Begin Response
In reading the short story by Daniel Orozco, I have come to conclude that he is trying to convey an idea in that America and its’ government is not the “Land of Dreams” as most believe it to be. Don’t get me wrong by that, as I am not trying to say that America is a horrible place by any means. You see, for the developed nations, with stable, structured government bodies, and a strong democratic leading, of all the places people could go to, usually its America they wish to flee to. Why you ask? Well it is because it is the land of freedom and opportunity. Well, in my opinion, I feel as if Orozco is saying the complete opposite, that it is not that at all, and one could not possibly see that if they were an outsider looking in, but once you get in, you realize its true colors. Let us start from the beginning, so like in Orozco’s story, the new employee is getting the show, learning the rules, and there are a lot of them, learning about the plethora of documentation he must read to be able to “remain” there, I correlated this to possibly an immigrant, coming over to America, learning about the way of life here, filling out the ridiculous amounts of paperwork for the simplest of things, and then the laws, rules, and regulations that must be followed or you would be “let go.” Then Daniel began to describe everyone, and how they, at work, are one person, but when they are home, or alone, they are another person. It is as if they are not who they say they are, and only put on the “happy face” when they are at work for the matters of business only, similar to that of government officials who say they will do this and that, claim things will change and get better so that you get on their side of the table, and then when the day ends, they are just like everyone else in this country, trying to better themselves. Then let’s not leave out the continuous reminder that you are not to know more than “they” would like you to know, and if you let on that you know too much, then you will of course be “let go”. The government is beyond secretive, only letting on what it feels we, the people, should know, and if someone was to find out more than they are “allowed” to know, then they will be dealt with. Later in the story, Daniel introduces us to the Boss that is never seen, but surely around at all times, and the wonderful coffee fund that has to be paid into, regardless of the different extras you would like with it. I see the coffee fund as our Social Security, or even our health care, and that you are forced to pay into it, but since you can’t bother Mr. Coffee, then you really don’t know where the money is going, someone else is taking care of that for you. Oh, that’s right, it’s Uncle Sam, the boss that you never see, but he is always around you. We as Americans never see Uncle Sam, but he sure sees himself into our pockets for fees that most of us don’t even realize. That’s your sugar, or coffee creamer extras, that although you might not be using, they are getting you on anyways. From beginning to end, Daniel kept the reader, me, interested through the comical tales of the different people who work there already and their crazy lives, the ridiculous rules and forms and handbooks needed to do the job right or be “let go”, but in all of that I think Daniel was also trying to get us to read between the lines to see his hidden viewpoints about America and its’ governing body.
