Category Archives: scissors

January 21, 2014 Notes

-Music by MONKEY MAJIK “Aishiteru”
+Band members all from Canada (?), but only play in Japan
-$17 dollars for carryout food ($2 for tips)
+Do not order Chinese food in Olympia
-Posts don’t have to be summaries, but could focus on one thing in the topic
-Improve posts from now on
-Popular culture is always a battleground, where certain forces always meet for conflict
-Strangers From A Different Shore is a controversial book
+Author, Ronald Takaki, accused of plagiarism
-Asian immigrants pushed or pulled to America
-American empire presence in the Philippines
-Read up to page 50 on Orientals

Strangers from a Different Shore – Chapters 10-13

Chapter 10 – The Watershed of World War II

Coming from a class that focused primarily on the Japanese American experience of WW2, it was pretty refreshing to hear about the experiences of other Asian Americans through the horrid events of the war. Of course, there were common themes that these Asian American communities experienced – unfair work conditions, blatant racism, less pay, etc. – but it was enlightening to read about some other perspectives as each group really went through their own struggle. I didn’t really know too much about the Korean experience, but learning that they were pretty ecstatic about the Pearl Harbor bombing and how it brought the United States into the war was kind of an eye opener because it’s a point of view you didn’t see too often. I also have to comment on the bravery showed by S.Chandrasekhar who, as quoted on pg. 368, compared America’s current dealings with Asian Americans with that of the Nazis – our enemy. Instead, he uses the Nazi ideology as the primary reason why they must combat the then-current immigration policy. Comparing America to that of our enemy, especially during war time, seems like such a major deal but  people are just too interested in the facade or image that America is supposed to represent, which in this case is Lady Liberty with her thumbs in her ears.

Chapter 11 – “Strangers” at the Gates Again

Moving on to the second wave, which ties closely with the Civil Rights Movement, shows more active and responsive Asian Americans. We also saw an influx of people immigrating to America post 1965, all in search for something more. In the case of the Vietnamese and Cambodians, the relocation to North America wasn’t something desired, but when left with no choice the path forward was clear – and even then, if you didn’t die from starvation or a bullet, the journey to America was torturous indeed. Reading about the Pirates who boarded these ships to rape and pillage is horrible. The way the women described it, there is a definite darkness that lies beneath here – an ugliness of mankind that needs to be fought against. I could hardly imagine what the journey and conditions were really like.

Chapter 12 – Breaking Silences

The Asian Americans are now starting to emerge more into the light, and as we reach the 1980s, we see a completely different point of view. Asian Americans became the “model minority”, a group of people put on a pedestal because of their academic achievements. All of sudden, it seemed like everyone was now acknowledging the mistakes of the past and thus the media began to paint a much better picture of Asian Americans. This reinforced a stereotype about Asian American students, and it’s something we still see to this day. The racism and hatred still burns unfortunately and reading about those horrible murders – largely due to “mistaken” ethnicity – shows an ignorance that we saw time and time again throughout our history. I hope that these racist views continue to decay further and further as generations progress.

Chapter 13 – One-Tenth of the Nation

As Asian American populations began to settle, acceptance of the cultures appears to have become more seeded in American culture. Racism persists, and through the L.A. Riots we saw a new level of vitriol when many Korean businesses were burnt to the ground. This exposed so much about the tensions between African Americans and Korean Americans, something which I had heard about but didn’t really know too much about. Both communities have had their fair share of suffering here on the soils of America, which brings me to a quote on pg 465 (chapter 11 again) in which a Hmong refugee stated “Only when I came to the country of America I had to beg”. For a long time, America was painted as a place of opportunity and equality, but time and time again has proven that as great a country the United States can be, there is still so much more to go when it comes to race and prejudice.

 

Class notes 1/17

  • For triggering words on post, always use context. Or use trigger warnings.
  • Sentences fragments are fine. Good for rhythm and flow.
  • Tudou- Chinese definition: Potato. But also, a huge video sharing sight. Find the Asian or Asian/American connections. Posted in “Scissors” by Sunday Night.
    • 1986 Challenger explosion
    • Paull [sic] Shin
    • World War II Stragglers
    • HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother)
  • Also comment on three classmates blogs’, any category (By Sunday)
  • Finish “Do it Right or Not at All”
  • One post in “Paper” about Takaki. Chap 10-13 by Monday
  • Stuart Hall- Against the dying of people in the streets (AIDs reference), what in God’s name is the purpose of cultural studies?
    • What’s the point of what’s taught in the classroom compared to the outside world?
  • Pop Luck Dinner?
  • Kamikaze (Divine Wind, God Wind)

Seminar Notes

  • What brought Koreans to the US?
    • If I remember correctly, it was for the same thing as the other groups. Equal opportunity? Or to escape war with the Japanese? Only South Koreans though, or at least that’s the only ones who come over now.
    • Difficulties faced: Racism, restricted by land laws, minorities of the minority.
    • Weren’t afraid to be westernized
    • Feelings harbored against Nikkei during WWII: They were happy, thinking that the Japanese needed to be punished. But didn’t want to be mistaken as Japanese. They hated Japanese Americans.
    • Too dangerous for them to return to Korea because Japan annexed? Korea?
    • Assimilation-
  • You can be white but not Caucasian. Or you can be Caucasian but not white. Fair skinned but not equal.
  • Arian: what is this?
  • A dollar a day, a dime a dance. Dance tickets = 10 cents. To dance with white women at dance halls. The Pilipino escape.

Chapter 10 Takaki

What the hell is this? I had no idea that the Japanese constructed an attack on the Philippines like just 10 hours after Pearl Harbor. I had no idea about this history let alone that America sided with the Philippines and resisted on the Bataan Peninsula. After them taking beatings, torture and we both fought for something. Americans for what we love and the Filipinos with their love of Liberty. The fact that the first lady of Roosevelt highlighted this brotherhood that happened on the battlefield. What she said was, “Fighting in Bataan has been an excellent example of what happens when two different races respect each other. Men of different races and backgrounds have fought side by side and praised each other’s heroism and courage.” Also a poem stating, “Bataan has fallen. With heads of bloody but unbowed, we yielded to the enemy… We have stood up uncomplaining, Besieged on land and blockaded by sea, We have done all that human endurance could bear… Our defeat is our victory.” This was touching and brave of us. Two races coming together for a better cause that I had no idea about and expanding my knowledge of history. Different things that happen in war that details that I wasn’t aware of. Thanks Takaki for shining light on those events.

The World War II Straggler

When Imperial Japan formally surrendered to the United States, many accepted the news and returned home. For some though, the news sounded like a ploy to demoralize Japanese forces. Hiroo Onoda did not leave his position after U.S. forces landed near his position in Lubang on February 1945. For almost 30 years, Onoda remained in his position maintaining his role as an intelligence officer. Onoda had an “indomitable spirit” that pleas from his family and leaflets dropped to him urging him to surrender did not move him. It was not until a young traveler named Norio Suzuki, who was seeking Onoda, spoke to him that Onoda decided that it was finally enough. On March 1974, Onoda came out of hiding and formally surrendered after his superior returned to reverse his orders. When he returned to Japan, he was praised as a hero. He died at the age of 91 on January 17, 2014.

A soldier of such unbreakable will likely live down in history.

How I Met Your Mother Stirrup

I only heard things about the show, such as what actors are playing in it or how funny this or that episode was, but never took a chance to watch it myself because I’m not a large fan of live-action series. The issue of the show’s episode “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra” had the actors portray Asians via Fu Manchu mustaches and stereotypical Chinese clothing, along with accents that are deemed Asian. Sure the executives of the show apologized on Twitter, but I think the damage has already been done and this shows they did not think of everyone who would be in their viewing audience. Looks like Asians in media are still portrayed by old stereotypes since it’s so much easier for them to portray that rather than a normal Asian or Asian American today. Maybe we could be overreacting about this whole thing since it was all done for comedy, but did it not occur that maybe they could have hired Asian extras for the roles? Then again, how the executives tell them to act could still make it stereotypical.

Oh media.

The Man Known as Paull Shin

Paull Shin, a Korean American senator of Washington state, resigned on January 7, 2014 due to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, which causes problems with memory and thinking. Born in Korea, Shin lived out on the streets until an American soldier adopted him and took him stateside. He earned a GED, Ph. D, taught students for 31 years, and swore into office on 1999. Shin also served as a Washington State Representative. According to Senate Minority Leader Sharon Nelson, Shin would not be an easy person to replace since he was an “incredible, honorable leader.” A replacement for Shin will be announced on January 21 by the Snohomish County Council.

It’s  a secret to everybody.

Challenger’s Ellison S. Onizuka

Born on June 24, 1946 in Hawaii, Ellison S. Onizuka was the first Asian American to travel to space. Before his career in NASA, Onizuka served in the United States Air Force in 1970. He was chosen to be an astronaut candidate on January 1978 for NASA. Before joining the Challenger crew, Onizuka served aboard the Discovery, which completed 48 orbits around the Earth and logged him 74 hours, or about 3 days, in space. Onizuka, along with the rest of the Challenger‘s crew, died on January 18, 1986 after a minute and thirteen seconds into Challenger‘s liftoff. After his death, he was awarded with the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

Proof is in the pudding.

Asian American Connections

The 1986 Challenger explosion:

On January 28, 1986 the space shuttle Challenger exploded 1 min and 13 secs after it’s launch.  One of the members on board of the space shuttle was Ellison Onizuka.  Onizuka was the first Asian American to fly in space.  In 1985, he flew to space on the space shuttle Discovery.  And then, in 1986, aboard the Challenger, he and his six crew members died.

Sources:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/onizuka.html

http://onizukamemorial.org/biography

HIMYM:

There was an episode of How I Met Your Mother that had a few of the characters dressed stereotypically as Asians.  Naturally, many people got offended by this.  I have never seen an episode of this show, so I can’t say in what context they may have been doing this, but unfortunately I think that making fun of different races and cultures happens way too often in our society.  I watched the part of the episode where they were dressed as Asians, and all I can say is I didn’t find it funny; it was pretty ridiculous in my opinion.

asianpiccc

Sources:

http://www.thefrisky.com/2014-01-15/how-i-met-your-mother-puts-white-characters-in-asian-yellowface/

 

 

Paull Shin:

Paull Shin was the first Korean American that was elected in the Senate.  He was elected in the senate in 1998, and is now resigning due to difficulties with Alzheimers.  Apparently he was an orphan in Korea and was adopted by an American soldier and brought to America.  This was a part of Shin’s resignation statement: “I have loved this place and the work we do here on behalf of the people of Washington. Unfortunately, I have determined with the assistance of my family that recent health problems and a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease make it impossible for me to represent my constituents in the manner they deserve.”

sources:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2014/01/07/state-sen-paull-shin-resigns-citing-alzheimers-as-factor/

WWII Stragglers:

I am honestly amazed at the story of Hiroo Onoda.  He served in the Japanese Imperial Army during WWII.  He survived 30 years in a jungle in the Philippines, rather than surrender.  This just blows my mind!  30 years!  I can’t even imagine that.   “Onoda was an intelligence officer who came out of hiding, standing but emaciated, in fatigues patched many times over, on Lubang island in the Philippines in March 1974, on his 52nd birthday. He surrendered only when his former commander flew there to reverse his 1945 orders to stay behind and spy on American troops.”  The loyalty of the Japanese culture is amazing, “Before and during the war, Japanese were taught absolute loyalty to the nation and the emperor. Soldiers in the Imperial Army observed a code that said death was preferable to surrender.”

Sources:

http://www.htrnews.com/viewart/20140118/MAN0101/301190179/