My observation and participation in the Independence Day celebration illuminated much different aspects of my culture than the aspects illuminated by Chavez and Knab. I gathered much information about American celebration and patriotism in my anthropological field work, where as Knab gathered information about the war of witches and the underworld as believed by the ancient Aztecs. Chavez and his anthropological study illuminated aspects of illegal alien life in the United States. Chavez answered his questions by drawing upon observations, data, and interviews gathered over most of the 1980s (Chavez, 6). His experience “suggested that long-term fieldwork with one family, one apartment complex, or one neighborhood would not capture the various lifestyles among undocumented immigrants” (Chavez, 6) and decided that he would use multiple methodologies and interview undocumented immigrants from various places (6).

            I believe if there is one thing to take away from my experience as an American citizen participating in an Independence Day celebration, it is that American patriotism unites this nation more than any other aspect of life. Though there will always be racial differences, political differences, and many other aspects of life that make it hard to stay united, patriotism in America does give her citizens a feeling of communitas. I have learned that patriotism and pride is central in the role of being an American. I have also learned that America is a land of blessing. Though there are many problems in society here, the majority of them are not even comparable to those of peoples of third-world nations.

Reading Chavez’s book regarding the hardships of Mexican migrants is something that I will never know on a personal level, and it is hard to believe that there are people living the way those migrants do, sleeping under bushes, taking showers in mere boxes, and basically having to conceal their existence in America from the United States government. I think that Chavez learned more about illegal immigrants in America in his years of anthropological study than most will know about the way Mexican-American immigrants conduct their lives ever. I think Chavez illuminated so many different aspects of life for Mexican immigrants that it is hard to name them all. However, I found that his discoveries about work were particularly valuable. It seems that the central theme in migration to America is tied to work and economic resources. Chavez goes as far as to say that “work is a constant theme in the lives of undocumented Mexican immigrants who have managed to stay many years in the United States. It cuts across all aspects of their lives, from why they migrated to why they stay… their daily activities revolve around work” (Chavez, 141). Knab took away something completely remarkable from the peoples of San Martin, and says at the end of his account “though three million Nahuas continue to live their lives in insular isolation throughout Mexico, they still do not openly discuss their religion, despite today’s rather relaxed political and economic situation. They feel these beliefs are unimportant to outsiders, but when asked in the right way, in their own language, their eyes will brighten, and they may reply, if they are not too afraid, “Ticmati ipan in talocan: Ah, you know the underworld”’ (Knab, 211). Knab spent years trying to gather information from Don Inocente and Dona Rubia about the war of witches, and even Rubia, his most trusted mentor, would often spare information. What Knab accomplished in San Martin is remarkable, and I think is one of the most illuminating accounts of culture I have ever read. Overall, I think that their experiences, as well as mine, serve to illuminate aspects of different cultures that are all equally important.   

Bibliography

Knab, Timothy J. A War of Witches. New York City: HarperSanFrancisco, 1995.

Chavez, Leo R. Shadowed Lives: Undocumented Immigrants in American Society. Irvine:

Christopher P. Klein, 1998.