institution. Contrary to radicalism, liberalism facilitates positive integration and promotes the nature of the relationships that individuals have with each other in their societies.

Commonalities

Conversely, King of the Chicanos captures the story of Ramon who is a pioneer of the Chicano movement. As a leader of the group, Ramon is committed to the promotion of the interests of the minority and the underrepresented in the community (Ramos 59). In demanding justice for the Mexicans in the US, Ramon mirrors the liberal stance. While Robinson thrives on the division of the masses, Ramon convinces the underrepresented “Chicanos” to converge for the need for justice. This factor inspires the establishment and development of the Chicano movement. Principally, the Chicano movement was intended to promote justice for the Mexicans. The theme of justice is a reflection of my social and political belief. As a liberal, I am inclined to the ideology that justice should be extended to each individual irrespective of his or her race or background.

The struggles manifested in the King of the Chicanos are a reflection of the pervasive racial conflict in the US currently. Similarly to Ramos, I am committed to the belief that each individual is an equal entity in a country. It is the duty of the state to protect the divergent interests and inclinations that are manifested by the individuals from different ethnic groups in the country. It is wrong to judge another individual based on their skin color rather than the strength of their character.

Similarly, Lost: Child of the River provides a reflection of the struggles that refugees are forced to contend with as want-away exiles to the US. The poems in the anthology reflect the refugee crisis that threatens to beleaguer the relations between the US and Mexico (Gabriel 31). The story captures the true accounts of individuals who work alongside the immigrant families. Principally, I believe that it is one’s inherent duty to help another in the society. Similarly to the elements in the anthology, I do not believe that the Mexicans who are attempting to cross the border comprise a threat to the security and stability of the US. These individuals are in hunger and privation. As a country that reinforces respect for human rights, it is our duty to welcome and house individuals who live in dire circumstances.

Alternatively, I am disinclined against stereotypic thinking. Individuals, regardless of their shared experiences and heritages, project different characters and beliefs. Essentially, just because a few individuals of the Mexican descent in the US have been associated with crimes, it does not mean that the entire fabric of the Mexican community is predicated on crime. Generalization through stereotypic thinking is a negation of my liberal and Christian values. I judge people solely on their character. Like the photographers, who shared experiences with the immigrant families in the text Lost: Child of the River, I have come to appreciate the role of interaction and experiences in determining one’s character (Sanchez 44). Anterior to judging one’s character, I tend to study their behavior and actions. All of these elements are subjective and not under the influence of one’s background. As a white Mexican student, I have learnt to appreciate many of the struggles that my fellows experience in the learning initiatives. Racism is a negation of the principle of respect, which provides guidance to the integrative initiatives in the country.

Differences

There are several differences between some values that are inferred in the two texts and my values. To begin with, I do not align myself to belief that one’s future is predetermined. I believe that one can be anything they want to be regardless of the circumstances that surround them. The only factor that will serve to influence one’s outcomes in life comprises choices. In choices, one decides on the actions that they seek to engage, the people they want to bring into their lives, and the methods they intend to engage in attaining their goals. Ramon’s self-destructive tendencies are a reflection of the victim mentality. Despite the several milestones that he had achieved, he let his personal ambitions get in the way of his legacy (Ramos 187). I believe that service to others ought to transcend any personal ambitions. In making choices, one should always commit themselves to the promotion of the good rather than the promotion of the individual goals. Ramos should have committed himself to the goals that he had inferred in the establishment of the Chicanos Movement.

Similarly, contrary to the principles reinforced in the anthology Lost: Child of the River, I believe in self-sufficiency. I commit to pursuing my goals irrespective of the circumstances that surround me. The refugees, in the eyes of the narrators, are portrayed to be helpless. In their eyes, America provides the land of opportunity. Nonetheless, this is not always true. Despite the several milestones that have been achieved in America concerning human empowerment, there are still several challenges in the country. I feel that individuals should commit to identifying resources that they can use to further themselves rather than depending on an external force.

Possible Factors Accounting for the Difference

There is a need to acknowledge that refugees are the subject of political and social condemnation in their countries. Therefore, it is possible that their inclination to the principles that encourage the solicitation of help from external parties provides the last intervention as they seek to further themselves in the community. Liberalism demands respect for an individual’s experiences. Therefore, I believe that there is a good reason behind the flight patterns that are manifested in the Lost: Child of the River.

Works Cited

Ramos, Manuel. King of the Chicanos. Wings Press, 2010.

Sanchez, Gabriel. Lost: Children of the River. The Raving Press, 2016