Starboard the MAST Academy English Language and Literature Journal
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S tarboard 1 Photo Courtesy of Caroline Widmer Starboard The MAST Academy English Language and Literature Journal Editor Photographic Contributors Special Thanks to Gabriella Garcia Caroline Widmer Dr. Margaret Haun Co-Editor Sofia Soriano Mrs. Crespo Gabriela Yero Jake Gillespie Ms. Otero Teacher Advisor Ian Quintana Dr. Rodriguez Dr. Margaret Haun Gabriella Garcia Dr. Gould Starboard is a student-produced journal of literary and language criticism, analytical essays, reviews and photography from MAST Academy students. It contains a wide range of themes, literary texts and studies of the English language, presented in a lively and engaging style. 2 Contents A Level English Language Francisco Franco and the Basques 05 Juana Diez de Onate Government Attitudes Towards the English Language 13 Isabella Sanz Spanglish: Transcending Boundaries 22 Gabriela Yero South Africa’s Language Planning Policy Post-Apartheid 29 Justin Biggs English Language Policy in the United States 36 Jeremy Waxman Defending Orwell’s Views on Language 44 Pablo Saud Language Death 51 Alexandra Lopez-Letz Language Death: Should We Care? 57 Hannah Waxman The Birth of Language 66 Gabriella Garcia 3 Contents AP English Language and Composition The Impossible Takes a Little Longer 76 Nicholas Umana The Success of Female Characters in Overcoming their Limitations 89 William Fairman To Strive for Purpose 99 Ismael Fernandez Courage is the Key to Success 112 Alex Buchwald Killing a Loved One for the Greater Good 123 Naomi Lam Saying No to Submitting to Society 133 Stephanie Perez Society’s Downward Spiral 146 Gia Castillo The Paradoxical Nature of Self-Deception 158 Bryan Alcarazo The Greed Epidemic 169 Rachel Frame Loss, Destruction, and Back Again: The Futile Cycle of Revenge 180 Amanda Perez 4 Francisco Franco and the Basques Juana Diez de Onate A Level English Language 11 December 2015 Prior to the fascist regime in Spain in 1939, the Basques Basque culture in all aspects. After suffering under the military maintained a relatively autonomous government. They were dictatorship of Franco, the Basques have preserved their governed by Basque laws, known as fueros, which were based culture, identity, and strive for independence. on their ancient customs. These laws were revered by the To understand who the Basque people are and why they people, defining their culture and identity, and they would even were targeted by the Franco regime, it is important to look at go as far as to compromise their independence in order to keep how they define themselves as a culture. They classified them in place. Fueros is a Spanish word meaning "codified themselves as separate because there are several characteristics local customs”, and the fight to keep them in their society in their culture that show how their background divided and would lead to turmoil in the Basque nationalist movement isolated them from the rest of the country. Their language, (Who are the Basques?). The twentieth century challenged Euskara, is unique to any other part of Spain or even Europe their will to remain autonomous. Radical nationalism in Spain (Jefferey). The Basque people are also very distinct in their spurred by General Francisco Franco aimed to terminate the physical appearance which created a visible barrier between 5 them and the rest of Europeans. Typical characteristics of The due to the fact that people did not support its current republican Basque people include a broad forehead, a straight nose with a government. Spaniards were divided on the type of government thin tip, and a narrow, pointed chin (The Basques). These that they wanted. The Republican government of Madrid people also have the highest concentration of type O and of Rh granted the Basques autonomy in 1936 in an alliance against negative blood of all people in the world, showing that not only General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War are they culturally but also genetically distinct. Fueros allowed (Basque Nationalist Party). Franco’s ideologies revolved the Basques to possess significant local power such as, to veto around keeping the country unified, and the Basques and other Spanish laws, to have their own legislative, executive and regions of Spain in search of autonomy challenged his views. judicial branches, and to be exempt from Spanish custom In April 1937, Franco called on his allies, Germany and Italy, duties. The laws officially separated the Basques from the rest to bomb the Basque town of Guernica with intentions to reduce of Spain until they were removed in 1876. These laws gave the the culture’s influence as much as possible (Cassel). After Basques their regional autonomy, providing them no incentive years of war the Republicans were defeated and Basque to leave the comforts of the country. nationalism was restrained, leaving the country under the rule In the 1930’s, Spain was politically, geographically and of Franco and his military dictatorship. culturally divided. Spain was cut by rivers and mountain ranges Franco’s fascist regime incorporated political planning with distinct languages and traditions in many isolated areas. policies on any region which sought to be separate from the Different political parties sought control over the fragile nation State. Much of the responsibility of public planning fell upon 6 his strongest ally, the Catholic Church. Using their influence continually going after their language. Franco did not support over social policies and education, they were able to spread his any region which did not agree with the unification of Spain, regime's fascist ideologies throughout Spain. Given that the which led him to target not only the Basques but other cultures majority of the Basque region was Catholic, the Church had a as well. Basque autonomy was driven from their cultural huge influence over the population. To carry out this imposed differences with Spain, which threatened the central power and civic organization of Spain, the Church assisted by creating authority of the Spanish state. This led the dictator to impose organizations that would spread the government’s strict other planning policies directly on the Basques such as banning ideologies and help eradicate any anarchists among the people the Basque language. Schools could not teach the language, (Encarnación 192). Organizations like Hermandades Obreras and the police would even go to the extent of beating citizens de Acción Católica (HOAC) were able to help the regime and and throwing them in jail if Euskara was spoken outside the its mission to form a depoliticized population by having access home. Their culture and music were all prohibited in any sort to the masses like no other groups. Franco followed this of public sphere (Francisco Franco). This led to the fight for religious takeover by restricting the churches within Basque the existence of the Basque culture under a centralized communities by not allowing Basque priests to preach in their government that imposed discriminatory policies against them. native language. In 1876, the Basque laws were repealed, which took After creating a strong Church influence, Franco away the region’s ability to govern itself. This was just a few frustrated the efforts of Basque independence, primarily by decades before the rise of Franco, and the region was not 7 willing to be ruled by a fascist government which would separate from the rest of Spain. Their aim was to preserve the completely obliterate their independence. Once Franco came to Basque culture, raise awareness on the Basque conflict, and power and his form of government was forced upon them, their turn the people of Spain against their government (Historical desire for autonomy became even greater. Franco integrated a background on the emergence of ETA). They accomplish these region of Spain into a government that did not accept any tasks through the use of violent attacks on the civilians. They cultural differences, causing instability in the State. Since arose after witnessing a lack of militaristic commitment from Franco targeted groups such as the Basques to complete his the Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV) against Franco’s goal of unifying Spain, hatred for him among the Basque regime. people spread rapidly, as well as opposition groups such as In response to Franco’s oppressive planning, the ETA. organization began with subtle and symbolic protests like Around the world the Basque conflict is linked with waving the banned Basque flag around in public (Bieter). But extreme nationalism, determination for autonomy, and terrorist this did not have the desired effect on the fascist regime. In attacks. In reality, it all began with peaceful protests which seeing that it wasn't enough, they attempted a non-lethal attack then quickly turned violent once Franco demonstrated his lack to derail a train carrying Franco supporters. To avoid of consideration for the Basque people. Euskadi Ta Askatasuna unnecessary casualties, the explosives were placed carefully (abbreviated as ETA) is a group defined as a terrorist enough to avoid the loss of life. The Spanish government organization whose cause is to create an independent homeland responded aggressively by arresting and torturing more than 8 100 suspected ETA members. Over the next several years, they support essentially disappeared (Bieter), and ETA could not regrouped and revised their battle tactics and forms of continue to function without political support. In 2011, ETA operation. Their violent uprising against the Spanish police and announced the end of its armed campaign, and a ceasefire was armed forces would lead to an overreaction on behalf of the declared. Basque independence was not successful, and they Spanish government. This response from Franco had adverse remain under the reign of Spain. effects in that it created loyalty from the Basque people for After the death of Franco and his fascist regime, ETA ETA’s movement. tried to work towards negotiations as well peaceful means by ETA continued its violent attacks throughout the next declaring several ceasefires.