What books would you recommend for this class in the future?

I know a lot of people in class who questioned why we read the books we read in class and why all the writers were Chinese. But when you ask someone what they would have chosen instead they have a hard time answering. So now that we all had a chance to do some exploring I thought we could all put in out two censes on what books should stay and what books should go and what we would recommend for this course if/when its taught again.

For me I would say definitely keep Sui Sin Far, because her work is important to Asian American Literature in a historical since and its easy enough to be a good opening for a literature class but challenging enough to keep the reader interested, pulse she made fro great class discussions. Loved her or hated her everyone had something to say.

Next to add a little spice of something different I would recommend Yoshiko Uchida’s Journey to Topaz. She is a Japanese American writers so it breaks away from the having only Chinese writers. It’s not so long a novel that it can be covered in the allotted time. And although it’s technically a fiction book it still talks about the Japanese internment during the World War II, which was a real event. I think this is important because while I can only speak for myself, I did not even know that this terrible thing happened until it came up in late high school. And even then it was spoken of briefly like it was no big deal. I find this striking because I remember learning about the Holocaust in early grade school. I know there were know mass killings involved, so its not the same but it is an important human rights issue that is all to often swept under the carpet and that’s a dangerous mentality because its important to acknowledge these kinds of events and learn form them so we don’t repeat these kinds of mistakes, like many have argued is going on right now at Guantanamo Bay. This book would open up great discussion topics as well teach a lot of people about an event that’s all too often unfairly overlooked. Pulse as an added bonus the book was written for a younger age group so it’s a good way to explore a form of Asian American young adult literature. Those are three great points coved in one book.

Next to break away from the monogamy of an all fiction line up and as a more adult antidote after a young adult book like Journey to Topaz something like the Iris Chang’s The Rape of Nanking would be great. This is one of those you gota read once in your lifetime kind of books. I always hear great things about it. Plus it’s a great piece to explore race relations outside the US and the a-typical white and black that a lot of people seem to wrongly define racism as. It opens up to discussion about racism as more then just an issue in the US but a global issue that people deal with everywhere.

The only thing I would recommend to stay away from would be Any Tan and The Joy Luck Club not because it’s not a wonderful book but only because it’s already so popular and already widely read, pulse there is a movie and even a play. And a good literature class help students explore something new not something they can just go and watch the movie for and not have to read the novel.

Chinese Culture Sexist?

Is the Chinese culture really as sexist as these stories and books make it seem?  I was reluctant during my presentation to take a stance on it, not knowing enough about the culture to make any statement about it.  But it seems to me that all the Chinese women writers we've read have made it a central theme of their novels or stories.  I know the memoir I presented on, Maxine Hong Kingston's The Warrior Woman, was based mainly on Kingston's difficulties fighting the sexism and self-hatred with which the Chinese culture (via her mother) wanted to indoctrinate her.

However, a book--even a memoir--might exaggerate or more innocently magnify certain characteristics of the culture in order to address certain issues.

Is that the case?  I know several in the class must be more informed than I.  Other Asian-Americans, feel free to add your input on your culture or your perception of the Chinese culture.  I'm interested in learning more about this point.

If the request is too forward, I apologize.

Listen to a Bio and Poem from Cathy Park Hong

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/journal/audioitem.html?id=238

...in her own voice

Writers at Newark Presentation.

I plan on losting my thoghts about the upcomeing presentation when its over on Wendsday. I hopw you guys will share your feelings with me too.

Manhood in Donald Duk and Native Speaker

I've attached an article (the link is below) that might be relevant to someone's upcoming paper, especially if anyone will be exploring gender issues in their upcoming paper/presentation.  I read it for my paper on Donald Duk, and though I didn't get to use it, I was impressed by some of the ideas this author develops.  The main one is that Donald Duk is not just a masculine work, but one that tries to assert Asian American masculinity.  This idea isn't just relevant to Donald Duk.  Native Speaker is very much about Henry's journey into a kind of second manhood.  Like Donald Duk, Henry must take responsibility for his mistakes by acknowledging his wrongdoing, making amends, and then continuing to do what's right.  He does this by quitting his job and no longer using silence as a weapon against Lelia.  If anyone plans on doing something like this, Lee addresses what it means to be a man on the bottom of page 29 to the top of page 30.

*If you have problems with the link, post it in the comments and I'll email you the article and/or fix the link.

Best of luck to all on their papers/presentations. :)

"To Eat the Flesh of His Dead Mother: Hunger, Masculinity, and Nationalism in Frank Chin's Donald Duk"

Native Speaker's End

I've finished Native Speaker and I'm satisfied with the ending. I didn't think Lelia and Henry would be able to patch things up, but they proved me wrong- I guess opposites do attract. I believe that Henry finally realized that his job as a spy wasn't helping his life back home since it required that he keep so much from his wife. Naturally, he was someone who kept most of his feelings to himself and this job only made him have an even bigger wall up. Also, Lelia teaching the kids at home brought a new, refreshing, and positive vibe to a place normally filled with an awkward heaviness.

While I was happy for Lelia and Henry, Kwang's political demise was heartwrenching! He went through so much to accomplish what he did and just like that, people turned on him in the lowest of ways. I was appalled by the angry mob waiting outside of his house, yelling hideous slurs, spitting on, and eventually bumrushing him. I felt like his career in politics was officially over, that there was no coming back from his fall. Sadly, all he wanted was to assist those who needed help in achieving their goals.

If the book were to go on, I assume that Lelia and Henry would eventually have another child. I wouldn't consider this replacing Mitt at all, they were just so loving toward him and another child deserves the love they have to give. Regarding Kwang, it would have been so interesting if he and Henry would have continued a friendship- but I don't know how this would've worked.

ASIAN AMERICAN LITERATURE PRESENTATION

For our final meetings we will explore other Asian American texts chosen by each member of the class. Each student will write a five page paper about their work and present the paper to the class. Each presentation will take ten minutes and cover the issues raised in the text concerning Asian American literature.

Process: Choose an Asian American text to present to the class. This may be a novel, play, selection of poems (at least four) or a film. Each student will write a five page paper discussing how the text explores Asian American issues: identity, aesthetics and/or cross cultural traditions. Each student will present their paper to the class in a ten minute discussion of the work.

Suggested Works
Students are encouraged to find a work on their own. You may also look at the suggested works listed below:
Don Lee, Yellow, Country of Origin
Jhumpa Lahiri (anything by her)
Gail Tsukiyama (anything by her)
Iris Chang The Rape of Nanking
Li Young Lee (anything by him)
Cathy Park Hong (Poetry: Dance Dance Revolution, Translating Mo'um)
Amy Tan (anything by her)

Opposites Attract?

So far, Lelia and Henry are proving that while opposites attract, it might be everlasting. The more we get to know Lelia (understanding her reasons for leaving) and Henry (the reason he has trouble expressing himself, the more a solid relationship of the two seems impossible. Lelia’s father describes the two saying, “She’s always been a little too unsteady. […] She needs someone like you. You’re ambitious and serious. You think before you speak. […] You’ve been raised to be circumspect and careful.”

Her father, Stew, may irritate the reader with his borderline racist comments, but he’s right. Lelia comes off as emotionally unstable. She is completely flabbergasted when she learns that Henry doesn’t know the name of the lady who helped to raise him for 20 years. After this, she fails in trying to get to know the woman and eventually breaks down after a scuffle with her. Another example of her unsteadiness is her ability to pick up and leave for months at a time when feeling overwhelmed at home. For some, this may seem normal. Everyone handles their problems different, but I don’t feel that this is acceptable in a marriage, especially the way Lelia was so distant about the entire situation.

Even still, one can’t help but to understand Lelia. Is it so bad that she’s being distant when her husband has been the same way since the beginning? Sure he thinks before he speaks, but this is Henry’s problem- sometimes he opts not to speak at all. He’s so introverted, Lelia complains about “not knowing the first thing about what was going on inside of his head.” He’s careful, yes, but too careful- especially regarding the death of his son. It’s obvious that he’s hurt, but like his father, he doesn’t know exactly how to deal with it. I’m curious to see if Lelia and Henry can work this out. Unfortunately, I have my doubts.

In class we spoke about the "fairness" in sweat shops and businesses alike. I personally think that if its for money, then people will be willing to do anything. People who have no other choice need to make a living, and so even if they are being paid very little, they will still do it. To me, there is no "fairness" in business.

Harry's Relationships

Harry is one of the main characters in Native Speaker. I feel that his relationships will shape this novel. So far the relationships that stand out the most are those between Harry and Lelia, Harry and Hoagland, and Harry and his father. I think the development of these relationships will answer all or at least most of any unanswered questions one may have after reading these first few chapters. I think the development of Harry and Lelia relationship will shape the story because that is how the novel opens, with the list and their marital problems, and I believe that is how the novel will end with the answer of will Lelia stay or not. Harry and Hoagland's relationship will give greater insight into what Harry does for a living and whether or not he really is a traitor like Leila claims. Harry and his father's relationship will give greater insight into whether or not he is emotionally alien. In addition it will answer whether he just cannot get close to Leila again because of their son dying, like Leon and Ma after Ona died.

What relationship do you think will play a significant role in this novel?

First Impression of Native Speaker

GQ described this book as "suspenseful", The Oregonian said it was "important", and The Boston Globe described it as "compelling." While I've only read the first few chapters, it seems that all of the above might be true. Just the fact that Henry is a SPY is enough to keep my reading! I'm also very interested to learn more about his wife, a woman who just picked up and left to travel the world without him. I'm also looking forward in seeing what becomes of "list" she wrote describing the kind of person Henry is, she wrote good AND bad things which lead me to believe that leaving him won't be so easy. Lastly, it's clear to see that Henry may have emotional problems, from the way he and his father handled his mothers death.

Whos your fav character

Whos your favorit character and why? Here is mine. I hopw sove of you guys respond.

This may seem strange to a lot of people but my favorite character in Donald Duk was the American Cong.
Of all the characters he seemed the most complex and the most real to me. He was also the most mysteries because they gave us clues about what had happened to him in the past the apparently left his mind and perspective slightly skewed. But the author never reviled anything in definite. So I am going to give my take on his life based on some of the clues the book gave us.
He said he was born and raised in Iowa. So we can venture that he like Donald is the descendent of migrant workers from China who came to work on the railroad and settled in Iowa after the job was done. Like many a young man back during the Vietnam way he was drafted and sent to Vietnam to fight. Because he is of Chinese decent and would have looked like the Vietnamese and Chinese troops the American troops were fighting her probably faced a lot of discrimination from other solders. This kind of thing is far from unheard of. In World War II there were units of Japanese American troops fighting Europe that faced simmer doubts and mistreatment from their commanders. Only to later be recognized for their bravery and become one of the most decorated unites of the war.
He kept saying he was orange and that meant something was grabbing and seizing his heart. Unless I am mistaken orange was the color of the gas used to destroy the jungles in Vietnam.
That along with the fact that he said he fought the Chinese, that they were big, mean and would hurt ya over and over again leads me to believe that he may have been a pilot or a member of a flight crew aboard an aircraft that flew the gas over the jungles. And that’s how he met the Chinese fighters in ether aerial combat or in ground to air combat. This is how he was exposed to the gas, ether during his missions or after being shot down by the Chinese. After his plane went down he was captured and held as a POW by the Chinese, and likely as many other POWs was interrogated and tortured.
But he managed to escape and after climbing and hiding in the jungle for a few day (This may also have been when he was exposed to the gas) he eventually made it to the corn fields where the mountain people who were helping the Americans were and was rescued.
At least that’s what I think.

ESSAY #2

UPDATED

Asian American Literature Essay #2
Draft due WEDNESDAY, November 5
Essay due MONDAY, November 10

NO CLASS NOVEMBER 3RD.

Choose one of the following topics and write a well developed and well supported essay of no less than 450 words.

1. Compare Donald Duk to Bone or stories from Mrs. Spring Fragrance; examine the ways characters search for identity. How do characters find cultural identity in each of the texts? Do you think these searches for identity have anything to do with gender?

2. Using an appropriate literary source, define and out-line the ways that Donald satisfies or falls short of what Bildungsroman means.

3. To be considered a hero in literature a character must fulfill certain guidelines and characteristics. Explore what it means to be a hero in literature and decide if Donald can be called a hero.

You must use textual evidence (quotes) to support your responses. When you use quotes to support your essay, you must use parenthetical reference to document your source. If you use more than two sources, please include a Works Cited Page.

Donald Duk's Evolution

We all know that the expression, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree" applies to Donald Duk and his father, King Duk when referencing the somewhat racist remarks they say throughout the story. When King Duk does say something that one considers racist, the statement has the same characteristics as when Donald said a racist remark to his friend Arnold. However we can see that Donald is evolving as the story continues. After seeing the Chinese not depicted in the picture of the workers that built the railroad, he was offended and outraged that the Chinese were not included. Thus, exemplifying that Donald Duk may not hate being Chinese as much as he did in the beginning of the book and will stand up for his ancestors when necessary. This and being an allibi for the American Cong veteran who was framed for murder shows an improvement and advancement of maturity on Donald's part.

Donald Duk

The novel of Donald Duk paint a true picture of what an American Asian goes through. Donald Duk at the age of 12 is evolving into a great adult. The life experience he is having is going to mold him in dealing and understanding the life as an American Asian.
The issue of race is only a reality that Donald must learn. I believe Donald Duk bring it out when Donald get arrested. , however it take him to another learning curve when it challenges his dreams.

Thoughts on Today's Class (10/27)

I really enjoyed our talk today on race in movies. It's a catch twenty-two the way some movies have racially stereotypical characters. On one hand, this can amuse people of the same race who find comfort in these roles by not taking them too seriously and realizing that this is what is sometimes believed about their race. On the other hand, some roles are taken so far that they become completely offensive. Hearing the Long Duk Dong interview made me feel bad! Sixteen Candles is one of my favorite movies and he is one of my favorite characters, so to hear the way other Asians felt about his performance didn't sit right with me because I was forced to think, "What if his role was that of a Latino foreign exchange student?"

The book is written by a male author and has a male character. I think this makes a signficant change. Its more about physical work, like Donald's railroad dream. He has to go through physical tasks in order to become an adult, compared with bone where Lei goes to through a range of emotions in order to find peace.

Donald Duk

I think that all the things that are being taught to Donald is related to him through his dreams. Since he seems to not be listening to his parents and uncle, everything they teach him is unconsciously being absorbed and being taught to him in a way that gets through to him. His dreams are like old movies, so since that is what interest him that's the best medium for him to learn how to be a mature adult.

In class we talked about the difference between a male writer and a female writer. So far the differences that I see are that the story does not go very deep into the meaning of any one character's feelings, and as far as very emotional things it mostly lies on the surface. As far as similarities all the books deal with identity whether finding or losing it or accepting it. I think Donald Duk needs to accept his identity. I don't think he can fully become a mature adult until he stops practicing self hatred.

My first impression of Donald Duk
I liked the beginning of the book but now I feel like it is going to be mostly about his dreams. I don't really like how Chin starts the chapter in his dream. I actually thought King Duk took Donald to an herbalist until he started dancing with Fred Astaire. Its a little confusing. I like the fact that its a coming of age story, so hopefully this novel will have a distinct ending. I also like the fact that it shows more of the Chinese culture as far as their practices and all the 108 warriors and traditions. I hope Arnold can teach him to appreciate his culture.

How can Arnold and Donald have the same dreams?

I enjoy when Donald goes into the day dreams dancing with Fred Astaire. It is very classic, its almost as if i'm reading the book like a black and white movie. Through his dreams, I think that is where he learns to mature into an adult. He won't listen to any one else but himself, so its through himself that he learns to grow up.

my thoughts

In the class discussion of Donald duk some things came up that I wanted to talk about.
The word SIFU came up, no one seemed to know what it was. Answer. In Chinaness tradition Sifu is what an elder of an an art or skilled work is called. Its most common use would be when a student refers to a teacher as their Sifu. but any one how is an apprentice under a Master of art or a skilled craft will sometimes refer to their mentor as Sifu.

Another thing that struck me as important were the dream secqueces. Dreams are very symbolic. Many in psychology believe they are expressions of our concuss worries or our unconsus thoughts. In Donald duk's case i think his dreams express the side of himself that actually wants to know more about his family's past and heritage. Because he spends every waking moment rejecting his Chinese heritage, his mind spends his sleeping hours reaching out to it to try to reach a fuller self understanding that his own consciousness has yet to grasp.
the

The last thing that came up was the idea of the Mandate of Heaven philosophy. That was the Chinese philosophy that stated that Heaven blessed the ruler so long as he was a good ruler but if he failed in his duty's the Mandate would then pass to another more suitable ruler because in his failure he would loss the blessings of the heavens. but the ruler had to usually be of Nobel birth, that was also a condition. I found it curious that the author put this next to a line about European kings given the god given right to rule by way of blood because in base they are exactly the same but they were made out to be different.

Identity.. Again!!

I must agree with one of other students that Donold Duk is very interesting, relatable, and written very nicely. The common theme that links all our reading together is Identity. Donald Duk struggles with his identity becuase he basically doesnt want to be like his "chinesse" Family. I hope the author doesnt leave us with out any explanation as to why Donald dislikes his culture and why Arnold is so interested in it... Lets read on and see!

First Impression of Donald Duk

I've read the first 50 pages of Donald Duk and I am very interested to see how this book will pan out. I'm very happy that we've moved away from Sui Sin Far's flowery writing and I pray that Chin doesn't leave me with the same dissatisfied feeling that Ng did. I'm interested because, while we've always been reading about family, it's mostly been about married adults or very young children trying to assimilate several years ago. For once, we're reading something relatable in that Donald is young, the writing is contemporary, and some of us might've had someone like Donald in our school (or maybe we felt/feel like we were/are Donald now!).
On another note, I'm curious to see how his friendship with Arnold will develop. Perhaps Arnold's respect and curiosity for the Chinese culture will spark Donald's?
Also, will that man on the roof reappear? I'm still trying to figure out his purpose.

I hope Donald Duk is as interesting as it began!

Orientalism

The writing on orientation discusses the many difference of oOrientalism and orient at different period of time and as well how other my have view it. The writing point out the how the orient define the west because of the contribution it had provide to the west.

Ona's Suicide

Una Leong suicide is symbolic the trumatic and the repression of an transform of individuality. Una's suicide continue to hunt the novel, because the reason for Una's suicide is never found out. This leaves the reader with a strong desire to find out what was the caused of Una's suicide.

Bone Symbolic

The novel Bone by Fae Myenne Ng, real symbolizes the need to have an identity. It also portrays the lives of chinese immigrants in America, their hardship and difficulty in adapting to the American lifestyle and culture. The fact that that similar stories are told in this bone, is symbolic of the fact that there are people from the chinese culture who comes to America and are still trying to find an identity. When people moves from one place to the other is affects their identity. Most persons from other cultures, in particular the chineses struggles to find an identity. Many of them are strong influence to change their identity. Many become lost in the cloud of trying to find an identity. Trying hard to fix in with the American culture causes them to become depressed and block off in their minds because their chinese indentity is being question all the time which makes them feel that they have to find a new identity.

Secret! Secret! Secret!

All the characters in "Bone" have a secret, the secret that was passed down to the children from the parents. The "don't let the neighbors know" what we doing. We don't know why or what led to Ona's death, she went to the grave with that secret. Leila also kept the secret she knew about Ona to herself, Leon is still bottled up with the secret of his real identity, who he really is and who belongs to. It is not surprising the way it ended because they live in a world of secrets.

Character Traits

If I may generalize Asians' personal traits, the author draws all of the characters very mysteriously and secretively in a way to describe the introverted and non-confrontational nature the Asians are(were). There are mentions of specific characters being kept to themselves like Ona how she had secrets. But it's not just Ona who is mysterious. All the characters in Bone keep to themselves withholding their emotions and thoughts. Especially the loud mouth (when he wants to be) Leon. --- In class, there were alot of critiques on how disatisfying the story was and how it ended with a lot of loose ends. Personally, I see it fits. Growing up in Asian culture, I've learned to deal with that not everything is transparent. If there are some gray areas, you don't always question but just accept. Not everything is said and explained. In western, people ask why out loud, but in Asisn culture, people ask why inside. ----While Leila narates throughtout the book I could feel the sense of pauses she makes as if to takein all the unsaid gray areas she was revealed to. And she asks herself why.

ANNOUNCEMENT: No class Wednesday

For Monday, read "Orientalism" and the first fifty pages of Donald Duk. If you need a copy of "Orientalism" I can email you one.

Please continue to comment on Bone in light of what we read in class and "Orientalism".

Completion in Bone

The idea of completion is one that came up numerous times in Bone, especially in regard to Ona. I think that that was significant because Ona seemed to be the one that completed the family. As she was close to Leon, she felt his happiness and his sadness. As the middle sister, her personality seems to lie somewhere between Leila's and Nina's in that although her life does not revolve around Leon and Mah like Leila's does, she also does not want to escape from home to the extent that Nina does. Although not much is seen about Ona's relationship with Mah, one can see that Ona was vital to the family dynamic. The conclusion of the book left us with many more questions, however, and not very many answers.

Finishing Bone

I've finished Bone and I'm not sure that I'm completely satisfied with how it ended. I'm happy Leila went into further detail on Leon's failed laundromat because I now understand Ona and Osvaldo's situation better. While I don't know if their breakup was Ona's complete and only reason for committing suicide, seeing the way Ona was torn between Leon and her relationship makes her suicide easier to process. I was thankful for Leila recap of her mother and father's quick relationship. Unfortunately, the way he abandoned his wife and child made the story that much more depressing.
I can't say I didn't like the book because the way it was written kept me wanting to know more and more about the characters... but it's conclusion left me feeling unfulfilled. I assumed something major would happen and everyone would be forced onto the right track, but that didn't happen. I assumed we'd learn more about Mah and Tommie, maybe even that Ona was HIS daughter, but Leila came to the random conclusion that Leon was the one Mah wanted. I found this somewhat hard to believe the way she chose him to be her husband, choosing him over others since he's be away at sea a lot.
The way the story was written made me believe every single one of its mysteries would be solved in the end, but I find myself feeling sad for the Leong family.

There are a few themes in the story, but at the end of reading this book, I thought there was one that really stood out. At the end is where Lei finally explains what happened with Ona. It was because the whole family had gotten exploited in the laundry business because of Luc. He was using his chinese friends as cheap labor. This I thought connected to today's world, where China=Factory of the world, or cheap labor. Ona's family was unpaid. Leon had no idea where the money was going, because he was always in the shop. I think Ona loved Leon the best, because of this, I think this is why she killed herself. Leon did not want to have anything to do with her because of Osvaldo and the whole bad business deal. Leon disowned Ona and did not try to make her happy. So it was like she could not have both. It was one or the other but I think she hated to have Leon always criticizing and yelling at her, so she killed herself. She was so close to Leon, it was like her whole life tore apart when Leon threatened to disown her.

Bone

The backward forward writing of bone seem to highlight the importance of Ona life. Ona has touch all the characters in the writing. The deep keep secrets of this family all surround Ona life, even with Tommie this infer that Tommie may truly be Ona father. Mah hiding of Ona ashes when someone enter the store confirm that she is hiding the truth about Ona. This story leave you with a lot to put togaed about Ona life and death only a true imagination can capture it.

Bone-- Counting

Numbers and counting seem to be a very important element in this book.  In the very least, counting was important to Ona.  In fact Leila boldly describes Ona's passion for counting; "Ona was right about the counting.  Remembering the past gives power to the present.  Memories do add up." (88-89).  In addition, it is interesting that Ona jumps from the thirteenth floor because Leila describes 13 as a lucky number in Chinese, but what she fails to relate is that it is a common unlucky number in America.  I ponder whether Ona was trying to relate a message.  Perhaps with her unusual job as a waitress, her boyfriend that was not approved of by Leon, and finally her choice of where to jump from.  It seems like Leila was right, Ona being the middle child, she did not know where to fit in whether it be Chinese or American culture.  Even at the end of the book when Leila describes "the old blue sign, #2-4-6" (193) she is still taking to heart the fact that her sister used counting as a means of memory.  Remembering this, Leila keeps a piece of Ona in her heart when she reads the sign in this way in order to remember "Salmon Alley, Mah and Leon" (194)

 

Are there any more instances of counting or numbers that you found, and feel emphasize this book?

Bones---Who is Ona?

I think Ona is a mixture of Leila and Nina, because she absorbs all of her feelings and puts her family first most of the time, like Leila; and does things that only she wants, without thinking of others, like Nina. In some cases these traits can be good and admirable, as seen in both Leila and Nina. The good part of Leila's personality that I think Ona exhibits is that she puts her family first; that is a great quality until it becomes a burden. The good part of Nina's personality that Ona exhibits is that she puts herself first and does what makes her happy; dating Osvaldo made her happy, although we do not know what exactly happened between them, I think it was a good relationship for her, relieving stress like Mason does for Leila. But maybe the wrong combination of these two personalities and the stress that Ona felt led to her tragic death. Maybe absorbing all the negative feelings of her family makes her extremely depressed, and instead of releasing it through anxiety, like Leila with her chronic back pain, she behaves recklessly without thinking, like Nina moving from New York to China to become a tour guide.

Who do you think Ona is based on what little information we have on her?

Reality

Ms. Ng is a very reliable author. What she writes in her story is a reality in many people of Chinese descent. Of course, not including the suicide of a sister, but the culture and the way the Chinese people live is all very true. She portrays a Chinese family very accurately. Nina is very Americanized. Leon is the China man who wanted to make it big but never did. America was said to have streets made of gold and to be the land of opportunities, but to Leon, everything and everyone failed him. Lei tries to be the tie between two different generations. Mah is stuck living in the past, unhappy with the events in her life. The daughters, like most Chinese children, are very obedient to their parents up to a certain point. Like Nina, she wanted to live a life of her own after a while and wanted nothing to do with her Chinese culture or family issues.

Leila & Nina

Just to reiterate what was discussed in class today, I respect Nina and Leila for different reasons... But I probably like Nina more.

I respect Leila because family comes first for her. After Ona committed suicide, she stayed very attached to Mah and Leon, opting to live at home even though it was putting a strain on her relationship with Mason. Whenever either of her parents need help with something she (or Mason) is always there for them. As depressing as it is for her, she stills stays overly committed because as the only child she feels she has no choice. I feel for her though, her stress becomes actual physical pain while she continuously seeks answers for herself and family.

I respect Nina, on the other hand, because I'm a strong believer in doing for yourself and making yourself happy instead of depending on others and apparently so is she. Even though she might come off as selfish to her family for moving to New York, I can't blame her for trying to start a new life. Like I said in class, people deal with sadness differently and she chose to escape it by literally leaving.

I respect them both but I only wish that Leila thought more about herself and that Nina wasn't SO distant.

-Frances

family

In "Bones," there seems to be a lot of separate stories going on at the same time. the reader doesn't know why Ona killed herself, or what was going on in her life. Leon does not speak much. Mason wants to start his own shop. Mah is constantly grieving. Nina has her own life in New York. I think this is a nice way the story is written. It gives me a lot of perspectives because it revolves around everyone's life. And everyone's life is connected by the death of Ona. Her death bought on a lot of suffering to everyone, but its made her family realize what they truly want out of life. Sure the family separated and things aren't as smooth as they used to be but I think everyone went to live the life they always wanted.

Bones---Disrespecting ones parents

In class I brought up that some of the things Leila said were disrespectful of her mother, "What wasn't simple was my guilt about having a better life than Mah. She married my father for a thrill and Leon for convenience." (p.10) I think that feeling guilt is okay as long as you do not undermine all the hard work someone has done for you. She sounds ungrateful and patronizing to me, especially in the second sentence. She has no right to judge any decisions her mother made in her life because she did not have to live through all the things her mother did. It reminds me of the scene in "A Raisin in the sun" when Beneatha gets slapped by her mother for over stepping her boundaries with her opinions. I feel Leila over stepped her boundaries by calling out her mother's failed marriages.

Bone- "Goodwill"

I think that it is interesting that the Goodwill store is mentioned so heavily in chapter one.  For one thing, the family might not be the most well off, but they certainly do not need to shop at a thrift store.  In fact Leila even comments on how she remembers that she used to live in a much smaller space when she is visiting all the parents of her students.  It might just be that Leon, being much older, is used to thrift stores because they bring in an older crowd.  For some reason, however it feels like the stores' name is much more important than the aspect of shopping there.  I think the term good will must have an important meaning as the story progresses.  Perhaps Leila is guiding us along because she wants to show us how tolerant she is of everyone else, even the old men sitting at the square who comment about her so obnoxiously.  Maybe Leila’s quest to show everyone good will, in turn others, such as her family will lighten up to her marriage.  We shall see!

Bones

This book speaks to a family of Asian decent dealing with the bias of there community and the older daughter acting as the care taker for the family. The older daughter also act as a missionary for the community.
This view give a more up to date look of some of the obstacle they face in modern times that are some of the problems in older times. Leon even with his odd ways attempts to keep the family together. Mah seem to be preoccupied with her on grief and very much in trench with the old way of thinking of her country. Is this why they can not come to her and inform her when they the children get married? The book is call bones because people all way have a bone to pick with others.

Bones

What caught my attention as I was reading this new book, was when she said "For a paper son, paper is blood." I also thought this book was a little more in detail like the Joy Luck Club. the Ms. Ng writes is very nice and the way her words flow, I think is smoother than Sui Sin Far. I think her writing is more realistic.

Understanding Far

On Wednesday class, some people expressed that they would've understood Far's nature and intention better if they had read her "biography" piece before reading the book. In that case, would we have raised so many questions on her views and credibility? And looking back, the readers should consider if they had reminded themselves where and when it was written before criticizing or judging.

ESSAY #1 DRAFT DUE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th

If you would like to remain anonymous while your classmate looks over your paper, create a false name for your draft. It should be something you can easily identify and remember.

If you are unable to come to class that day, email me your paper before noon on Monday.

The Chinese in America

I know that she is writing positively about Chinese Americans to contrast what is already being said, but to make the stories more truthful she should write about both the wrong and the right things Chinese Americans do in equal amounts. She is so one sided in her characterizations they are hard to get through today because we know that people are not this one-dimensional. People are complex and I think she should have made that known. Her audience is not the most intelligent group, if she wrote more honestly it might have appealed to the intellectual and maybe would have benefited her people more. Its just really repetitive and we get the picture, Chinese people are good, what else is there to these stories. It does not grab you the way her first biography does, Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian.

Autobiography

Sui Sin Far autobiography in the handout gave a more clear understanding of her and the need to write her short stories. In her autobiography about herself see discover that she was different an American Chinese. She became super aware of the indentity conflict within herself. Siu Sin Far wanted other to become aware of this conflict of being an Asian American. Her mother seem to try to suppress it from her and within herself. Reading about the Asian culture in their country it was a close society and culture and race was not discussed openly. This may be the reason that she was so hard on Sui Sin Far. It is very important to discuss assimilation and being accepted, but we did not go into it in class.

I do wonder somtimes, if there was ever a moment in her life when she was happy.

Sin Far's autobiography was very interesting for me. I had no idea that she experienced what it felt like to be a mysterious specimen. Throughout her childhood, from what she wrote, I thought she was looked upon like an entirely different species. At the party, people would look at her up and down even when she was just a child. I did like the part when she was a stenographer and stood up for herself when everyone was putting the Chinese down. I can see why she writes the stories the way she does. A lot of them have to do with what she went through in life. Sometimes I think she repeats herself.

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The Statue O' Steven s0n

A statue in San Francisco of Robert Louis Stevenson was referenced in the first shorty story we read. There was some confusion amongst the class as to why it was there. Stevenson spent much time in the Pacific Islands for health reasons, visiting San Francisco for a stay as well (He traveled widely). Stevenson was greatly inquisitive about other cultures, and was personal friends with many people of varying lineage, including King David Kalakaula of Hawaii. Thus the line "Robert Louis Stevenson would have thought about it," as the white journalist did not, as to why his article upset the Chinese community. Cause Robert Louis Stevenson was a man who was so smarts and borad minded, whereas the journalist was a narrow minded fool, that's what the autoher is getting at, kind of.

-I am the Goose!

Chinese in America

What did everyone think about the Chinese in America stories. Some stories seemed to be about how comeing to america benifeted the Chinese who came over such as Scholor or Cook? in part I or The Story of Forty-niner in part III. Others seemed to be about how they adapted when they came over and how some of thir belifes changed, such as in The New and the Old from part II and Like the American from part III. That one was my fav it was so sweet. Many of the stories had elements about how some of them liked how things were done in america. But other's had pices of how hard the change was and how thye were not always treeted well. I think the dynamics of the stories and the many diffrent subject they covered really highlighted just how everybody's experiance was diffrent and how even if they all came from the sameplace and to the same place their reasons and how thing eventualy ended for them are all diffrent. That pretty much sums up the immigrent expirance for any immigrent group that has ever come to america during any age.

Where is Su Sin Far Going with this book?

Here are a couple of questions for this new post: WHERE IS SUI SIN FAR going with this book? And if she is going somewhere what are her audience supposed to do with all her bias, and unreliable stories? I have been saying this from day one, how could someone who has not experienced the chinese traditions and cultures, in other words how could Sui Sin Far who has only experienced half of what she really is be reliable and trustworthy. She has never been to china and experienced what real imigration to America from a REAL third world country (Britian and Canada do not count) REALLY feels like. How could some one who only knows what being a mixture is like (she is both half chinese and white), really be the one who is reliable with accurate decriptions of what really went on back then. I mean come on, half of what she writes is tended to protect only her Chinese background and her chinese people. Has she waked up and had some coffee, or should someone tell her that she is half white and american too. What really made me angry in one of her stories, The Story of Wah on page 235 is that she ended with the Chinese man saying no to doing an illegal business of selling opium, she writes "But Wah refused to have anything to do with business...I wish for my countrymen to rise, not to fall" (Far, 236). The real truth that she is trying to convey to her readers is that ALL Chinese people always say no to bad things and that they are all good people. I guess i was born yesterday and realized that when i say no to drugs, or any other white, black or american person says no to drugs they are not as pure and moral as the Chinese people she is trying to support, i guess we are all like Mark Carson who hurts, mocks, misleads, and betrays the Chinese people . But wait Sui Sin Far, you forgot something your parents weren't both Chinese. Yes i know it might not feel right, and your skin might not show it, but you are white too...sorry baby, blame your parents not the rest of the world for your ordeal. However this is not the point i am trying to make, because you are half white and half chinese does that mean you are rightfully and allowed to be singled out from this purism and moralism of the Chinese people you speak of, just like you singled out the "one friend who was both Chinese and american" from the story, A Love Story from the Rice Fields of China on page 266. Sui Sin Far i am sorry but this is not a carnival, we have different races breeding all the time, and if you didn't know - YOU ARE ONE OF THEM. Sui Sin Far needs to get to her point, most of her readers are lost with copied work of previous written books and short stories by great men and women from the past. I admire Sui Sin Far's admiration to help her Chinese people during the rough and the bad times they faced when coming to America, but when one forgets about there true identity of what they truely are, one tends to lose touch with the real meaning of the cause they are trying to support. Yes Sui Sin Far's stories are delightfull but she tends to forget that she is an American and white too, and when she loses touch with this side, she loses touch with the American white public. There was a reason why she was given a chance to be both white and chinese, somebody gave her the power and reason to state that we are all the same people, race, and color- this is because if we weren't there would be restrictions on the chromosomes for interbreeding. With this book she lacks the effort for both white, chinese, and mixture to unite as one.

Realiable

Sui Sin Far, is a reliable sourse Being raised both my Chinese and American parents, though even though being born in England she had experienced biases from both races. Sui Sin far heart felt stories is express during a time Asian American was not fully understood "Having a chinese mother and an English father gave Sui Sin Far insights into both side of the struggle" (p2) . Recieving imformation from both parents has mould her understanding of her history and allow her to express it to others that did not understand the Chinese experiese.

Trinh T. Minh-ha " Insider- Outsider"

In the article we were asigned " Not You/Like You" the author makes a clear connection with the concept we discussed in class of insider- outsider. She says that " The moment the insider steps out from the inside she's no longer a mere insider. She necesarily looks in from the outside while also looking in from the inside". This one quote seems to sum up all of our readings on the topic into one sole concept, especially Pans story. In class we went on back and forth about what a secret was and who was in insider and who was an outsider. With this distinction made in the article, once Pan began the friendship with Carson, was she still an insider?

To me she was not, because she stepped out of the Chinese culture. She didnt essentially set aside her culture but loved out side of the culture she was taught. Pan indeed looked in from the outside, sharing all of China Towns secrets with the outsider. She looked in from inside becuase she knew all of her cultures stories even though she was Chinese American.

Not Like you/Like You

The writer is clearing speaking out about racism and discrimination which does not only against the chinese but against other national. In this article the writer is clearing disgust with the way Blacks, Indians and Asian are discriminated against. In her arguement she clearly speaks about the need for identity and how much many struggle with find an identity, because of a dominant culture or sex.

not/You/ Like You

Trinh T Minh-ha artical talks about inside/outside and point out that to be inside that you are 100% from your country. To be outside you are American and part your culture. his point of view seem to be a matter of acceptance and assimilation into another society specially westernization. Thinh T Minh- ha raises the question of identity and losing it. You my be from your country born there then you enter the west you run the risk of losing your identity by assimilation. The Core of you is and will all way be there. eg. If you from china you are Chinese and learnt the ways of the china, but if you adopt the Western way you lose some of your identity. The core of one self is who you are. Sui Sin Far is a reliable source because she experience both the Chinese ans Western side and has been expose to bias from both side. As she write to china American, that my experienced what she had went though in China commutictating about this issue is not open but in the West you can talk about in more. Sui Sin far she not bitter or anger but like other to know about the struggle within.

Reliable authority

What is the difference between Mark writing an article about China town, and what Sui Sin Far is doing (IGNORE the seduction of Pan)? Does the mere fact Sui Sin Far is half Chinese allow her to be a reliable authority, while Mark's whiteness makes him a thief of culture and tradition?


For Mark, wring an aticle about China town was not as personal as it was for Pan. He was looking for a story, an article that was needed for his career. To him, the article was part of his job. In Pan's view, it was personal. She showed him what had made her into the person she was now. The way Pan showed him China town was through very innocent eyes. Sui Sin Far portrayed Pan through innocence. Sui Sin Far made it seem that the Chinese were innocent and that the Americans were always the perpetrators. I do not think that because Sui Sin Far is half Chinese that she is a reliable source. She cannot speak for what every person has went through. Mark's whiteness does not make him a thief of culture and tradition. It seems as if he were very curious, and had no intentions of harming Pan.

Identity and Difference

I agree that identity requires elimination of otherness from ourselves. A person's identity is known when they accept themselves for everything they know, attain, and accomplish but, also accepts their shortcomings, mistakes, and personal life choices/issues. It's a point when other people's opinions are heard, but they're "taken with a grain of salt." Taking a person of out their normal element can strengthen or weaken their core depending on how they adapt.

I also agree that identity can never be fixed because people never stop attaining knowledge or making mistakes, so identity matures as people mature.

Question for the weekend...

and I meant to ask this in class.

It seemed we agree that Sui Sin Far is a reliable author to give us insight into the lives and traditions of Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans. She is both an INSIDER and an OUTSIDER in that she is both white and Chinese, and can PASS between the barriers of race and class when she writes.

However, in, "Its Wavering Image", the class seemed to be upset with the character, Mark Carson, who "used" Pan to get his story about lives in China town.

What is the difference between Mark writing an article about China town, and what Sui Sin Far is doing (IGNORE the seduction of Pan)? Does the mere fact Sui Sin Far is half Chinese allow her to be a reliable authority, while Mark's whiteness makes him a thief of culture and tradition?

Half-Chinese Children

I think that Sui Sin Far is writing this to a mainly white American audience. The things she says are so stereotypical that I did not think it was a real article. Being Asian-Canadian I would not think she would say these things about her own people. For instance, on page 188 she writes "They are by nature proud and reserved (some say sullen and hardened). They are quick to understand and appreciate book-lore and the little girls are particularly clever with their needles and can be easily taught the most difficult patterns in embroidery". This statement is equivalent to saying all Asian children are straight A students and are good in math. It's not true and why would she generalize about her own culture. I can kind of understand her generalizing about other cultures because she is not aware of who they might be individually, like the way some people only now Americans by what they see on TV. After I heard the discussions in class about different topics, maybe she wrote this to provoke thought on how Asian-Americans are being viewed by the public, the same way a satire is funny about serious situations. What do you think, did she mean the things she said to be true or was she trying to make a statement?

CHEAP copies of "Bone" by Fae Ng

The books have begun arriving at the book store! However, they are not coming in all at one time.

Here is a link for really cheap copies of "Bone":

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/006097592X/ref=dp_olp_2

See you tonight.

Sui Sin Far/Edith Eaton as Insider and Outsider

Is Sui Sin Far a reliable source for insight into Asian-American culture in her stories and articles? What challenges does she face when she writes about Chinese, Chinese-American and American relationships?

Not You/ Like you

In this article it talks about knowing one identity and where you came from, which is a very important issue if you coming from another country. the issue of assimilation and acceptance. one must look at the reason why people abandon their culture to be accepted by others. Some do it for protection and some do it to get ahead. However to run the risk of forgetting who you really are is very dangerous for one and Their children and family. If you have a mental illness male or female. Yes you must look into you inner sole and accept who you are to deny yourself of that is to lie to one self. Some situation you must if it life threatening for you, but do not deny you inner self.

In tie co she fall in love with fabian in her own way and it was nit money she had that but it was more what Fabian repersented one that knew what he had whated

Pau Tsu

Pau Tsu came over from China, where she lived the life of a porcelain doll. She sipped tea and conversed lightly with female companions. For liesure, she played the lute and wherever she went about there was nothing that was unpleasant. After coming to America, Lin Fo shattered her glass world. I believe it was to the point where after what had happened with the doctor, she would never be the same sweet girl again. I think Pau Tsu had a personality change when she told Lin Fo to come in with out Adah. She gave Lin Fo a command and seemed like she wanted to take the relationship into her own hands. When I read this story, I thought of how women were raised in China. Foot binding was a common practice beginning in the Shang Dynasty. Foot binding was for beauty but also it limited the way women participated in society. Since women were physically unable to move around much they could not influence or socialize. They were confined to the house and were merely looked upon as objects. I found Pau Tsu's character to come from this custom, where she is used to living a very life that is not so serious but revolving more around beauty.

Story of One White Woman Who Married a Chinese

In today’s class, a quote from page 81 was mentioned. “But in spite of all I could do or say, it was there between us: that strong, invisible what? Was it the barrier of race that consciousness?” I think that this shows how even though she was happy with Liu and he treated her very well, a part of her must have been always thinking about how both of them are different and are separated by their different cultures and races. This must have been a major conflict especially back in those times. Marriages between two different cultures weren’t common so I think that it can be seen as an internal conflict that she dealt with throughout the story. It can also be seen in the first part of the story on pg. 77 when she looks at her son and wonders if she had done the right thing.

The Americanizing of Pau Tsu

Through the discussions we had in class, i would like to expand on one such question that i raised. Does Pau honestly love Wan Lin Fo? And truely does she want to change? I would say that I do not think Pau loves Wan Lin Fo as a true wife. The only relationship that they have is husband and wife title. If Pau truely cared about Lin, she would change herself, even if she did not like it. She took that oath to support her husband, but when Lin asks her for one thing (Americanize yourself) she slacks off and never accomplishes it for him. There is no acuse that she has, her husband gave her all the help and support, she should be abligated to americanize herself in the least amount of time (no matter how much it hurts). Marriage is a bigger step than asking someone to change their ways. She should have known that coming to America was not going to be the same as living in China. Pau needs to get this Chinese mentality out of her head, this is America- women are expected to be social, wear nice things, see doctors who are men, and speak English. Throughout the short story, we see that she tries to change, but truely all I see a lack of effort. She never believed in the saying, "Do as the Romans do." For example, she tells Lin whats the use in learning english, when she is going to stay at home anyways. Her husband is putting in so much effort, and they only thing that she ever gives back to him for all his support and hardwork is a beautiful divorce letter which she does not even deliver herself. Why is it when she could not handle the stress of becoming an American anymore, she can finally start acting American and asks for an American divorce? Thats weird she would not put on the nice dress without an arguement, but somehow divorce is moral on her list. Did she have it in her to change, or was she just lazy? We all look at Lin and say you were being to harsh on your wife, but honestly what did he do wrong, all he wanted was for her to have both of best worlds, it was his wife that wanted to stay a chinese women forever.

The Story of One White Woman Who Married a Chinese

I loved this story. It was like a little TNT drama and Lifetime mixed. It had its happy moments, its sad moments, and its intense drama when she was about to commit suicide (I think??). But the thing that really pissed me off was that her first husband James was two faced. First he is a believer of women's rights but he mistreats his wife by not appreciating anything she does for him and then tries to hit on his association co-worker. What's up with that???  I think James in the end deserved being alone for mistreating his wife. You go girl, you can do better than James. Which I think she did, when she married Liu Kanghi. Liu was the perfect man for her- he supported her and made her feel like a women.

"The country that heaven loves"

Throughout "The Chinese Lily" the phrase "the country that heaven loves" is used quite often. Immediately the topic of death came to mind upon seeing this phrase in the story. At the beginning Lin John and Mermei loose their parents and uncle. Also Sin Far is killed at the end when Lin John is unable to rescue her from the fire. One way the topic of death can be interpreted in the story is that it can bring loved ones closer together. Obviously after the death of their parents and uncle Lin John and Mermei were left to fend for themselves. Mermei being a cripple is so attached to her brother than when he doesn't visit her one night she begins to cry.

Also when Sin Far dies in the fire Lin John says to Mermei " Sin Far is happy. And I - I did my duty with her approval, aye, at her bidding. How then, little sister, can I be sad?" This statement along with him describing heaven as "the land of happy spirits" seems to imply that the author is taking a positive view on death.

In the Land of the Free

In " In the Land of the Free," Hom Hing is an established merchant in America. He was not present when his son was born. " I am a Chinese merchant and have been in business in San Francisco for many years. When my wife told me to one morning that she dreamed of a green tree with spreading branches and one beautiful red flower grwing thereon, I answered her tha tI wished my son to be born in our country, and for her to prepare to go to China." The amount of time Hom Hing was not with his wife and son would have meant that he did not have a relationship with the child just yet. And also his parents fell sick which meant that the amount of time lengthened. By the time the child arrived in America, a significant amount of time had passed. Lae Choo, the mother, had been always with the child since the day he was born. She bore the child and would naturally have a stronger bond with the child. Hom Hing would not.

Tie Co, Land of Free, Sin Far

Using evidence from the text, defend or deny the idea that Tie Co was in love with Fabian.In, "In the Land of Free", why are Hom Hing and Lae Choo's reactions to the taking and eventual "ransoming" of their son different?Why does Lin John mean when he tells his sister, Mermei, that Sin Far is "happy" on page 104?You may address one of these ideas we touched on in class, or choose to write about a different or new idea.Hope everyone is on board.

In my interpretation of " The Smuggling of Tie Co," I believe that the author wanted the reader to realize that Tie Co was in love with Fabian. The author uses words to describe Tie Co such as delicate and nice-looking. "Well, Fabian was sitting in the laundry of Chen Tin Lung & Co., telling a nice-looking young Chinaman that he was so broke that he'd be willing to take over even one man at a time." He left the laundry, nodding goodbye to Tie Co as he passed outside the window, and the Chinaman nodded back, a faint smile on his small, delicate face lingering until Fabian's receding form was lost to view." Words such as delicate are rarely used to describe men in literature. The smile was also lingering on Tie Co's face following Fabian until he was out of sight.

Tie Co's Feelings Toward Fabian.

Upon finishing this story it was clear to me that Tie Co was IN LOVE with Fabian, not just someone wanting to help a friend. Others felt that she was traveling to New York because of the self-sacrificing quality embedded in the Asian culture, that she was giving up her comfortable life in Canada so that Fabian could make money... but I can't bring myself to believe that this was her COMPLETE reason for doing this. This story is set in a time when North America was receiving many Asian immigrants who, once settled, lived extremely humbled lives. They worked for very low wages, so Tie Co being the owner of a laundromat was rare and quite a big deal. I can't fathom Tie Co giving up her stability and planning to start over fresh in New York for someone she just considered a friend. Furthermore, she bluntly tells Fabian that her reason for her trip is because she loves him and wants to help him. While I'm not exactly sure how much $50 was worth during these times, something tells me it wasn't the equivalent of what Tie Co was giving up.

If Fabian was just a friend to Tie Co, she would've found a way to GIVE the money to him instead of risking both their lives. A part of me also feels that Tie Co might have been hoping Fabian would want to be with her after finding out she was a woman and giving up so much for him. Moreover, she killed herself to lessen Fabian's chances of going to jail again! She could've just parted ways with him instead of jumping off the bridge. Love makes people go to great lengths and do the strangest things sometimes, and I feel that Tie Co's plan to help Fabian is a perfect example.

From numlock377...

In a trouble land of the free

I like to first express the struggle of the Asian people as it come to light my Sui Sin Far.

Sui-Sin Far a Chinese student who had graduated from Yale in 1887. Sui-Sin Far was born in Marcclesfied England a silk center in 1865.After a series of far china force to open it doors to merchant and missionaries from the West, furthering European and North American to colonize China recourses, including its people. This gave Sui Sin Far to see both side of the struggle having a Chinese mother and an English father. (p.3). The injustice on both side the silent and sometime open prejudice of one culture compel Sui Sin Far to write short stories and inform others of this plight torn in between to culture and country. One of her stories "In a trouble land of the free" she explains of a Marry couple traveling from one land to a free land, almost giving up hope to gain custody of their child. They had paper for themselves but decided to t travel to China to have a child born there little did known to them the grief they had cause them self. Now they did not have paper for the child when the return to the free land and had to get a lawyer, which no money was available between them and having to give up their personal jewelry for payment.

The story show how going from one county to another with their child, however they had to own to the part they play in it knowing the child needed paper and freedom is not free in any land.

The Chinese Lily

In this short story was filled with caring, love for other. Sin far who name meant pure love or Chinese lily and how her name fitted her. Being in a strange land with both parents and uncle had pass away Sin far found the time to me concern about other in this case her cripple neighbor.(" what beneficicent sprit move to my door"p103 Sin far had wanted to visit and be friend with her neighbor but was waiting for the right moment. That moment was when her neighbor brother was not home. The love for other was even deeper when Mermei believed that her bother did not care about here because of her condition. When the bother paid little attention to here, but Sin far was lonely also when throw she could walk and had a beautiful sprit she had another loneliness being in a strange county, it is safe to say that loneness lies within one self and a condition of the heart. This stories defect two lonely people one with a phicical handicap and the other with an absent of her country, which she miss so much. In the twist of the story the brother evaluate his true love for his sister by saving her from the fire, also Sin un selfishness dies so the handicap friend and the brother wound be more closer to each others. The separation of one from country or self can be equal to each other.

Take a person out of their country and isolate them, treat them less then is a violation of someone that what to be free. Isolate someone from others is a violation of someone that also what to be free from loneness. Surely, taking someone from their country or going to a country for a new life, hope and freedom do no come without a price. Some question must be ask and considered, Will I be accepted by other? Will I adjust to the new environment? What are the law and View to my culture? On February 9, 1942 In an atmosphere of World War II Hysteria, President Roosevelt, encouraged by official at all level of the federal government, authorized the interment of ten of thousands of American citizen of Japanese ancestry and resident of aliens from Japan. Ban any citizen Fifty –to sixty –mile coastal area stretching from Washington state to California and extending inland into southern Arizona. (Executive Order 9066). So the bias was real then and is real now.

The Smuggling of Tie Co

This story discusses a cleaver gentlemen that made are living by smuggling people out of china. In is in my option that Tie Co is a female that developed a great deal of feeling for Jack Fabian the smuggler.

Fabian's Character

An obvious merchant, who thinks of himself first before considering anything or anyone else does show some sense of moral in this story. When found out Tie Co came with him for his sake, he feels responsible and liable for Tie Co. I wonder if Fabian had no principle how would he have acted when found out Tie Co's agenda. At the end of the story, Fabian wonders why one would sacrifice one's life for someone close to a stranger. For someone who is an individualist himself doesn't grasp the thought behind it. Would he ever understand it?

The Smuggling of Tie Co

I think that Tie Co believes she is in love with Fabian. But from the outside looking in as an audience, I think she is in love with the idea of him. The fact that she gives up everything for him is evidence enough that she had some feelings for him other than that of friendship, which was brought up in class. If it were just friendship she could have just given him 50 dollars. Tie Co goes through pretty drastic measures for Fabian, I do not think that this could be put on any type collectivist mentality or sacrificing oneself for a friend. I do think that it was self sacrifice for love. More evidence that Tie Co was in love with him is the fact that she tells him that she likes him on page 107. In the story the language that the author uses is all positive (i.e. strong, well built, fine features). Fabian seems like a hero to the Chinese community in Canada from the way the narrator tells the story. One might consider that the person telling the story is Tie Co because of how admiring the narrator is of him.

The Chinese Lily

Why does Lin John mean when he tells his sister, Mermei, that Sin Far is "happy" on page 104?

I think Lin John, is referring to the fact that Sin Far in heaven, which is a happy place, where you go when you died. Because Sin Far gave her life to save Mermei, she was rewarded with going to heaven. This is what I think Lin John meant when he said that Sin Far is happy.

In, "In the Land of Free", why are Hom Hing and Lae Choo's reactions to the taking and eventual "ransoming" of their son different?

Hom Hing and Lae Choo's reaction to the taking and eventual ransoming of their son was different, because Hom had already had some experience and knowledge of America and the legal system. But his wife knew nothing about how the legal system worked. I also think that Lae reaction different because the emotional attachment between a mother and her child is stronger then that of a father and son. I also believe that a woman and a man handle stress and emotions quiet differently. The father obviously was away from his wife and child for some time and was just about to get the opportunity to get closer to them. So I think that he had experience being away from them, which helped him to cope with the situation different, unlike his wife, who had never been separated from her son for any time, since his birth. So she had a strong bond with her son, which made it more difficult for her to now be separated from her son.

In the Land of the Free

This story shows just how much immigrants go through, to gave resident in the United States. It that the hardship that people go through when they don't have money to pay their way through the legal system. It also teaches us the sad true of what happen when a child is separated from their real parents for a long time. The child in this story went through an emotional trauma, during the time he was taken away from his parent. His mother also went through an emotional trauma. The story tells alot about the relatioship of a mother and her child, as oppose to a father son relationship. Immigrants, I am sure go through similar ordeal, when they are not legal in this country. Families are separated from each other, and sometimes for long period of time, trying to comply with the legal system. Money obviously plays a vital part in how long the process takes for an immigrant to get his or her and their families their permanent resident in the United States.

Its Wavering Image

The story Its Weaving Image, uncovers the reality of racism and identity issues. It also shows the emotional and mental struggles that a person born with mixed race go through in trying to gain an identity. The story sends the message that you have to be careful who you get emotionally attach to, because there are deceivers every where.
I also learned from this story that someone can look fine on the outside but be carrying around emotionally issues, as in the case of Pan.

Questions raised in class...

Using evidence from the text, defend or deny the idea that Tie Co was in love with Fabian.

In, "In the Land of Free", why are Hom Hing and Lae Choo's reactions to the taking and eventual "ransoming" of their son different?

Why does Lin John mean when he tells his sister, Mermei, that Sin Far is "happy" on page 104?

You may address one of these ideas we touched on in class, or choose to write about a different or new idea.

Hope everyone is on board.

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