Working: Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings

Every effort makes a difference in the world. Every job is important, no matter the authority or rank. Everyone in the work force is responsible and hold an important role. Their job impacts society, some people more than others. This important aspect leads each individual to be responsible and take their job seriously, no matter the field, and take pride in their role in society.

Dolores Dante worked as a waitress to get fast cash, and she was not ashamed of it. She loved her job and shared her pride with the community. This job helped her get by at home, the tips helped her pay off bills and make a living, to mend her broken home. But she was not ashamed to face the truth that she was a waitress, but was proud. Terkel shares Dante's story, "When somebody says to me, 'You're great, how come you're just a waitress?' Just a waitress. I'd say, 'Why, don't you think you deserve to be served by me?' It's implying that he's not worthy, not that i'm not worthy. It makes me irate. I don't feel lowly at all. I myself feel sure. I don't want to change the job. I love it" (331). Dante not only was proud to work as a waitress but loved her job and was good at it.  She made every little extra effort to make the difference. She was personable and spoke to the community, sharing her opinions on certain news or topics. She was political and free, speaking her mind. She was not plain, but energetic, careful, and concise. She made sure she did not spill, she tried pleasing the society with the extra efforts; she complimented people, she rearranged food a specific way to help with its appeal, she presented herself. However, she became so well-liked that she brought business in, all the business. She was the center of attention and everyone asked for her. Dante then began to feel guilty and stated, "People would ask for me and i didn't have enough tables. Some of the girls are standing and don't have customers. There is resentment. I feel self-conscious. I feel a sense of guilt" (333). Jealousy was brought upon other employees and guilt upon Dante. Dante should not have felt guilt. It does not make complete sense to feel resentment because she was just trying to please the community and do her job well to get payed and earn a living. She should not be punished or feel this way because she is good at her job, she should only feel pride and satisfaction. She not only served her community, but she worked hard and enjoyed it.

Phil Stallings job was quite different from Dolores Dante's and had a total different mood with values. Stallings worked as a welder at the Ford assembly plant for many hours at different units. This job was brutal and had no social aspect. Everyone kept to themselves, making their job easier. They were all intimidated by the foremen and scared if they disobeyed because the foremen had no sympathy or emotions, they were cold. To overcome the intimidation, repetition, and brutality everyone kept to themselves because no one cared. Stallings stated, "They'll have more respect, give more attention to that machine. And you know this. Somehow you get the feeling that the machine is better than you are" (356). This job lowered peoples' self worth and morale. They sunk lower for they were being treated as animals. They were not allowed to use the bathroom, no one ate on the job, and the sick continued working in order to keep their job. The workers felt like a nobody; no one spoke, there was no unity, there was no determination. The only motive to keep working was the $4.32 that was received per hour. Everyone hated their job and had a right to. Those working were degraded and inhumane. They did not have goals, or if they had any they were not allowed to pursue them. No one at the work force was able to reach their full potential. Stallings said, "But I'm against this thing where I'm being held back. I'll work like a dog until I get what I want. The job I really want is utility" (358). Stallings should not have endured the harsh rules at the workforce and should have quit to reach his full potential and be more humane. He worked robotically, withstanding any sickness or injustice. He stated, "A job should be a job, not a death sentence" (359).

Dolores Dante and Phil Stallings both had different experiences when working. Dante loved her job, while Stallings did not. He disliked it for it degraded him and held him back in life. These two stories contrast and show how difficult life was and how different people chose to earn a living. Some had a choice, while others did not. And some enjoyed their job, while others did not. I want to be able to get a job like Dante and be joyful everyday for I would love what I was doing. I want to be able to wake up every morning and be excited to go to work. I never want to feel guilt for being too good at my job, but I also don't want to have too much pride where it would transform into hubris. However, I applaud Stallings for continuing to work everyday, for many hours because he was not fortunate to have a job that both payed well and he enjoyed.

Division Street: Tom Kearney and Chester Kolar

Every war America has become involved in brought forth the themes of justice, freedom, democracy, passion, faith, protection, and duty. Many soldiers, civilians, and leaders struggle with war and come to a tension point dealing with the themes above. Is America being just? Is it right for America to intervene? Why are we fighting? What are we fighting for? How can we fight for freedom or democracy when they are such broad ideas? Why is the United States always intervening to provide protection first? How do I help in the war? All these questions encompass the minds of Americans during periods of war, and many questions are left unanswered.

Tom Kearney, one of the many policemen of his family, believes that the society became corrupt with the many wars America partook in. Kearney's father and grandfather both served as policemen, as well as fought for others' rights. They both advocated that they should still get payed even with the economy. This was very brave of them to do because even though this situation did not directly effect them, they still spoke their opinion and fought for those who could not. Looking up to them as role models, Kearney tries to better the society and nation. He observes people and their role in society, realizing it has become corrupt. Despite all the diversity in America, he noticed that people of certain ethnicities tend to stick together, resisting integration. To support integration people participate in street demonstrations, like those that took place during the civil rights movement. With integration, the society will become more close-knit. He states, "The neighborhood is sterile. It's not a neighborhood at all" (267). No one knows each other anymore, even he does not know his own son well enough. The society grew apart due to this fear of involvement; many are afraid to speak their mind and stand up for what they believe in or are scared to integrate and help one another. With this mentality everyone of Kearney's generation distances themselves from others. Yet, the proceeding generation does not follow them. The generation today is more sophisticated and care for the world. They avert from the strict traditions and culture and know how to accept others. They are not scared to become involved and rather are more involved than their own parents. This generation will change the world someday. However, Chester Kolar disagrees and believes that this involvement leads to nervousness, uncertainty, and worrying. He believes people will fail if they become too involved because they are not focusing on their life and are not living in the moment. He states, "These people are worried about something they shouldn't be worried about. They should be worried about painting their rooms and fixing something up where they could become industrious" (273). He believes that this new involvement negatively effects the nation and society, due to the stress it creates.

Reflecting on American life and society today, I believe that the nation has improved with integration and involvement, but I disagree that the involvement has created worrying and nervousness. The generations that live today have learned to accept others and integrate. Although it is natural to stick to those who share the same beliefs, people today keep and open mind and are very accepting towards others and ideas. I believe Americans are standing up and speaking out when they find injustice. We do not fear involvement, but rather thrive on it. Society today is more close-knit and connected than what it was earlier. This involvement though does not create extra immense amounts of worrying. However, I do not state that the generations today are not worrying because we are, but for different reasons. We worry today for ourselves, for our family. We worry that the economy will not improve, that the house is not kept up, that our children are not trying, that the education provided is not sufficient, etc. We worry for the right things, for that that affects us. Our worry is necessary or else no one would care in the world and society would yet again be distant. The wars and hardships that the America faced brought us to where we stand today provide us with  lessons to learn from. And with these lessons, society and the nation clearly demonstrate "UNITED WE STAND."

The Good War: Peter Ota and Betty Basye Hutchinson

Peter Ota was a Japanese American in the war, with a family being held in an internment camp. He expressed how he was so ashamed to be Japanese and that all the customs he practiced disappeared. He and his family didn't fight back when they were forced into the camp. They took away their business and everything they had. When Peter went to war, his mother became sick and while waiting to get permission to visit, she passed away. Peter was upset he wasn't able to be there, but he picked up her remains. Peter and his family, when together, would celebrate holidays and never talk about what had happened. No one was able to talk about what had happened. They were ashamed and angry. He stated, "My children were denied a lot of the history of what happened. If you think of all those forty years of silence, I think this stems from another Japanese characteristic: when shame is put on you, you try to hide it. We were put into camp, we became victims, it was our fault. We hide it" (209). His daughter wanted to write about the war and tried to talk to people about it, but many refused. Peter though accepted it and even cried while telling his story, feeling better after. But she couldn't understand why they didn't fight back. He explained how times were different back then and if it were now, his family and other Japanese Americans would fight back. They would stand up for what they believed in. They would be brave enough to do so.

Hutchinson was a nurse in the war and felt as if it were her duty to do so. Hutchinson was an official of the nurses and saw some of the worst cases. Some came in without limbs, with burns, with faces torn apart. She describes her first few days being a nurse as brutal, she threw up after seeing injured men. However, she soon became accustomed to the environment and was glad to help in the war. At the hospital, many men joked about their wounds, making it less serious, but did not talk about the war itself. They called one man "The Nose" because he lost his nose and ears. She acted as a plastic surgeon as well. One man constantly pointed to a picture of him in the war saying that he would not leave until he looked like that again, had his face back. However, this man acted weak and Hutchinson wondered, "Why isn't he quiet? Why can't he be brave when they're changing his dressing? What does he think we are, miracle workers?" (215). They had been brave in the war and acted as if the hospital was worse than that. She did not understand that the hospital made this man emotional because it brought everything together and all he was able to do was reflect upon the war. Why did he fight? What did he fight for?

The war was unpleasant, every aspect. At the homefront, people were being forced into camps and prejudice was apparent. On the battlefront, many lives were lost along with innocence and morals. Off the battlefront, in hospitals, many were recovering mentally and physically from the brutal war and tried to get their lives back. Hutchinson expressed angrily her disappointment for war, believing it did not really help. She stated, "We did it for what? Korea? Vietnam? We're still at war. Looking back, it didn't work" (217). So, was the war effective? I disagree to some extent with Hutchinson because the war resolved problems between nations making it beneficial. Despite all the losses and aftermath of the war, it also may be looked upon as a lesson to learn from. After the Japanese were released from the camps, Reagan declared that actions towards the Japanese were wrong and immoral. Generations today can learn from the war.