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Superman and Me by Sherman Alexie


            "Superman and Me" is a short story written by Sherman Alexie. He uses simple words that are easy to understand, yet the book is still entertaining. A Superman comic book is the first thing that inspired him to write "Superman and Me'. He grew up and still lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Wellpinit, Washington. Although he grew up in a middle class family, he never stopped reading and always considered himself smarter than other children in his town. He claimed "A smart Indian is a dangerous person, widely feared and ridiculed by Indians and no-Indians alike." in "Superman and Me" (Alexie 497) that he found himself to be a dangerous person because he had experienced discrimination against his race. However, it is untrue that a literate person who has experienced discrimination would be dangerous to others in general.
             It is unrealistic that a literate person who has experienced discrimination is necessarily a dangerous person. At one time in our recent history, the term "discriminating" had a positive value. It was a compliment. "To say that a person was discriminating was to say that he was able to make fine distinctions. Today, to say that someone is discriminating is to charge him with prejudice. This modern view is embodied in the so-called human rights codes of society, wherein it is illegal to discriminate against people on the basis of race, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, sexual preference, age, etc. Discrimination now carries a legal penalty--a fine, and even a jail sentence to back up the prohibition" (Block 241). As a result, it is unessential for a person to act or be aggressive toward discriminators. The laws will often times handle such people. .
             Alexie is incorrect that a literate person is necessarily a dangerous person because humans are different in many aspects. He claimed himself as a dangerous person in "Superman and Me", but it is arguable that everybody does not have to act the same way he does.


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