They'll take a trip up to some resort, thinking this is God's green land of democracy for which I killed a dozen Krauts, and get kicked in the face with the unfortunate mistake about the reservation story because he'd signed the letter Ohara and the guy at the resort thought it was good old Irish O'Hara. Tough to have a name like Ohara and feel that maybe when they made up the batch of orders upstairs one of the Lord's workers neglected the apostrophe and do the guy turns up in the U.S.A. a Jap instead of an Irishman. That's beside the point, however. When they find out thet're still Japs, they'll be too busy to be mean to us. (227)
This is Gary who echoes what Ken said back in Chapter 7. The heroes—the men who went to war like Kenji—"'probably make it tough on you [No-No Boys] probably do so out of the misbegotten idea that maybe you're to blame because the good that they thought they were doing by getting killed and shot up doesn't amount to a hill of beans. They just need a little time to get cut down to their own size. Then they'll be the same as you, as bunch of Japs'" (163). So says Ken the war vet, the winner of a Silver Star, the third highest medal a soldier can win. And so says the war resister Gary who is targeted by war vets like Ken ("'Go for broke, you know. You've heard it'" [227]). When the vets can't get at Gary, they, as we know from the reading, target his black friend Birdie, and almost kill him. At the end of the day, the war hero and draft dodger both agree, everyone—the war heroes and the draft dodgers alike—end up being all they are allowed to be in America. Japs.
Think about what we started talking about in class today. Ken dreams of an America where race doesn't matter, an afterlife, a heaven, where there aren't any "Japs or Chinks or Jews or Poles or Niggers or Frenchies, but only people" (165). And if that can't even be attained in heaven, he'd settle for nothingness. We get further with this in second period than fifth, but the question can still be posed. I asked it on a previous entry, but I don't think the section made sense to many until we read it in class today.
1. What does Ken propose as a remedy to the racism that he cannot escape? What is his rationale? And do you agree or disagree with it? Don't think about whether it could ever happen or not—imagine it was possible.
2. In heaven, Ken hopes there is no Jackson Street: no segregation, where, as Gary says later, "God's green land of democracy" exists. Can there be an American Dream in a country that is segregated by ethnicity, race, or even class? Ichiro says that many ethnic Americans have their own communities (think Buford Highway; think South Dekalb), but Ken says "that doesn't make it right" (164). What do you think?
3. We approach the end of the novel: and Ichiro is finally moving. What's a way in the last couple chapters that we finally see him begin to act in a positive, forward thinking way? Try to not repeat what others have said before you.
Finally. Leave it to Stephen Colbert to lift our—or maybe just my—spirit in the wake of the bombing in Boston, Click on this link and take a look if you like. It takes a lot to uplift me, and this did it.
1. Ken proposed that Ichiro marries a woman who is anything but Japanese. Not to erase his ethnicity or take away his heritage, but become more of an “American” by America’s system. Like Jenny said, it’s almost like “if you’re not white, you’re not wanted”. I wouldn’t argue that this is 100 percent true, but it is true enough to an extent that Ken thinks that assimilating to a certain degree can help remedy the racism he can’t escape, because he’s sort of giving into the racism. (I’m having trouble articulating my clear thoughts from class into any semblance of sense as my answer). I disagree. If he were to marry, let’s say, an Italian woman and have kids, they would still get a lot of racist comments thrown their way as they grow up because racism will exist continually. There are people out there in the world today who think that anyone who looks or acts differently from them is wrong. The number of those people is dwindling, but they still exist, and so long as they do exist, whatever remedy Ken or any other person can think of, is only a temporary remedy for a short while.
ReplyDelete2. I don’t think that there can be a universal American Dream for everyone in a segregated country. The other option could be that there is a universal American Dream from everyone in that segregated country, but some people have more opportunities to reach that AD than others. The dream still exists, just some people can achieve it easier than others.
3. Ichiro’s conversation with Gary really struck me. It seemed like the first completely honest and emotional conversation that Ichiro has had throughout the book and it was very poignant to see the interaction. It felt like Ichiro was becoming less bitter and he was becoming more open-minded.
1. Ken thinks that the only cure for the racism that he and Ichiro and their community receives is getting cleanse themselves of their ethnicity. Not necessarily getting rid of his race, but cleansing it of the negative connotations by becoming more “American,” In Ken’s eyes, that is the only route to a happier existence for everyone involved. Ken thinks that the answer to all his problems would to hide his ethnicity. I get where Ken is coming from, because it seems like if he and his community were more white, they wouldn’t face the same issues, but I think it’s too simple a solution. I don’t think everybody is ever going to be equal, and I think if one of the factors that contributes to this inequality is taken away, all the others will just be intensified. If race is done away with, class and gender will take its place when it comes to things being unfair or unequal.
ReplyDelete2. In my opinion, for the American Dream to have a shred of truth or dignity, it needs to exist in a place that is not segregated. Not by race, not by class, not by ethnicity. But unfortunately, I don’t think our country will ever not be segregated by these things. There will always be a group that is marginalized by society. I don’t think the American Dream is reality and I don’t think it ever was, there has always been a group a people that has been pushed aside or forgotten in their quest for the glorified fallacy that is the American Dream.
3.The biggest indicator to me that Ichiro is changing is his willingness to put himself out there. The Ichiro in the beginning of the novel would not have gone to the Christian Rehabilitation Center as easily as he did in his chapter. There would have been much more deliberation and considering of the connotations his visit would have and who he might run into, and he probably would have just decided to stay home and try again another time. Ichiro has grown to the point where he can take control of his life and his actions, and at least attempt to better himself.
1. I don’t agree with Ken’s rationale at all. I think he thinks the remedy is to just keep running away from his heritage and his culture and to just completely suppress the Japanese in him. I think he thinks that denying it will eventually make him and Ichiro believe that they are white Americans who deserve everything because of their race when really just because you think you’re white, doesn’t make you white. Just because you choose to ignore 50% of who you are, doesn’t mean that that part goes away, it doesn’t mean you’ve beat it, and it isn’t what other people see. Its not a physical thing that you can get rid of which is what Ken treats it as.
ReplyDelete2. The American Dream, for me, has always given the connotation that it is for everyone. Despite your race, ethnicity, class, etc, it is available to you if you want to attempt to seek it out. However, America is a place where race and class are under a constant magnifying glass and if you are part of a group of people that is frowned upon for whatever reason in this society (and there are always reasons) then the Dream isn’t available to you. I don’t think the Dream exists when things like race and class are considered because as much as we preach about being an equal nation where anything can happen and all of your dreams can come true, that isn’t right. We are not equal, there are people we consider below us and there are people we consider above us and what America fails to mention time and time again is that you need to know your place in this country and if you don’t fall into the ‘right place’ then you cant get the Dream.
3. For me, it was on the bus when he was on his way back from seeing Gary and he was just comparing himself to the person he was sitting on the bus not that long ago coming home from jail. The line that really summed up the internal thoughts he was having was when he said, “There was room for all kinds of people. Possibly, even for one like him” (233). I think it just shows that he has come to terms with his choice and who he is and he’s starting to realize that he isn’t the only one that is out-casted, there is a whole slew of people that feel the same way as him and he is starting to see them and identify with them and not feel so alone.
1.What Ken describes during his talk with Ichiro is essentially just running away. He claims that Ichiro should flee from those of the same ethnicity as him. He says to marry anybody who isn't japanese in the hopes that through that behavior he would successfully escape the racism that has plagued both Ichiro and Ken in addition to many of the other japanese immigrants. As I said in class, I honestly do see this as a potential option for Ichiro. It may not necessarily help him to fully escape racism, as there is nothing to assure us that wherever Ichiro went he would not experience racism, but it certainly would let him start his life and image anew. There would be no more hatred toward him for being a no-no boy. He would no longer have to deal with Eto or Bull. He could escape everything that has been causing him so much pain in Seattle, but it is in no way his only option, it is merely one possibility for Ichiro's future.
ReplyDelete2. Yes, theoretically an American Dream can exist in this situation, but it certainly can't be open to people of all races, genders, or classes. It is a restrictive American dream that is reserved for those in a position of power to be capable of achieving. There is no way that during a period of segregation a young black man would have anywhere near the same chance at achieving the so called American dream as a young white man. It is merely a basis of opportunity that in such a hateful situation is inherently unfair and unequal.
3. It seems that Ichiro is finally reaching the stage that all of the members of this class have been waiting for throughout the novel. Rather than wallow in his misery for yet another chapter we see Ichiro open up and actually listen to others. The last page of the chapter reflects this immensely well. He reflects on the goodness in people that he had grown not to expect and finally admits that there may be a place in the world for, "[A person] like him."
1. Ken's idea of a remedy to the racism in his society is to run away from it. He thinks that running away, ridding oneself completely from issues of race and ethnicity, is the only solution. I think his rationale is that racial tensions exist because we allow them to exist. In Ken's mind if we simply cease to think of race/ethnicity as a dividing factor, all problems will go away. While this idea sounds great on paper, it will never happen. Unfortunately, race is so ingrained our society that simply refusing to acknowledge it would do nothing. We cannot say, "I don't think race should cause problems, therefor, from now on it won't cause problems". Our entire country/world would have to simultaneously make this decision. Ken is hopeful and naive, he wants to see the best in an irreparably flawed world.
ReplyDelete2. I think the American Dream exists more in America the more segregated we are. Whether it is segregation based on money, race, ethnicity, or geography, a hierarchical society allows for more hope to rise to the next tier. I would love to say that equality is what society strives for, however, if everyone were equal, our society as it is would crumble. People rise and fall, between classes and social levels. Those who have the dream have to work to hold on to it and everyone else must work for it. I think race, socio-economic status, community etc are sadly necessary barriers that must be crossed to reach the next level of the American dream, which is very real for everyone.
3. As Freudian as it sounds, Ichiro's coming to terms with his mother's death really made me feel like he is beginning to move on. He realized how different his outlook on life and hers were. He realized that she was never able/willing to assimilate. She resisted American culture so much that she became a sort of shackle for Ichiro. He needed to come to terms with his pain as well as his newfound freedom. Once he realized this, he could move on and finally start being proactive.
This is actually a reply to both Zoe and Andrew. Yes, Ken suggests running away. But please, everyone, look closer to what he says. "Marry a white girl or a Negro or an Italian or even a Chinese. After a few generations of that, you've got the thing beat." You can't ignore that. Run away—and marry out of your race—and have mixed race children. And in a few generations, assuming the children do the same thing, what do we have? What do Americans look like at this point, a few generations after that?
Delete1. Ken’s proposal is basically to try and mix with as many non-Japanese people as possible. His argument does make sense. As long as all of the Japanese people stay lumped together things will stay the same. From a utility stand point, meeting and living with people of different races does seem the best way to get past this. We know that given some confrontation and outreach, people eventually become more tolerant as generations pass. It does take some force and change though. It is possible for people to become more enlightened this way. However, I’m not so sure that this is the best option if you have to sacrifice too much for it. If you leave all of the people you care about to branch out, it kind of defeats the purpose of searching for happiness. Ken’s plan is a good one within reason.
ReplyDelete2. One aspect that I think the American Dream is supposed to have is that it becomes more widespread and available as time goes on. I’d like to think that that’s true, but it may not be. It’s gotten better for some people, but I think it’s gotten much worse for others. Race was the hot topic back then, now it seems to be class (although there are still innumerable problems with race). There are so many ways to divide people up. The American Dream can certainly not exist for everybody as long as these divisions exist. They are certainly not fair, especially since so many of these divisions are arbitrary by birth. Everyone might have hope in America, but that hope is probably just a waste of energy for too many people in the current system. There are too many ways to make things great for a few and shitty for everyone else.
3. I saw a change during his job interview. As others have said, he’s putting himself out there. One thing that struck me though was how he finally regretted not going after that job in Portland. It might be to little to late, but it’s nice to see him getting out of the pitiful slump he was in. He may blame his refusal on his mother still being alive at the time (ouch), but at least he’s starting to see opportunities in a better light.
1. An America without race is a long long time away. If everyone was the same race then there would be no racism, but that is not an immediate option. Also if not race, we can find tons of things to judge each other. There will never be total equality in America. As long as a person can establish himself as better than another person on any basis there will be prejudice and inequality. As humans we always compare ourselves to other people. It would be better for Ichiro, but people could find other ways to try to make him crumble. He wouldn't be thought of as a Jap anymore but he would be something else. He could erase that part of him that has ties to Japan and he could just be an American, but that would not make our country perfect.
ReplyDelete2. The American Dream can be possible, but there is no direct path to this dream. There is no pamphlet that tells you step-by-step how to get there. People can make their own dreams and follow them to an end point, but there is no yellow brick road to guide a person to the top. The country is not a melting pot of race, it is a big plate with separated food that some times gets mixed together and touches. Everyone wants the American Dream, but it doesn't come in a cookie cutter package. Making real plans and goals is the only way to have a chance at this dream. It is impossible for everyone to get to live the same heavenly place where lawns are perfectly mowed, the 2.5 kids of each house play in the sunlight, and pies can be smelled cooling on the window sills at any moment. This place may exist in looks but there is so much underneath that is never shown in magazines. The entire country is looking for something that is not there.
3. Ichiro shows signs of life after his mother's death. He did love his mother to some extent, but her death was freeing for him. Now, Ichiro doesn't have to worry about what she thinks about him or his thoughts towards Japan. It relieves some of the pressure on him. He showed this when he went dancing with Emi. When the man buys the two of them a drink at the dance club Ichiro goes through a whole list of reasons why the man bought then a drink when he finally says, "'I want to think,' he said soberly, 'that he saw a young couple and liked their looks and felt he wanted to buy them a drink and did'" (211). This moment wasn't a huge moment in the book, but it show subtly how Ichiro comes out of his stupor. He has fun for the first time in years and can start to have a new mindset.
1. I think Ken's rationale in this moment is very unlike his normal point of view. Normally he takes on the martyr, dying to prove to his friends and family that even though he is slowly wasting away, he is still at peace with his life and acutely aware of the problems with the world. This decision is cowardly and the quick way out; rather than attacking the problem you simply run from it. It is possible that eventually your race, at least on the outside, can be reduced to invisible proportions, but that does not make it the best option. It is however, the easiest, and human nature is to take the easiest path. I think Ken is speaking rationally when he tells Ichiro to breed the japanese out of him. Its a hell of a lot easier than changing the racist beliefs of a majority population.
ReplyDelete2. This seems like one of those creepy hotel california scenarios; from afar it looks normal, but something horrible is hidden underneath it. The dream may exist for the people living it, but the people looking in understand all too well the difficulty of joining the dream, and they rise up because of it. There is no doubt that the racially repressed and socially deserted will revolt, and this superficial utopia will fall.
3. I always see the comparison between Freddie and Ichiro uplifting for Ichiro. Freddie is like the life Ichiro would lead if he chose to run from his struggle between Japan and America rather than face it. It puts things into perspective for him, so he can then in turn motivate himself to make a difference in his life.
1. I think that Ken proposes that we have to forget about races and try to live as one. He suggested that each race lives apart from other races and that is why we have segregation and racism. If we were to come together and dismantle this, we would be together. I agree with Ken that we should try to come together and that this would end racism but I don’t fully agree that we should forget our own people. By trying to form a family with somebody that is very different from us and resenting and forgetting our own people, we are doing what those who came back from war do to the ones that did not go to war. We should not discriminate to other races or our race. We need to all come together but not forget who we are.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the Dream cannot be fully achieved in a segregated area. In a segregated area, we grow up blind to who else is out there and this eventually becomes a disadvantage. Everybody deserves the same opportunity to succeed regardless of his or her background. Segregation creates different opportunities that are not just and do not have similar rewards. Segregation also restricts the resources that are require to achieve the Dream. The competition to achieve this is unfair and limited.
3. For me it was the way he started to socialize with Emi more and to realize that people were not waiting to simply attack him for what he has done. He is finally doing something he wants to do and is not looking for an excuse to punish himself more. The way he reacts to the drunk guy is natural and a complete opposite of the Ichiro we saw at the beginning of the novel. He is moving on with his life in, hopefully, a better way than before.
1) Ken definitely proposes that in order to remedy racism the lines of race must be blurred. I think that would obviously be the solution to stop this inherent racism. If there wasn't race, the world would honestly be a much simpler and nicer place. It's hard to even imagine a world without racism, racial slurs, segregation, etc. In retrospect, I definitely agree with what Aldo said about how the blurring of race would also be the blurring of identity and forgetting your own people.I think this is a tough question and solution, but I honestly believe that everything would be better in a way without race.
ReplyDelete2) I think I, along with Andrew and Ema, have been the cynics of the class on the idea of the American Dream. I honestly do not believe in it precisely because of what this question acts. Of course the American Dream cannot exist when the American population is segregated by ethnicity, race, and class. If people don't start out on the same level with the same amount of opportunity, it is not the American Dream, but rather the Top 2% of America's American Dream. Its just not fair that people don't have the same opportunities as others due to race, class, ethnicity, etc.
3) For me, it really began when Ichiro and Kenji became close. Kenji is the reason that Ichiro went to Portland and was able to put himself out there and actually try to get a job. This change is also due to Ken because he finally showed Ichiro that its not all about him anymore, there are so many people going through things worse than him (like Ken is). And finally, Ken introduced Ichiro to Emi, who has been a major part of Ichiro's changing view because she finally brings a little optimism into the book.
1. Ken proposes to get rid of the race. He wants to live in a world where he is not punished for being born a certain ethnicity, race, or nationality. He doesn't want to forget about all other races and simply group people together, but he wants people to join together and create the melting pot. He's basically suggesting that people marry each other and produce enough offspring that you won't even be able to tell what race someone really is. He's suggesting "stirring the melting pot." I think when he says "you've got the thing beat" he means that no one will be able to look at someone and judge them for that and that would eventually defeat racism.
ReplyDelete2. The American Dream only exists if it is for everyone. Not only is it somewhat of a selling point for why people should want to live here, but if you can never achieve a dream then what are you working for? The point of the American Dream is that even though it may be different for everyone it is something we all are aiming for. It doesn't work if someone simply doesn't have a chance.
3. I think we see him become more positive in dealing with his mother's death. He starts to realize who he is and how he is different from her. He stops punishing himself from not being able to fit in with her.
1. Ken thinks that merging the races into an indistinguishable form will solve all of their problems. It does make sense: they are hated due to their skin color, and the culture that is associated with that skin color, so if everybody looked the same, and acted the same, who could there be to hate? This reminds me of an episode of a TV show. A wish is made where everybody is made to look and act the same way (in the show’s case, everybody was a gray blob), but yet people still found a way to hate each other and create barriers that exist only in the mind. I think this pertains to Ichiro’s world as well. People will always hate one another for reasons, large and small, and find a way to do so.
ReplyDelete2. As we said in class today, the idea of the “white picket fence” as the universal American Dream is not universal. Each individual holds their own hopes and aspirations, which can be called their personal American Dream. Segregation is a terrible thing for many of its own reasons, but the “American Dream” is still attainable as long as the dream is of one’s own rather than those of another’s.
3. Ichiro has started to do things as opposed to letting things happen to him. He is actively expressing his own will, not that of his mothers nor what is expected of him, and so can begin looking for satisfaction. He has stopped feeling sorry for himself and has decided to do something about it. Also, his relationship with Emi is opening his eyes to a more complete view of the world, and is starting to think of himself as another person in the world, and not as the no-no boy.
1. I have very mixed feelings about what Ken is saying. I think that inter-racial marriage is a great thing that does a lot to counteract racism. However, to me, it only seems like Ken is suggesting that we get rid of cultural backgrounds, and I don't agree that that is the solution to racism. Like Jenny said, I think hatred would still live on in some form. As I said on the earlier blog, I thinking that marrying between races or ethnicities should happen naturally. If people marry people who are so different from them just for the sake of doing so, I think it could perpetuate a lot of hate.
ReplyDelete2. I think what Ken is struggling with here is that he feels trapped on Jackson Street. I see no issue with Jackson St or Buford Highway, as long as it is not seen as the area where immigrants are thrown. From Ken's perspective, he wants to be seen as American, or really just human, not as the son of immigrants. That being said, I think that, especially in the context of the book, the American Dream can not exist. The Dream is so throughly based on the idea that everyone feels they have the opportunity for success, and that is clearly not what the characters in the novel are feeling.
3.I really noticed that Ichiro was moving on when he admitted that he should have taken the job in Portland. He finally realized that he is selling himself short and that he needs to let himself be happy. I was so relieved when he finally thought this, because the cynical Ichiro was starting to be very draining to read.
1. Ken wants to erase race entirely. If people followed his reasoning, even everyone married someone outside of their race, eventually everyone would be the same. I think that this is a valid argument (assuming it was possible). Eventually, either people will begin to look the same, or everyone looks different still but no one would identify with one culture besides America. The thing is, even if race is "eliminated" in this way, people will still be prejudice against one another in different ways. Be the way you dress, the way you talk, who you love, how you act, not based on racial identity but solely on being an individual. Even with race out of the picture, it is human nature to discriminate and put oneself above others.
ReplyDelete2. It is true that Atlanta is extremely segregated along with other American cities. It is true that, completely agreeing with Zoe, people feel trapped in these segregated areas. But I have to say, when people come over to this country, or any country for that matter, it is natural tendency to live with the people you are comfortable with and have connections with. Culture, family, friends, and pasts are all shared between these people living on Jackson St. Can you still get the American Dream in these neighborhoods? The Kannos did. It isn't the white picket fence, but that isn't the point. The American Dream isn't material. It is NOT MATERIAL. People have come to believe that the dream is being able to buy whatever you want, which it is not about. So back to whether or not the dream is attainable even with inequality, yes, it is. People are unequal, but that does not mean that the platform of America is a lie.
3. A moment that really struck me was when he was dancing with Emi and he said, "It's a matter of attitude. Mine needs changing. I've got to love the world the way I used to" (209). This was like a breath of fresh air. Finally Ichiro is beginning to see the good in life again. What it feels like to have fun and to love. What it feels like to see a range of possibility and hope. This book has been hard to get through mainly because of his dark attitude, but we are beginning to see the change in him for the better.
Well I think what Ken proposes to Ichiro is to almost embrace this racism in a way, to meet it head on by moving away from the Japanese American community and out into the real world, if you will. He talks about how the problem is that these Japanese Americans do not want to be treated like Japanese or more importantly NOT like Americans, and yet they contradict this completely by living together in a community. They segregate themselves in many ways and do not give themselves the opportunity to go out and "become American". Ken proposes to Ichiro that he marry any woman but a Japanese woman, that he try to live a life that is completely disconnected from his Japanese heritage and side of his life. I think he feels that by cutting off his ties with this part of his life and being that brings the struggle, it will slowly go away. It is running away from the problem by meeting it head on, or vice versa if you prefer. I am a little torn as to whether I agree with this or not. Yes, I think as far as coping with the racism that's around them, this is a solution that would prove effective, I think. But at what cost are you willing to cut off all ties with a very important part of your life such as your family and heritage? It seems a little extreme in my opinion, but I guess it comes down to a question of how much you are willing to do and go through with in order to become the American that American society has defined.
ReplyDeleteI think that there most definitely can be an American Dream in a country that is segregated by various factors. I think where the problem and the struggle and the questioning comes in, as I've stressed before, is with who qualifies to actually have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream. Yes, the dream does in fact exist, but maybe there are some, and there definitely are some I think, who will not be able to reach it or even have the opportunity to achieve it when there is segregation that holds them back and behind everyone else in America who does not struggle with this. But having said that, this only deals with, as the book only deals with, the group of people who are struggling to become "American". Nothing is said for those who do not struggle with this segregation and difference, and I don't think one could make an assumption solely off of this book as bold as saying that no American Dream exists without taking the non-minorities in this situation into account. And all of this comes with the assumption that the American Dream, or part of the American Dream at least, has to do with actually being an American and/or fitting the picture that has been defined as " a real American". Maybe, and it is quite possible, a dream can exist where nationality or a sense of being tied to America is not exactly a part of the dream. As we see from the older Japanese who come over, their initial American Dream is simply to make the money and go back to Japan, it does not address the idea of being an American and becoming a true part of the nation in the slightest.
I think one way we see Ichiro moving forward in a positive way that really jumped out at me was when he proposes, and takes, Emi out to dance. I think that this sums up Ichiro's changing attitude in that he puts a lot more focus mentally on the now and not as much on what has happened in the past. There's a sense of letting go of the past that we see in some way with Ichiro, of doing whatever makes you happy during the moment you're in and doing what may make you happy in the future. He takes a girl that he is fond of out dancing because he wants to enjoy himself, to take his situation and to make it better than it has been instead of simply wallowing in his past mistakes, to put it simply. For the first time, Ichiro is actually trying. He's actually making an effort to find hope and even to make hope for himself that things will get better than they are now, he just needs to work for it a little bit, to meet it halfway.
1. Ken suggests that Ichiro marry someone of another race. He says that is does not matter which other race he decides to marry, as long as they are not Japanese. This seems ridiculous, in that I truly believe it is horrible that to succeed in America one has to give up their culture and heritage to become more American, but I think Ken hit the problem and solution at the same time. The problem being that in order to succeed in America one must be white, or as close as they can possibly get to being white. To leave their heritage behind and assume another culture, and identify, in this case with people that interned, blamed, and made them suffer. However I think on the surface, and in a very superficial way Ken's idea would work. People would see the color of your skin, and the race and ethnicity with which you identify, and accept you. However if one were to look closely at your background, and you ancestors they would still see where you came from, and who you truly are, whether you accept that or not. I do not think they are trying to run away from there problems, I think they are doing everything they can to change the situation for the better and for their children, grandchildren, etc.
ReplyDelete2. I do not think that the American dream is possible as long as their are barriers that have been set up based on class, race or ethnicity. That goes against the main idea of the American Dream, in that anyone can succeed. In no way does the definition state they someone has to be white, and rich, and American. The dream is for everyone in our country, and anyone willing to work hard enough to get what they want. Now that is in a perfect world, I do believe that right now in our country that the American Dream is set up so only those who fit into these stereotypes can succeed. I do not know if there is anything wrong with having those communities, in that I think it is understandable to want to find a group of people who understand you, whether is be culturally, linguistically, or in your struggles. i think it is wrong however that many of the people who move to these places, like Jackson Street, are stuck. There is no social mobility to get out of these places, and these conditions. They are in a rutt, and cannot see anyone else leaving or getting out of these places, so it seems like people in this book, they give up, or are done fighting.
3. Like some other people have said, when Ichiro finally admits that he made a mistake in turning down the job in portland, I finally felt like he had turned a corner. He did not beat himself up like he normally does, he accepted it, and admitted to himself that he is worth more than he is giving himself credit for. THANK GOD FOR THIS!! I was about to be done with his woe is me pity party.
Ken says tells Ichiro that if people just start intermarrying then eventually all the races will be so mixed up that there won’t really be distinct races anymore, there will only be true Americans. I don’t think it is right to have to make everyone roughly the same for people to be able to get along. All the different nationalities and different characteristics of neighborhoods in America are what make I so culturally interesting and colorful.
ReplyDeleteEveryone has their own American Dream, but having one in a segregated society which makes it unachievable for some, is just as good as not having one at all for those who are denied of it.
Ichiro goes dancing with Emi! That was one f the first few times in which Ichiro decided to do something fun, without thinking about all the reasons why he shouldn’t. His mother’s death has liberated him and his father in many ways. Ichiro now feels freer to leave; he says if his mother had been dead when Mr. Carrick offered him a job, he would have taken it. It feels like his life is headed in a more positive direction now. Partly, I think, because the obligation he ffelt towards his mother is now gone along with her.
1. I understand what Ken is saying, but like Zoe, have some mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, if everyone had an interracial marriage, eventually, everyone would be the same. Everyone would mix, and no one could talk about dirty backgrounds because somewhere in their family tree, they had the same backgrounds. It is quite the dream. But at the same time, when Ken says to Ichiro that he will have got the thing beat, it sounds like he wants to erase cultural identity as a whole, which would be a natural side effect of this interracial breeding. Customs would mix and lines between customs would blur. At the same time, there would be something, anything, that would still make people hate each other and separate themselves from others.
ReplyDelete2. I think that one doesn’t necessarily have to be white to be able to achieve the American Dream, nor do they have to disband the ethnic communities they live in. Some of these communities help people to succeed and spread beyond their communities. At the same time, by being segregated and separate from the better looked upon white communities, they might be separating themselves from some opportunity. In the end, I think it is much harder for the American Dream to exist in a segregated community if only because those people deprived of a chance can’t move or get out, and so future generations stay stagnant.
3. There were a couple things that I noticed. The first was that he asked Emi to dance, which is different from what we have been seeing. To me, it has almost been like he has been rejecting her because she is too good for someone like him. We see a similar scene during the job interview when he says that he should have taken the job in Portland, doing something he liked for good pay. This all really started with the death of his mother, something that freed not only him but his father as well.
1. He basically wants to make race undefinable and not noticeable. He doesn't want it to be part of someone's identity or that people are distinguished or defined by their race. It's not purely racism, he's trying to get rid of. He wants to end the complete idea of race and how powerful it can be to one's identity. He only sees how much controversy and damage race brings and not how significant it can be to someone's identity and character.
ReplyDelete2. I think this is kind of a complex question. But I think that the American Dream can't be attainable if the country was segregated, because for many their American Dream is to get to the top. But if were all segregated and there was no competitiveness, we wouldn't have as much motivation or ambition to move up to the top. I think our competitive society that's constantly trying to move forward and progress keeps us ambitious and fighting for the ultimate dream. So I think that diversity of people from different backgrounds and families keeps the American Dream exciting and appealing.
3. I definitely see a change in Ichiro. I see a change in his perspective of his life and of himself. He matured a little bit, especially after his mother's death. His mother's death kind of opened his eyes. He started to accept things the way they are. He started to accept his regrets and past mistakes, and he's trying to move past them. He knows he can't hold onto his hatred and his anger specifically towards his parents, and especially his mother. He's starting to move forward and progress a little, like he takes the job interview and tries to make something out of his life.
1. Ken's opinion seems to be that racism is inherent, at the core of everyone in the country, and that nothing short of a miracle could ever end it. To a large extent I believe that Ken is right. People have the tendency to use any and every piece of information they can acquire to make judgments, and even though race might not be the greatest determining factor of a person, people will always use it as a prejudice for or against others. If there ever comes a day when race comes to signify nothing but someone's physical characteristics, that will be the day that racism dies.
ReplyDelete2. No, I don't think that the American Dream can truly exist in its full capacity when segregation and racism exist. The mere existence of inequality ruins the whole idea, the idea that everyone can have equal chances at success. Separate but equal is bullshit, and I have the supreme court to back me up in saying that.
3. On some page (I can't seem to find it) in chapter 10, Ichiro goes through a full thought process of comparing his life to a dance floor. He realizes that there is no point in being sad as he is over things that have already happened, and that he needs to look at life in a positive light. This realization is the beginning of his path away from depression.
1. Ken proposes that we should all make sure to marry someone that is anything but our own race or ethnicity. He argues that after several generations of this mixing, then we will all be to mixed for race to be an issue anymore. I think that if it were possible to get everyone to do this, than it really would go a long way towards fixing race relations in the US.
ReplyDelete2. I agree with others that a segregated America poses a great threat to a universal American Dream. One of the core ideas of the American Dream is that everyone has a fair shot at making it to the top and living the life that they want. I don't think it is possible for everyone to have that equal opportunity in a country where not everyone views each other as equals. I really like that Jake brought up the idea that separate is inherently not equal. It really sums up the point I am trying to make.
3. The moment that I really noticed the change in Ichiro is when he went to dance with Emi. He has a moment where he thinks to himself "I want to think." This is such a huge change from the rest of the novel leading up to this point. Up until then it seems like he has just drank himself stupid all the time to avoid doing exactly that: thinking. I think the thought shows that he has finally decided to make a change in his attitude towards his life and begin rebuilding.
1) Ken suggests that people of all races should have children together so that America becomes less racist over time due to the fact that everyone within America is of extremely mixed race. I understand why he thinks this is a good idea but I do not believe it is the solution mainly because there will always be a few extremely racist people who would never consider marrying outside their race. Although this tactic would probably significantly decrease racism in America I do not believe that it would be able to eradicate it.
ReplyDelete2) I believe that hope for the American dream can definitely live in a segregated world but I don't believe that the American dream is equally accessible by all races in that segregated world. It may even be that the dream is different for each race since the dream is often modified for different people in different situations.
3) I feel as if Ichiro's response to his mother's death shows some amount of positive attitude. He has finally come to appreciate all that she has done for him and I believe that that is extremely important.
1) Kenji proposes that there is one can not be successful in America without being a "true" American. The way that Kenji sees this transition happening is by accepting the rules, rather than trying to change them. He proposes that Ichiro should marry an white American woman and have children that are considered "true" Americans. The slant will fade from their eyes and sooner or later they will not be distinguishable from other white people. Kenji doesn't see this as "erasing his culture", he simply believes that the future will hold the most potential if Ichiro's children are not excluded from the American mindset.
ReplyDelete2) This time, I agree with Kenji. While success is possible for people who live in their own communities, the American Dream will only be a realistic thought if people can find unification in their own country. If The United States is to be truly known as a land of opportunity, then it's people have to have that same opportunistic mindset and avoid all segregation. The American Dream never has been a realistic thought for most people. When we can reach that balance where we all start on the same level and those who work the hardest make it to the top, the success of the United States will be deeply dependent on the possibility of the American Dream.
3) Ichiro finally has the confidence to make progressive moves in his life. He has moved past his mistake and is ready to move on with his life as he cannot control it. Ichiro is putting himself out there and willingly putting himself in vulnerable positions, rather than continuing his mopey attitude that we've seen so far. It is so refreshing to see him move on after more than 150 pages of whining and confusion.
1. Ken tells Ichiro to marry any women but a Japanese, so that in a few generations his family will be mixed race and not only Japanese. His rationale is that if everybody did this soon everyone would be the same race; they would only be human. In theory I suppose this would work, but realistically people don't marry and have children just for that reason. Most people marry because of love, and I feel it will be very hard to convince them otherwise. I think that multi-cultural marriages are great, but the way Ken says it makes it seem wrong. Also I think that there will always be people who will be racist; it's human nature to be different.
ReplyDelete2. I think that the American Dream will exist regardless of the situation. It will always exist because humans will always want more than they currently have. Also, another reason we will never be able to achieve the American Dream is because it constantly evolves along with us. If someday everyone in the United States became super rich and financially stable, then the American Dream might be more portrayed as having a connected family, a good family. Like I said before, humans will always want more thus the phrase "the grass is always greener" applies well here.
3. I feel like one of the main points where I can really see Ichiro changing, is the scene where he and Emi are dancing. I know Anna quoted it earlier but here it is again, "It's a matter of attitude. Mine needs changing. I've got to love the world the way I used to" (209). I just think the change in Ichiro is so amazing; before he was slowly drowning in America and just now he surfaced and is breathing again. Ichiro is finally realizing that he can come back from the tiny "mistake" that he made, and he can enjoy life to the fullest.
1. Ken believes the only way for true racial equality to exist is for there to be no such thing as race. He firmly believes that wherever he is going after he dies, there will be no Japs or Chinks or Poles or Jews, just people. Consequently, he believes that intermarriage will eventually solve the problem. What do you get when someone who is Japanese marries a White person? Someone who is less Japanese, but more of a "person."
ReplyDelete2. I think that the American Dream still exists- there will always be an ideal of equal opportunity, and there will always be people who are willing to fight for that ideal. And in reality, the situation that Ichiro describes as the "happily-ever-after" is impossible to achieve. Certain segments of society will always be attracted to each other; rich people will always want to live next to other rich people. And in a society with such a strong devotion to freedom, Americans often find themselves relegated to certain areas with certain economic backgrounds, yet with the same sense of freedom or opportunity they would feel anywhere else.
3. I think Ichiro admitting that he should have taken the job in Portland is one of the most important steps towards his recovery that he can make. Once he realizes that he is the only person standing in his way, he must be able to handle things in a more sensible manner, in other words, to be able to handle his problems without the shadow of internment covering everything he does.
ReplyDeleteKen proposes that the remedy to racism is to assimilate into the culture that he is being oppressed by. Itchy must marry a white girl and do all these things that are accepted by the American Culture. You must be white to fit in right. Itchy has to leave all his customs and anything that associates him with Japanese culture. That way he will leave the Japaneses side, kind of like he was asked to do during the war, and will join the American culture completely. Ken’s rationale is that if we mix everyone up we will all be different but similar so therefore the idea of race will not exist. I don’t agree with Ken, but he is right. One has to assimilate in order to be accepted and fit in. One is seen as a foreigner or as different if one has different customs or if one looks different. The American Dream is supposed to be for everyone. A dream that anyone can reach if they try their hardest and really want something they will achieve it. But another sad truth is that not everyone can achieve it. It is pure luck if one becomes a millionaire after being a member of the lower class. Race is also a big factor that either helps or interferes with your dream. Some people may look down upon you and you may face more hardships than if you are white. I do not think there can be an American Dream due to all the racism and segregation. One can be successful but they will never truly reach the Dream. It’s kind of like reaching Nirvana in the Hindu religion, you try and try but it may take a long time to fully get it. Itchy has moved on and finally has a sincere and admits to some of is mistaks which is an important part of the process to recovery.