My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys by Sherman Alexie - Book Report/Review Example

Essay, English Topic: My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys Introduction Sherman Alexie articulates that the ardent supporters of the Wild-west macho mythology of cowboy culture and the Native Indians are permanently at war with each other, may not be a war in the physical sense, but a war of nerves at the psychological level. If an individual agrees with the wise saying ‘Pen is mightier than the sword”, read the poem (it is more like a narration) My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys by Sherman Alexie. Here Alexie fights for the cause and essential dignity of the Native Indians with words which hold tremendous power. The racial history of America is daubed in bloodshed and atrocities against the Native Indians and African Americans. To fight for their image, standard of living(in terms of economics) and standard of life(in terms of ethics and spirituality), the Native Indians took to the facility of powerful literary tools like poetry, stories, movies and articles on print and electronic media. Sherman Alexie has utilized the option of literature wisely and to the fullest extent. He is aware that the influence of the colonial powers still prevails in the contemporary culture, and he has chosen the option of confrontation through literature. His write-up My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys is one such literary weapon. On a perusal of the some of the stinging and sarcastic phrases that he has used to describe the cowboy culture and the consequent mental agony caused to the Native Indians, the depth of his aesthetic activism becomes evident. Some of those select words/phrases in the narration are Columbus, cowboys and Indians, how the West was won, cowboy shows, heroes, win their hearts and you win the war, old westerns, translated from the Americans, American dream, God, John Wayne, home movies, life change, we’re all extras etc. These appear like simple words, but the contexts in which they have been employed create a telling effect. One can forgive the sins of others but to forget them is a sign of weakness and injustice to the lessons of history. The pain and anguish in the heart of Alexie is evident and he attacks the cowboys who embody the early imperial invaders to whom persecution of the Native Indians was the way of life. Alexie writes “When Brian, that insane Indian boy from across the street, suffocated neighborhood dogs and stuffed their bodies into the reservation high school basement, he must have imagined those dogs were cowboys, come back to break another treaty”. (Alexie) Even in insanity Alexie articulates through the action of the boy, the suffering of the Indian community and how they are itching to pay the ardent supporters of the cowboy culture in the same coin. He takes a dig at the policies of the US government for not paying proper attention to the sufferings of the Native Americans and their efforts to draw the curtain on the outrages committed on them in the bygone era. The Native Indians are constantly pushed to the wall and their identity is described by Alexie as “extras” and they are constantly compared to white colleagues to prove their inferiority. He sarcastically refers to the country as “Great American Western”. The extras will never reach the pivotal positions with high compensations, and they will be obliged to tread the beaten track and under the present system of governance they will remain underdogs forever. By strongly articulating “ my heroes have never been cowboys; my heroes carry guns in their minds”,(Alexie) Alexie pays tribute to the undying sprit of the Native Indians and their willingness to face the trials and tribulations imposed on them by the scheming American politicians who occupy the chairs of power. Native communities have readied to challenge their destinies through the might of the pen. This poem gives the message to them not to forget the lessons of history and reminds them that they should work their way out of the situation of inferiority complex constantly being created to challenge and subdue their spirits. By reading and understanding the import of My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys each and every molecule of the body and spirit of the Native Indians gets surcharged with passion for doing something for the wellbeing of the community. It is futile to expect someone else to do something and the battle for social and economic equality will have to be fought by the community itself at every stage of life and in every segment of the society. About the simplicity of the Native Indians, of which the colonial powers took undue advantage, Alexie writes, “Win their hearts and minds and we win the war. Can you hear that song echo across history? If you give the Indian a cup of coffee with six cubes of sugar, he’ll be your servant. If you give the Indian a cigarette and a book of matches, he’ll be your friend. If you give the Indian a can of commodities, he’ll be your lover. He’ll hold you tight in his arms, cowboy and two-step you outside.” (Alexie) Such innocent and gullible people had to put up with the atrocities committed against them by the colonial powers. Alexie writes “Your whole life can be changed by the smallest pain. Pain is never added to pain. It multiplies”. (Alexie) This is an example of the power of the words extensively used by him to highlight the injustice meted out to the Native Indians. Words have the capacity to initiate drastic changes in the society. Language has been a viable weapon with the Native Indians to protect their sovereignty and cultural identity. The Native American writers have released enormous power with the relationship they have established with the language. Conclusion Through My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys Alexie communicates, protests, resists, and connects. It is a unique dialogue exchange that reveals statement of facts. He visualizes the definite possibility of changing the world of Native Americans through word and the power struggle continues without intermission at all levels. Works Cited Alexie, Sherman. My Heroes Have Never Been Cowboys Read More