The+Tortilla+Curtain+Historicism

Think of a time when you have helped someone who you didn’t like. Why did you do this? Do you believe that it is human nature to be selfish, or to put others before themselves? 1994. Infoplease. 13 May 2007. <[|http://www.infoplease.com/year/1994.html>.] 1995. Infoplease. 13 May 2007. <[|http://www.infoplease.com/year/1995.html>.] Here were the things going on in the world during the time that the book was written: Ø April 1994- The genocide and civil war in Rwanda starts. Thousands are killed. Ø April 1994- Nelson Mandela is elected Present of South Africa in the first interracial national election. Ø May 1994- Israel signs an accord with Palestinians. A peace treaty with Jordan follows in October. Ø August 1994- IRA (Irish Republic Army) declares a cease-fire in Northern Ireland. Ulster Protestants also declare a cease-fire in October. Ø October 1994- U.S. forces are sent to the Persian Gulf. Ø February 1995- U.S. starts a $20-billion aid program for Mexico’s deteriorating economy. Ø March 1995- Eight are killed and thousands are injured during a Nerve gas attack in Tokyo subway. Ø April 1995- 2,000 dead in Rwanda massacre. Ø May-Dec 1995- Fighting in Bosnia and Croatia spirals. A cease-fire is agreed upon and a peace treaty is signed. Ø September 1995- The West Bank is transferred to the Arabs. Ø November 1995- Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin is killed by a Jewish extremist at a peace rally. Here were the things going on in the United States during the time the book was written: Ø January 1994- Nancy Kerrigan is attacked after skating practice. Tanya Harding is the main suspect. Ø March 1994- Four people are convicted in the World Trade Center bombing. Ø May 1994-Bill Clinton is accused of sexual harassment while he was Governor of Arkansas. Ø June 1994- O.J. Simpson is arrested after a low-speed chase. He was accused of killing his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. Ø April 1995- Timothy McVeigh leaves a car bomb in front of the Oklahoma City federal building. Many were killed, and McVeigh was arrested. Ø October 1995- O.J. Simpson is found not guilty of killing his wife and her friend.
 * Opening Activity:**
 * Historicism for //The Tortilla Curtain//**

I chose theses events because I feel that Lisa’s article did a great job of covering illegal immigration, and I wanted everyone to think about other events going on in the world and how they can be connected to the novel.

Moriah V.
 * Discussion Questions:**
 * 1) Based on what made headlines in the U.S., and what made headlines around the world, what can we infer about American’s priorities and idea of news, compared to that of the worlds? How can this be connected to the difference between Candido and Delaney?
 * 2) How can some of the events going on in the world (Rwanda, Israel and Palestine, or Ireland) be connected to the main idea of the book?
 * 3) We have been discussing whether Delaney is racists or not. Considering the last couple chapters, what do you think now? Why?
 * 4) What is the significance of Socorro being blind?
 * 5) Why do you think Candido did what he did in the end? Why did T.C. Boyle end the book like this?