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Source UMW. Download Title

Source UMW. Download Title

I think that it is really interesting how Kim refers to comfort women as “comfort corps” in the poem Resistance.  After learning about comfort women from Lauren and Ellie’s presentation, I think that Kim’s word usage is the very appropriate given the treatment these women went though, and how many of them died from it.

I found some very moving pictures of comfort women and I’m going to share them with you all:

I also found a very interesting play about comfort women:

 You can find information about it at http://www.urbanstages.org/mainstage_files/comfort%20women/Comfort%20Women.htm

And, here are some books you can find about comfort women:

    (sorry these are so small)

There are even comfort women post cards:  (sorry, once again I could get it any bigger)

When we were reading “Flight,” one thing that really interested me was our conversation about how when you take the two pillars by them self it says “of skull mute.” This poem really seems to talk a lot about the things that have led the people to silence, and how that has influenced them. In times of traumatic events this seems to be a reoccurring habit, those who were part of it become very silent and are unwilling to talk about it. The people seems to feel that if they don’t talk about it then it never happened, and it will not impact them or their children. The downside is that they internalize everything and, as Arn Chorn-Pond talked about, internalizing thing does not make it go away and also is harmful on your body.

In Obasan, they didn’t want to affect the children with the knowledge of what was going on, or dwell upon it, in hope that it would not affect the next generation, but it did affect the next generation. It affected them even more then it would have if it had been talked about because the questions it left the children lingered with them until they were adults.

Silence to me is the plague that the Asian American culture must conquer. They must stand up for them selves and not allow any one to walk on them any more.

Hey everyone,

When Arn Chorn-Pond came to UMW, I was able to attend his speech.  When I was reading book II of Kim’s poem, I could really relate to the description on bone breaking on the horror that her poems spoke of.  Arn Chorn-Pond spoke about when he was capture by soldiers and forced to help carry away the dead bodies.  He told us how he still remembers the sound of breaking bones, and can still see his friend falling and dying all around him.  In book II, when it talks about the sound of breaking bones and the hammers they used, I thought about Arn Chorn-Pond, which made these poems affect me more.  I was able to better relate and associate to these poems because I could personalize with them.  Arn Chorn-Pond made the challenge that people go out and make a change, do not forget what is going on around the world and hide away from it in the malls.  I had this statement in mind when I read Kim’s last line of Book II, “may you never remember, & may you never  forget,” and I found it very interesting when compared to Arn Chorn-Pond (37).

Hi everyone!! I hope you all are having a great break, and that you all have a great Thanksgiving! I wanted to post of couple thoughts I had on “The Middleman and Other Stories” more specifically the stories “Danny’s Girls” and “Jasmine.”

First I will talk about “Danny’s Girls.” I never thought that some people could think of others life so little. I know that in the world human trafficking does exist, but I thought it was really interesting that in “Danny’s Girls” it took the character we have named “Eunuch boy” so long to realize that what Danny was participating in this and that it was wrong. I understand that part of the reason it took him so long to realize this was because he looked up to him, and it really does show how young and naïve he is, but I am shock that his Aunt would play such a role in this whole process.

When examining the concept of “Mail order brides” in “Danny’s Girls” I began to see how these girls had such a feeling of unworthiness that they allowed this horrible guy to bring them to marry men who would treat them as if they were slaves and baby makers! I kind of like Rosie for the simple fact that she doesn’t allow herself to fall subject to this evil use of women, but says that she will try hard to get her green card without having to marry. Even Rosie sells herself though! She may not want to marry anyone to get her green card, but she comes across as nothing more than a prostitute, so is she really better then the other girls? It’s so sad. The women characters in “Danny’s Girls” are selling their bodies for acceptance and security that they are going to be able to live in the US always. These girls feel such a lack of self worth that they are willing to give themselves to strange men.

Now for “Jasmine,” I thought it was very interesting how Jasmine seemed to have a lack self worth. I don’t feel that Jasmine was a very confident woman, and that she didn’t see her true potential. I think that this is why she allows herself to fall into the arms of a married man, who seems only to want her because she is “exotic” and brings him some sense of fulfillment as a man. She is the adventure he wishes to take, but why does she let herself become this? I think that he gives her a sense of worth, but why? Why does this make her believe she is living the American dream?? I feel like her lack of self worth caused her to sell herself. Even though she is not a prostitute, I feel like she is treated as one by Bill. He does not have any real interest in her, but sees her as someone that makes him feel desired and wanted. He uses her to fill that sexual need he has when his wife is away…she helps make the loneliness he feels go away…but I feel if the story had gone longer the wife would have found out and boom reality would have sunk in for the both of them.

So, I just thought I would share these thoughts with you all. See you all when school starts again, but until then I hope you all are having a great break and have a great Thanksgiving!!

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I found some really neat picture of Joy Kogawa:

  Younger Joy     Joy in Vancouver talking about Obasan

 This is Joy infront of her childhood house

   Different Covers For Obasan

Also, I thought it was interesting how the Sequel to this book is sunny; whereas, Obasan is rainy.

Here is one alternative cover for the sequel, which shows a little more of how sunny this cover is:

So far I really like this book.  Joy Kogawa is so descriptive about her family.  I love how she will be talk about something, such as how her families were so tighly knitted together that is was like the stickiness of mochi, and then she will veer from that to tell us a story that involves mochi and her Aunt’s teeth.  It made me laugh.  When looking for picture of Joy Kogawa I found that she has written a sequel to Obasan.  So I thought I would post it for you.  I thought it was interesting how Obasan has a picture of a child looking out a window, and Itsuka has the picture of a woman looking out of the window.  It makes me wonder how this book will end, and where that one will begin!

 Obasan

   Sequel to Obasan Itsuka

After talking about Joey in class on Friday, I really feel that one reason Joey and Daisy were the perfect couple in the end is because Joey truly found someone who would love him.  Joey had t0 live in fear.  He had to live in fear that his uncle might one day kill him, and even when he was selling himself he was searching for love. Now he has met someone who does love him, truly love him.  Not a love that needs sex, but a love that is deeper and unconditional.

I was so happy that Joey finally found happiness!!