After reading Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Case Study in Critical Controversy, for me, the book is just another piece about the slavery in American history. Until I read Peaches Henry’s article, “The Struggle for Tolerance: Race and Censorship in Huckleberry Finn”, I realize that this book carries more purposes than just a story. It has been the center of the controversies about race. In her essay, Peach Henry argues that the book, despite its intensive use of the N-word, still shouldn’t be banned from the school system at all. I definitely disagree with Peach Henry’s argument. For me, the N-word is just so intense even just to whisper it. I strongly feel that this book should be banned from the school system due to the using of the N-word because this racist word really affects young students in many negative ways.
The use of the N-word in the book has given most readers the obvious shocking and offensive feelings, especially if the reader is a person of color race and young. People criticize this book because it uses a word that serves no good purpose except to “insult” and “humiliate” “black children” in school. Henry writes,
Critics vilify Twain most often and most vehemently for his aggressive use of the pejorative term ‘nigger.’ Detractors, refusing to accept the good intentions of a text that places the insulting epithet so often in the mouths of characters, black and white, ague that no amount of intended irony or satire can erase the humiliation experienced by black children. Reading Huck Finn aloud adds deliberate insult to insensitive injury, complain some. (386)
Henry proves that the N-word really makes people turn against each other, especially between races. Even one might argues that Mark Twain uses the N-word to give readers a picture of how African American people were treated, especially those southern people who lived along the Mississippi River at the time being. Well, there are many ways to describe people’s lives without dehumanizing them such as using the N-word against them. It would be questionable if this N-word wouldn’t cause a stir in a classroom where there is a diversity of races. People send children to school to learn knowledge, not to learn a racist word against one’s race. Even though the book is a piece of America historical literatures, people still get upset whenever they hear the N-word. This word reminds people of their ancestors’ lives, especially African American people who were treated unfairly and inhumane at that time. The N-word is a serious racist word which should be avoided totally. That is one of the reasons I believe that the book should be banned from the school system.
A racist word has brought up the controversy about human race. The N-word stands for the blacken memories of a specific time line in American history, which people are trying to avoid by all means. Henry asserts,
To dismiss the word’s recurrence in the work as an accurate rendition of nineteenth-century American linguistic conventions denies what every black person knows: Far more than a synonym for slave, ‘nigger’ signifies a concept. It conjures centuries of specifically black degradation and humiliation during which the family was disintegrated, education was denied, manhood was trapped within a forced perpetual puerilism, and womanhood was destroyed by concubinage. If one grants that Twain substituted ‘nigger’ for ‘slave,’ the implications of the word do not improve; ‘nigger’ denotes the black man as a commodity, as chattel. (389)
Even many decades have passed; people still haven’t forgotten their origins. This book has done more harmful stuffs than as its intentions have because of its use of the N-word. Young students are not fully mature enough. They know the history but they might not understand it. They learn things from school. And if we use this book in school, they would learn the words in the book as well. The obvious language used in the book would be practiced as a normal concept. How would people react to the situation when a black kid goes home and calls his father “n*****”? Have the scholars who defend for the use of the book in the school system ever thought about this event yet? The word was used not only against a particular person but the whole human race. Education doesn’t mean to separate people based on their color. Education should bring people close to each other. Therefore the school shouldn’t use this book in its curricular system to maintain its main purpose of only focusing on knowledge.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Blog 10
After reading Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, I just thought about the book as its purpose was giving me some information about the slavery in American history. Until I read Peach Henry’s essay, I realize that the Huck Finn book has been the center of the controversies about race. In her essay, Peach Henry argues that the book, despite its intensive use of the N-word, still shouldn’t be banned from the school system at all. I definitely disagree with Peach Henry’s argument. For me, even the book is considered a piece of American literature; it still should be banned from the school system due to its negative effects on young students who are not fully mature enough to understand the implying intention of Mark Twain when he wrote the book.
The use of the N-word in the book has given most readers offensive feelings, especially if the reader is of color race and at a young age. People criticize the book of its racial word because this word gives no good uses except insult and humiliation to black children in school. Henry writes,
Critics vilify Twain most often and most vehemently for his aggressive use of the pejorative term ‘nigger.’ Detractors, refusing to accept the good intentions of a text that places the insulting epithet so often in the mouths of characters, black and white, ague that no amount of intended irony or satire can erase the humiliation experienced by black children. Reading Huck Finn aloud adds deliberate insult to insensitive injury, complain some. (386)
I believe Mark Twain was trying to focus as true as possible to the real lives of the southern people along the Mississippi River at that time. The use of the N-word in the book, if the readers don’t understand the intended imply meaning, would cause a stir in a classroom where there is a diversity of races. Even though the book is a piece about the historical time of the country, people would still get upset when they are reminded of their unpleasant memories of their ancestors’ lives, especially African American people who were treated unfairly and inhumane at that time. As of today we have overcome our differences to live together united as of today but there are still some differences which differentiate us from each other. That is what makes us so unique. However, a unique won’t eliminate the hurtful feelings by being called one “nigger” like that. The word is a serious racist against one race. That is one of the reasons why the book should be banned from the school system.
The use of the N-word in the book has given most readers offensive feelings, especially if the reader is of color race and at a young age. People criticize the book of its racial word because this word gives no good uses except insult and humiliation to black children in school. Henry writes,
Critics vilify Twain most often and most vehemently for his aggressive use of the pejorative term ‘nigger.’ Detractors, refusing to accept the good intentions of a text that places the insulting epithet so often in the mouths of characters, black and white, ague that no amount of intended irony or satire can erase the humiliation experienced by black children. Reading Huck Finn aloud adds deliberate insult to insensitive injury, complain some. (386)
I believe Mark Twain was trying to focus as true as possible to the real lives of the southern people along the Mississippi River at that time. The use of the N-word in the book, if the readers don’t understand the intended imply meaning, would cause a stir in a classroom where there is a diversity of races. Even though the book is a piece about the historical time of the country, people would still get upset when they are reminded of their unpleasant memories of their ancestors’ lives, especially African American people who were treated unfairly and inhumane at that time. As of today we have overcome our differences to live together united as of today but there are still some differences which differentiate us from each other. That is what makes us so unique. However, a unique won’t eliminate the hurtful feelings by being called one “nigger” like that. The word is a serious racist against one race. That is one of the reasons why the book should be banned from the school system.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Blog 9
After reading the article about the councilman in Cotati who posted his picture with a black face on his blog, I felt that this man is somehow racist. On Barich’s blog, he put several pictures of the President Obama as a woman, as a cowboy in front of the White House, and in one picture a man disguised as the President with the evil look. If saying that the councilman was not racist, it was absolutely not true at all. As a white person, or even as a councilman, Barich couldn’t just do anything that he felt pleased. He had to give some considerations to others, especially when the issue was the sensitive topic like this. According to his responses to NAACP racist comment, I feel that he was just trying to deny his initial motive of putting his picture in a black face on his own blog. Didn’t he know that people would see it and question his motive then? The reasons he gave to defense his motive were just nonsense. He was referring to the time he had volunteer at the Hurricane Katrina or his request for help at the Hurricane Rita as those examples that he was concerned about people of colors. These wouldn’t help at all, Barich. Even when he removed his picture, its results are still there. He already crossed the line and he thought that people would let him slip through this incident. I really appreciate his meaningful thoughts about color people and his volunteer services or request of help during those catastrophes. But Barich, please don’t use those excuses to cover up your own racism toward others.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Peer Review Essay # 4
Essay # 4 draft
Jim – a Stereotypical or a Real Person?
Being an immigrant in America, I have heard a lot about the black slavery from the Civil War. Recently, I have read “The adventures of Huckberry Finn” by Mark Twain for one of my English class’s assignments. Since the publishing of this book, there were numerous controversies about different aspects such as race, gender, and between human beings at that time. “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn” told us about Huck or a little white boy’s adventures with a runaway black slave. This runaway slave named Jim. Under Mark Twain’s pen, Jim was characterized as the second main character in these adventures and he was up to the same level as a white person despite the fact that he was portrayed as a stereotypical black slave.
In the beginning of the story, Jim appeared in a shadow. He was just an ordinary slave who served old Miss Watson, living in the same house as Huckleberry. Fearing for being sold away, Jim had ran away because he wished not to become a slave for some others. Then he met Huck while hiding on the empty Jackson’s Island. Together they made their adventures down south instead of going north to look for freedom. Throughout these adventures with Huck, Jim had taught Huck quite a few good lessons about human being and about the differences between classes in society at that time. As in the happy ending, Jim finally became a free man.
This characterization of Jim was portrayed as a stereotypical southern black person at that time. People would assume that a black slave would be uneducated, stupid, dumb, mean, and worthless. Being a slave, of course, Jim couldn’t get any kind of education at all. All he did was pretty much what he had learned from his own experiences. Luckily, he had a great master, old Miss Watson. Even though she was tough with him but she made him pray every day. From those prayers he could have learned something valuable about human, right? Another unfortunate fact was that Jim was a black man. Being black meant that he would be a slave forever; he would not be able to become a free person at all. A black slave had become a white person’s own property and he could be sold or killed as the owner pleased. Black people were being pushed down to the lowest level in the society. They had become the worthless property in human’s life. That is so untrue. How could they become the worthless property while they could work all their lives, sweat their tears and blood, sacrifice their own freedom to make people rich? I would say that these people are the most valuable assets to have. Because of those rude stereotypes, some black people would act very mean just in order to protect their hurtful feelings. They were hiding their own feelings; they didn’t want people to think of them otherwise. They had to live in their shells, not allowed to look forward or outside of that shell. I don’t think that black people would be much meaner than any other races. Eventually, some white people would be really mean such as Huck’s father character in this story. Huck’s father appeared to be worse than this black man. He was drunk all the time and tried to take Huck along to live his desperate life. Saying that black slave was always dumb and stupid, that was not true at all. Twain showed us that Jim, a black slave, has a very simple mind but his mental was the same as human as anyone else. He thought things logically, based on the appearance of events. For example, when Jim said that “it was a sign it was going to rain” when Jim and Huck saw some young birds “flying a yard or tow at a time and lightning” (67.) The reason Jim was so sure about the rain was that he had learned from his experiences and he realized that young birds and young chickens were similar species; therefore, they must shared similar instinct about the change in the weather. I would say that Jim was pretty smart. I would be never understand or conclude something like he did in my life. I must be the stupid one here.
From my opinion, it looked like Twain wanted to make Jim a character that was challenging the society’s expectation about the black slave at that particular time. People ignored Jim because he was black, because he was a slave. No one would question why Twain put him on the same level as Huck, even mentor Huck in some ways about life. Jim was an old man. He was yearning for his freedom when he ran away from home. He was always trying to save money so that he could buy himself out and his wife and his children. Huck was a white kid. He was an orphan even though his father was still alive. He was brought up poorly. Huck would be considered as low as Jim. However, Jim didn’t look at Huck that way. For Jim, Huck was white, and that was proved by the way Jim treated Huck as superior. Moreover, during their escape, Jim considered Huck a close person, such as his son by protecting and caring for him all the time. Jim devoted himself to Huck in every situation. He was always grateful about Huck being nice and helped him during several difficult situations. Every time they got separated and then reunited, Jim always showed his emotion toward Huck. Like when they met again after their raft got hit by a big steamboat, Jim “nearly cried, he was so glad” (120.)
There were some controversies about whether Jim was a minstrel. Initially, a minstrel was a servant who would sing and dance to entertain his owner. I don’t think that Jim was a minstrel at all. Most of the time being with Huck, Jim was pretty much controlled by others, including Huck, a little boy. Why did he let others do that to him? Did he do so to entertain them? Actually, he didn’t entertain any of them. Twain put Jim in several situations to present the bitter reality in society at that time. Remember when the king and the duke printed out some fliers portrayed Jim as a wanted runaway nigger and had him all tied up while they were away conning people. He let them did that in order for them all traveled safely during the daytime as he also wanted to hurry to the free land. Or another time, the duke “dressed Jim up in King Lear’s outfit… painted Jim’s face and hands and ears and neck all over a dead dull solid blue, like a man that’s been drowned nine days (155.) Jim was even satisfied with their instruction because he didn’t want to become their burden. Jim also believed Huck indefinitely as one of his nature of believing in people. Under his skin, Jim was equally a white person as Huck realized “he was white inside” (249) after Huck and Tom rescued and set Jim free.
There is a double consciousness in Jim. From his appearance, people were making assumption of him as being lazy, stupid and somewhat dangerous, not to be around the “white” society. However, inside Jim, another human being who showed concerns, sincerity and gratefulness toward others. Like when Tom was injured while rescuing Jim free, Jim didn’t run away when the old doctor would leave Tom by himself on the isolated island for help. If anyone appeared to be the runaway slave in that case, he would just abandoned Tom and left for his freedom rather than helping and risking being arrested again.
It was really interesting to read about Jim character in this story. Twain seemed to tell the “white class” people to give more respects and some considerations toward the black slaves in their live. Jim was the same human as everyone else and he should be treated equally. From this book, I believe that Twain wanted to send a message to everyone that human beings are the same no matter how different they look and that their consciousness is the most important and valuable.
Jim – a Stereotypical or a Real Person?
Being an immigrant in America, I have heard a lot about the black slavery from the Civil War. Recently, I have read “The adventures of Huckberry Finn” by Mark Twain for one of my English class’s assignments. Since the publishing of this book, there were numerous controversies about different aspects such as race, gender, and between human beings at that time. “The adventures of Huckleberry Finn” told us about Huck or a little white boy’s adventures with a runaway black slave. This runaway slave named Jim. Under Mark Twain’s pen, Jim was characterized as the second main character in these adventures and he was up to the same level as a white person despite the fact that he was portrayed as a stereotypical black slave.
In the beginning of the story, Jim appeared in a shadow. He was just an ordinary slave who served old Miss Watson, living in the same house as Huckleberry. Fearing for being sold away, Jim had ran away because he wished not to become a slave for some others. Then he met Huck while hiding on the empty Jackson’s Island. Together they made their adventures down south instead of going north to look for freedom. Throughout these adventures with Huck, Jim had taught Huck quite a few good lessons about human being and about the differences between classes in society at that time. As in the happy ending, Jim finally became a free man.
This characterization of Jim was portrayed as a stereotypical southern black person at that time. People would assume that a black slave would be uneducated, stupid, dumb, mean, and worthless. Being a slave, of course, Jim couldn’t get any kind of education at all. All he did was pretty much what he had learned from his own experiences. Luckily, he had a great master, old Miss Watson. Even though she was tough with him but she made him pray every day. From those prayers he could have learned something valuable about human, right? Another unfortunate fact was that Jim was a black man. Being black meant that he would be a slave forever; he would not be able to become a free person at all. A black slave had become a white person’s own property and he could be sold or killed as the owner pleased. Black people were being pushed down to the lowest level in the society. They had become the worthless property in human’s life. That is so untrue. How could they become the worthless property while they could work all their lives, sweat their tears and blood, sacrifice their own freedom to make people rich? I would say that these people are the most valuable assets to have. Because of those rude stereotypes, some black people would act very mean just in order to protect their hurtful feelings. They were hiding their own feelings; they didn’t want people to think of them otherwise. They had to live in their shells, not allowed to look forward or outside of that shell. I don’t think that black people would be much meaner than any other races. Eventually, some white people would be really mean such as Huck’s father character in this story. Huck’s father appeared to be worse than this black man. He was drunk all the time and tried to take Huck along to live his desperate life. Saying that black slave was always dumb and stupid, that was not true at all. Twain showed us that Jim, a black slave, has a very simple mind but his mental was the same as human as anyone else. He thought things logically, based on the appearance of events. For example, when Jim said that “it was a sign it was going to rain” when Jim and Huck saw some young birds “flying a yard or tow at a time and lightning” (67.) The reason Jim was so sure about the rain was that he had learned from his experiences and he realized that young birds and young chickens were similar species; therefore, they must shared similar instinct about the change in the weather. I would say that Jim was pretty smart. I would be never understand or conclude something like he did in my life. I must be the stupid one here.
From my opinion, it looked like Twain wanted to make Jim a character that was challenging the society’s expectation about the black slave at that particular time. People ignored Jim because he was black, because he was a slave. No one would question why Twain put him on the same level as Huck, even mentor Huck in some ways about life. Jim was an old man. He was yearning for his freedom when he ran away from home. He was always trying to save money so that he could buy himself out and his wife and his children. Huck was a white kid. He was an orphan even though his father was still alive. He was brought up poorly. Huck would be considered as low as Jim. However, Jim didn’t look at Huck that way. For Jim, Huck was white, and that was proved by the way Jim treated Huck as superior. Moreover, during their escape, Jim considered Huck a close person, such as his son by protecting and caring for him all the time. Jim devoted himself to Huck in every situation. He was always grateful about Huck being nice and helped him during several difficult situations. Every time they got separated and then reunited, Jim always showed his emotion toward Huck. Like when they met again after their raft got hit by a big steamboat, Jim “nearly cried, he was so glad” (120.)
There were some controversies about whether Jim was a minstrel. Initially, a minstrel was a servant who would sing and dance to entertain his owner. I don’t think that Jim was a minstrel at all. Most of the time being with Huck, Jim was pretty much controlled by others, including Huck, a little boy. Why did he let others do that to him? Did he do so to entertain them? Actually, he didn’t entertain any of them. Twain put Jim in several situations to present the bitter reality in society at that time. Remember when the king and the duke printed out some fliers portrayed Jim as a wanted runaway nigger and had him all tied up while they were away conning people. He let them did that in order for them all traveled safely during the daytime as he also wanted to hurry to the free land. Or another time, the duke “dressed Jim up in King Lear’s outfit… painted Jim’s face and hands and ears and neck all over a dead dull solid blue, like a man that’s been drowned nine days (155.) Jim was even satisfied with their instruction because he didn’t want to become their burden. Jim also believed Huck indefinitely as one of his nature of believing in people. Under his skin, Jim was equally a white person as Huck realized “he was white inside” (249) after Huck and Tom rescued and set Jim free.
There is a double consciousness in Jim. From his appearance, people were making assumption of him as being lazy, stupid and somewhat dangerous, not to be around the “white” society. However, inside Jim, another human being who showed concerns, sincerity and gratefulness toward others. Like when Tom was injured while rescuing Jim free, Jim didn’t run away when the old doctor would leave Tom by himself on the isolated island for help. If anyone appeared to be the runaway slave in that case, he would just abandoned Tom and left for his freedom rather than helping and risking being arrested again.
It was really interesting to read about Jim character in this story. Twain seemed to tell the “white class” people to give more respects and some considerations toward the black slaves in their live. Jim was the same human as everyone else and he should be treated equally. From this book, I believe that Twain wanted to send a message to everyone that human beings are the same no matter how different they look and that their consciousness is the most important and valuable.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Blog 8
My topic for essay 4 would be topic # 2. It is about Jim character. Jim is a stereotype of the southern slave at that time. He is a minstrel through his adventures with Huck.
My points would be:
1. Jim is stereotyped as a normal slave at that time such as uneducated, honest, and superstitious.
2. He is minstrel because he lets others make him, change him into another character to fit with the certain occasions.
3. Jim has a double consciousness.
4. Jim would become loyal to whoever understands him and trusts him.
My points would be:
1. Jim is stereotyped as a normal slave at that time such as uneducated, honest, and superstitious.
2. He is minstrel because he lets others make him, change him into another character to fit with the certain occasions.
3. Jim has a double consciousness.
4. Jim would become loyal to whoever understands him and trusts him.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Blog 7
For me, I really don't understand the whole meaning of satire very much. According to Wikipedia website, satire is a literacy genre of form, usually it is found in the graphic and performance art. It could be funny, ridicule but its humor might depend on its target, its purpose. For an effective satire, the elements must be that it should sound funny, ridicule; the target would be some popular persons, events, or stories; its features are strong irony or sarcastism but exaggeration, juxtaposition. For example of satire, usually I would think of something about like Tina Fey acted like Sarah Palin during the Presidential Election period. Or something like other actors who mimicked "Tom Cruise's jumping on the couch" style. Anyway, I found this poem which is satire, I think it's really funny. But it does make sense when you read out loud, otherwise you would think it of inappropriate. http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/satire.html
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Blog 6
As I have read up to chapter 18, character Jim appears as a human being. He is a slave, uneducated person. He appears to be a mean black one but in fact he has a warm heart. He doesn’t want to be a slave anymore. He tries to save money to buy him out, to buy his wife and his children. He recognizes who he is and because of his social status differences in that society, he has to try very hard. Also, he is very stubborn in some areas like his opinions about King Solomon. His superstitions are just too much which cause him to become kind of a passive person. As a slave, he is very helpful in pairing with Huck in surviving on the raft while they run away.
Anyway, I don’t think Jim is a minstrel. He also doesn’t have a double consciousness. He knows who he is. All he wants to do is to be a free man, to be himself. He is the same human being as anyone else.
Anyway, I don’t think Jim is a minstrel. He also doesn’t have a double consciousness. He knows who he is. All he wants to do is to be a free man, to be himself. He is the same human being as anyone else.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Blog 5
In my personal view, racism is still existing out there no matter how people say. Racism between different groups of people might be downsized to stereotyping each others discreetly. For me, if a person doesn't take these stereotype personally than it would just become a humor or a reflection in our daily lives. I agree that these stereotypes are hard to accept because of theirs deep meanings. Anyway, they are just temporary thoughts hopefully. As the world is changing, I wish that people would respect each others more. They should consider privacy and freedom as their privileges in order to help each others to get through. As for the people who are blaming for equality, banning of racism, etc. have they ever questioned themselves out loud that they are really free from those issues in their daily routine? I think people need to put themselves in the situation first before they start to speak up about those sensitive issues. Just be yourselves and open mind to accept the changes.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Peer Review Essay # 3
Essay # 3 draft
Perception Can Undermine a Person’s Ability
As one of immigrants from Asia, I have become a part of this international country. Being a minority in this country has to face many obstacles to succeed in life. Being different from others receives lots of perception and judgment. They are annoying, upsetting or even humiliate! The truth is that these perceptions can not reveal who the person really is because they usually undermine one’s capabilities in many circumstances.
First, a person’s ethnic can be largely the most reason for people’s perception. The majority of people live in America are considered “white”. If a person doesn’t fall into that category, then he is a minority. People usually judge others discreetly by race. Being an Asian, there were numerous times I received lots of perceptions toward my ethnic. Most of the time people would label me as an illegal worker who worked for cash and not paying tax. Or I would be someone who lived on Food Stamp, and Well-fare program. Some of them tried to be nice and understandable to me probably because they pitied me. Others might give me a cautious look whenever I came near them. Yet another might hate me because he felt ashamed of me for my race. They might look down on me because I am not “white,” because I am considered inferior to them. What is wrong with my race, anyway? Was it because Chinese immigrants were among the first entered this country as laborers? Or was it because I am from a country which defeated America more than three decades ago? It seems that minorities usually gather in one area to form their own communities such as China town, Korean town, Japan town, etc. I am not the only one who suffers from these perceptions. Others might experience similar situations like mine. Sometime these things really disturb and upset me. However, I can’t change the fact that I am an Asian. Luckily for me, I am living in California where there is diversity of many nationalities; so I don’t feel like a stranger at all. One’s ethnic can’t distinguish him for being smart or stupid, hard-working or lazy, good man or a dangerous criminal. Such perceptions like these lead people to stereotype others and cause lots of unfortunate situations. I still remember the Oscar case not too long ago. He was shot because he was labeled as a dangerous black man even though he was arrested, lying on the ground and handcuffed. Having a different skin tone shouldn’t be the reason for getting unequal treatment. Remember, the current President of the United States is a black man. People need to acknowledge others’ potential abilities in success but not by their skin.
Beside the ethnic, I think people also perceive others based on appearance such as clothes. Clothes are just accessories but they could make the person who wears them be perceived differently. For example, I am a manicurist so I always wear casual clothes at work. My job includes lots of contact with chemical and nail polish. Accidents like chemical spilling, broken color bottles happen all the time. The polish bottle is broken and the color splashes everywhere, on the shoe, on clothes. Chemical spilled on clothes will leave irremovable stains. I have seen lots of manicurists wearing nice and expensive clothes go to work. I’m sure that they have to be very careful not to let these kinds of accident happen ever. For me, as long as I am comfortable workings without any stress about protecting clothes, pretty clothes don’t matter. It would be very weird to visit a salon where manicurists and hairdressers wear formal evening dresses or Armani suits? Lots of people, included my some of coworkers, question me about my casual and cheap clothes at work. In my opinion, I am working to make my clients’ nails beautiful; I am not competing to be a fashion model here. I remember one time I went shopping at Nordstrom in San Francisco with my then-fiancé to buy him a suit for our engagement ceremony. . We were just wearing casual jeans and T-shirt. No body came to offer help but they were standing around and watched us cautiously. Then we came to a man and asked for help in choosing the size of an Armani suit. He looked at us from head to toe and told us that these suits were very expensive for us then just walked away. We were really shocked. My fiancé was so pissed that we left the store. The next week, we came back the same place. This time we wore nice clothes. Just as we stepped that area, sale people came and offered to help us shopping. What a reversed experience! Since then, I choose appropriate clothes depend on where I go. Sometime, I feel so funny when people perceive and treat me differently. Clothes should not be used to measure one’s class. People wear appropriate clothes for a certain occasion. So people please don’t perceive others by their appearance. Beyond those clothes, everyone is equal.
Last but not least, people also perceive me based on my economy status. Being just an average below-medium person in America, I know that lots of people look down on me. The funny thing is that they are “my people,” the Asian people in general or Vietnamese people. These people judge me by the car which I am driving, the place where I am living, and the job that I am working. By all of these things, they assume that I am poor, I am worthless. Not too long ago, I would really concern and curious about their perception. I scrambled on success to change their view. Time goes by, it seems like I have passed that stage in life. I don’t really care how people perceive me. Yet I am poor but I have a big heart. I am poor but my friends, my coworkers and many people respect me for who I really am. I am not a spoiled and rude person. I work hard to live my dreams.
These perceptions remind me of who I really am. I am not trying to bring myself to the same level as others. I would not let these perceptions undermine me. I want to prove that I am capable of my success.
Perception Can Undermine a Person’s Ability
As one of immigrants from Asia, I have become a part of this international country. Being a minority in this country has to face many obstacles to succeed in life. Being different from others receives lots of perception and judgment. They are annoying, upsetting or even humiliate! The truth is that these perceptions can not reveal who the person really is because they usually undermine one’s capabilities in many circumstances.
First, a person’s ethnic can be largely the most reason for people’s perception. The majority of people live in America are considered “white”. If a person doesn’t fall into that category, then he is a minority. People usually judge others discreetly by race. Being an Asian, there were numerous times I received lots of perceptions toward my ethnic. Most of the time people would label me as an illegal worker who worked for cash and not paying tax. Or I would be someone who lived on Food Stamp, and Well-fare program. Some of them tried to be nice and understandable to me probably because they pitied me. Others might give me a cautious look whenever I came near them. Yet another might hate me because he felt ashamed of me for my race. They might look down on me because I am not “white,” because I am considered inferior to them. What is wrong with my race, anyway? Was it because Chinese immigrants were among the first entered this country as laborers? Or was it because I am from a country which defeated America more than three decades ago? It seems that minorities usually gather in one area to form their own communities such as China town, Korean town, Japan town, etc. I am not the only one who suffers from these perceptions. Others might experience similar situations like mine. Sometime these things really disturb and upset me. However, I can’t change the fact that I am an Asian. Luckily for me, I am living in California where there is diversity of many nationalities; so I don’t feel like a stranger at all. One’s ethnic can’t distinguish him for being smart or stupid, hard-working or lazy, good man or a dangerous criminal. Such perceptions like these lead people to stereotype others and cause lots of unfortunate situations. I still remember the Oscar case not too long ago. He was shot because he was labeled as a dangerous black man even though he was arrested, lying on the ground and handcuffed. Having a different skin tone shouldn’t be the reason for getting unequal treatment. Remember, the current President of the United States is a black man. People need to acknowledge others’ potential abilities in success but not by their skin.
Beside the ethnic, I think people also perceive others based on appearance such as clothes. Clothes are just accessories but they could make the person who wears them be perceived differently. For example, I am a manicurist so I always wear casual clothes at work. My job includes lots of contact with chemical and nail polish. Accidents like chemical spilling, broken color bottles happen all the time. The polish bottle is broken and the color splashes everywhere, on the shoe, on clothes. Chemical spilled on clothes will leave irremovable stains. I have seen lots of manicurists wearing nice and expensive clothes go to work. I’m sure that they have to be very careful not to let these kinds of accident happen ever. For me, as long as I am comfortable workings without any stress about protecting clothes, pretty clothes don’t matter. It would be very weird to visit a salon where manicurists and hairdressers wear formal evening dresses or Armani suits? Lots of people, included my some of coworkers, question me about my casual and cheap clothes at work. In my opinion, I am working to make my clients’ nails beautiful; I am not competing to be a fashion model here. I remember one time I went shopping at Nordstrom in San Francisco with my then-fiancé to buy him a suit for our engagement ceremony. . We were just wearing casual jeans and T-shirt. No body came to offer help but they were standing around and watched us cautiously. Then we came to a man and asked for help in choosing the size of an Armani suit. He looked at us from head to toe and told us that these suits were very expensive for us then just walked away. We were really shocked. My fiancé was so pissed that we left the store. The next week, we came back the same place. This time we wore nice clothes. Just as we stepped that area, sale people came and offered to help us shopping. What a reversed experience! Since then, I choose appropriate clothes depend on where I go. Sometime, I feel so funny when people perceive and treat me differently. Clothes should not be used to measure one’s class. People wear appropriate clothes for a certain occasion. So people please don’t perceive others by their appearance. Beyond those clothes, everyone is equal.
Last but not least, people also perceive me based on my economy status. Being just an average below-medium person in America, I know that lots of people look down on me. The funny thing is that they are “my people,” the Asian people in general or Vietnamese people. These people judge me by the car which I am driving, the place where I am living, and the job that I am working. By all of these things, they assume that I am poor, I am worthless. Not too long ago, I would really concern and curious about their perception. I scrambled on success to change their view. Time goes by, it seems like I have passed that stage in life. I don’t really care how people perceive me. Yet I am poor but I have a big heart. I am poor but my friends, my coworkers and many people respect me for who I really am. I am not a spoiled and rude person. I work hard to live my dreams.
These perceptions remind me of who I really am. I am not trying to bring myself to the same level as others. I would not let these perceptions undermine me. I want to prove that I am capable of my success.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Blog # 4
Blog # 4
These ads are sending messages warning children about being obesity in the young age. By using those familiar toys such as Barbie, Superman, these ads could get lots of attention from young viewers. However, there are two side effects in those ads. First, warning about obesity in young age by not being active can put lots of pressure on the people about being thin, or super thin like Barbie. Factors such as: fashion, movie stars, models play a huge role in influencing people about being thin. These things could possibly brain-wash young generation about the ideal body type like Susan Bordo quoted in her article that being fat is considered worse than being handicapped. This is so wrong. Second, theses ads could be considered as offensive to obese people throughout the world. People do not want to become obese. Most of them inherited it from the gene. The rest of them could relate to overeating, stress, or life crisis at some point in life. People criticize others about being thin as skeleton but they also criticize normal healthy person as “fat.” I believe as long as people love and respect each other more, appearance would not matter at all. So, give us a break!
These ads are sending messages warning children about being obesity in the young age. By using those familiar toys such as Barbie, Superman, these ads could get lots of attention from young viewers. However, there are two side effects in those ads. First, warning about obesity in young age by not being active can put lots of pressure on the people about being thin, or super thin like Barbie. Factors such as: fashion, movie stars, models play a huge role in influencing people about being thin. These things could possibly brain-wash young generation about the ideal body type like Susan Bordo quoted in her article that being fat is considered worse than being handicapped. This is so wrong. Second, theses ads could be considered as offensive to obese people throughout the world. People do not want to become obese. Most of them inherited it from the gene. The rest of them could relate to overeating, stress, or life crisis at some point in life. People criticize others about being thin as skeleton but they also criticize normal healthy person as “fat.” I believe as long as people love and respect each other more, appearance would not matter at all. So, give us a break!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Blog # 3
In the video link, “All I need” by Radiohead we had watched in class, the images and the song present an argument about two different worlds which collide with each others. One world is described as the life of our young generation grows up with a bright future and all of the luxury means of lifestyle. On the other hand, the other world is a horrible place where child labor is being exploited to make the country rich with the young generation has no future at all. In the end, the hard works that the child labor did were being used by the child in the developed countries.
I have found this video, it's kind of interesting to see the similarities between these countries even though they are apart from each others for centuries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAba_1vW1mY
I have found this video, it's kind of interesting to see the similarities between these countries even though they are apart from each others for centuries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAba_1vW1mY
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Peer Review Essay # 2
Essay # 2 draft
Television Should Not Interfere With Family Quality
As new technologies grow more and more, television has almost reached its highest level in technologies. With the price of television getting so cheap, every family own more than one television set in the household. The more television the family has, the more distant the family members grow apart in relationship. After reading the essay, Television: The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn, I definitely agree with her point of view about watch television. We should not let the television takes up all of our precious family time together; we have to decide for ourselves which is more important in our lives, the high techs or the relationship.
When the television first came out, everyone was expecting to see the change in a good way such as reuniting family together to watch television. However, no one would be able to foresee about the trend of our children spend time watching the TV. Children were consumed by the media causing the lacking of parenting concern. People believed that “television always enters a pattern if influences that already exist.” However, for Winn, she saw it a different way.
“Television did not merely influence the child; it deeply influenced that ‘pattern of influences.’”
Nowadays, people all use television as one of the information machine to deliver messages to each others. It has contributed the world. People were sucked into it.
The first point Winn made was about the quality of life in the effect of the television. Truly, television keeps family together but it greatly destroys the family special bond. That bond “depends to a great extent on what a family does, what special rituals, games, recurrent jokes, familiar songs, and shared activities.” It seems like we all accept the fact that television is an absolute necessary habit which we can not let go. Now it becomes a drug that we are so addictive to it. Also in this section, Winn mentioned about how the adult’s needs are more fulfilled than the children’s needs by watching television. “The kids were effectively shunted away and rendered untroublesome, while their parents enjoyed a life as undemanding as that of nay childless couple.” Winn believed that the demand of the young children should be taken in consideration instead of the adult's because that is “the future which the family depends.” Quality of life has become the demand of selfish people. Life in a household has become like a caretaking institution.
Winn also talked about how family rituals were affected by watching TV. Well, those rituals such as mealtime, bed time, and holiday time can’t survive without the interfering of the present of television. During mealtime, the TV would be turned on. The kids might be watching cartoon or the adult may just watch the news or favorite shows. Bed time is leading by letting the children watch the last show of their age. Holiday time can be shared by watching TV about a game, a movie, etc. Families have “been reduced to such a sameness.” We hardly find anymore of those rituals and they are becoming uncommon to all of us.
Television Should Not Interfere With Family Quality
As new technologies grow more and more, television has almost reached its highest level in technologies. With the price of television getting so cheap, every family own more than one television set in the household. The more television the family has, the more distant the family members grow apart in relationship. After reading the essay, Television: The Plug-In Drug by Marie Winn, I definitely agree with her point of view about watch television. We should not let the television takes up all of our precious family time together; we have to decide for ourselves which is more important in our lives, the high techs or the relationship.
When the television first came out, everyone was expecting to see the change in a good way such as reuniting family together to watch television. However, no one would be able to foresee about the trend of our children spend time watching the TV. Children were consumed by the media causing the lacking of parenting concern. People believed that “television always enters a pattern if influences that already exist.” However, for Winn, she saw it a different way.
“Television did not merely influence the child; it deeply influenced that ‘pattern of influences.’”
Nowadays, people all use television as one of the information machine to deliver messages to each others. It has contributed the world. People were sucked into it.
The first point Winn made was about the quality of life in the effect of the television. Truly, television keeps family together but it greatly destroys the family special bond. That bond “depends to a great extent on what a family does, what special rituals, games, recurrent jokes, familiar songs, and shared activities.” It seems like we all accept the fact that television is an absolute necessary habit which we can not let go. Now it becomes a drug that we are so addictive to it. Also in this section, Winn mentioned about how the adult’s needs are more fulfilled than the children’s needs by watching television. “The kids were effectively shunted away and rendered untroublesome, while their parents enjoyed a life as undemanding as that of nay childless couple.” Winn believed that the demand of the young children should be taken in consideration instead of the adult's because that is “the future which the family depends.” Quality of life has become the demand of selfish people. Life in a household has become like a caretaking institution.
Winn also talked about how family rituals were affected by watching TV. Well, those rituals such as mealtime, bed time, and holiday time can’t survive without the interfering of the present of television. During mealtime, the TV would be turned on. The kids might be watching cartoon or the adult may just watch the news or favorite shows. Bed time is leading by letting the children watch the last show of their age. Holiday time can be shared by watching TV about a game, a movie, etc. Families have “been reduced to such a sameness.” We hardly find anymore of those rituals and they are becoming uncommon to all of us.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Blog # 2 Banning T-shirts
Our topic this time is about “freedom of speech.” We are living in America where freedom and liberty are our most precious properties of our nation. What are our rights especially as students regarding the banning about T-shirts with messages or pictures? I think that everyone has a right to express themselves through their action, through their clothes, their behaviors, etc. However, we need to know the limit in expressing without violating the law, hurting others, etc. It’s very easy to cross the line from just expressing who you are to prejudicing others. Moreover, people need to look at what that particular person is doing to understand the message he is giving without over criticizing him because of his appearance. In my opinion, both schools shouldn’t ban the T-shirts. It didn’t violate the school regulations at all. Why didn’t school authorities look at other T-shirts with horrible pictures, messages such as skulls, bones, bloody battle, and weapons? Which is not appropriate here, a picture supports our new President or the picture of bloody face killer?
Our topic this time is about “freedom of speech.” We are living in America where freedom and liberty are our most precious properties of our nation. What are our rights especially as students regarding the banning about T-shirts with messages or pictures? I think that everyone has a right to express themselves through their action, through their clothes, their behaviors, etc. However, we need to know the limit in expressing without violating the law, hurting others, etc. It’s very easy to cross the line from just expressing who you are to prejudicing others. Moreover, people need to look at what that particular person is doing to understand the message he is giving without over criticizing him because of his appearance. In my opinion, both schools shouldn’t ban the T-shirts. It didn’t violate the school regulations at all. Why didn’t school authorities look at other T-shirts with horrible pictures, messages such as skulls, bones, bloody battle, and weapons? Which is not appropriate here, a picture supports our new President or the picture of bloody face killer?
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Blog # 1 Favorite song
Since growing up in Vietnam, I prefer Vietnamese songs to American songs. One of my favorite songs is “Dem Ganh Hao Nghe Dieu Hoai Lang.” This song is about the wife whose husband went to war and not come back but she still waited for him until the old age. The melody of the song praises the eternal love and loyalty of the woman toward her man. Somehow, I feel connected to the woman in this song. The feeling that this woman was going through is exactly what I am feeling right now. It’s the feeling of love but a lonely love. When we love, we want to be together inseparably forever. But is it fair for us when someone would not return our love? Nowadays, I don’t think women would just sit and wait for love. I am not! I want to find my love and that love is also in returned. If he doesn’t love me anymore, I rather continue on with my life without him. This song serves as one of stereotypes about Vietnamese women’s virtue which has also trapped many unhappy lives in unfortunate fates since the old days.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
about Peer Review # 1
Thanks you guys, I really appreciate your comments about my first draft. Yes, I think my thesis is not strong enough. I am working on it. I went to the writing center after the class. And I had to fix a lot of things in my essay. I had a lot of typo in ESL things. Hopefully, by the due date, it will be ok!
Peer Review Essay Draft # 1
English 1A
Spring 2009-4795
Nancy Ngoc Mai
Essay # 1
The Most Challenging Moment in my Education
After high school, I came to the United States to continue my study abroad, and to carry my parents’ wishes in higher education. Even though I had chosen a major of Business Administrative, I still had no idea of what I wanted to do if I would graduate. I didn’t want to be a teacher because I hated school so much. My father was a businessman, so I guessed I would rather be a businesswoman. I spent two years struggling in a community college because of the language barrier, and also because I really didn’t like school. Luckily, I did most of my prerequisites for that major. However, I figured out I was not interested in school anymore. I felt that I had spent so many years studying already. I had dropped out of school, worked for money and enjoyed life as any young person would. I was living a wasted life without serious thoughts about life or anything else. Then, I took the first trip back home to visit my parents who were living in Vietnam after being away for five years. After seeing friends at a class reunion, I realized that education is very important and I had been wasting time looking for the meaning of life out of education.
At that trip, I had a chance to attend my class reunion with all of my high school friends. I was shocked and surprised when we talked about our personal life. My friends were all graduated from a four-year college, had earned a Bachelor degree, and some were working on a Masters degree. Some even wanted to go for a PhD degree. Compared to them, I was nothing. I was just a high school graduate, nothing more. Not even to mention that, some of them didn’t achieve the academic performance as I did. I was so embarrassed when they asked me what I had achieved during the five years in America. I couldn’t answer their question. My parents were upset about my decision. I was confused and depressed afterward. What could I have done in those years? I could become a business woman, a lawyer, or even working on become a doctor. I didn’t become anything.
After that trip, I had decided to go back to America and do something, at least for my own sake. After giving serious thoughts about what my life would be, education was my only option to make changes. Without education I can’t accomplish anything. I didn’t want to become just a labor worker. I wanted to be able to use my brain for challenges. I wanted to change my life around. I wanted to be proud of myself when I told my high school friends or my family about who I was. I wanted people to take me seriously because of my knowledge. I decided to go back to school. However, I didn’t continue my education in Business because I feel like I had no interest in it anymore. People were talking a lot about the medical field. So I decided to explore myself in this subject. It was really hard at the beginning. I was struggling between school, a full time job and a new baby. With my husband’s support, I was able to fully engage myself in studying; to concentrate in learning. I had mostly overcome my fear about the language barrier.
My life has turned around. I love school so much, and I am so regretful for those wasted years. I graduated from Empire College with a Clinical Medical Assistant certificate, became a state certified Medical Assistant. I realized that I really like the medical field. I am thinking about going to the Medical school for a Doctor degree but my age seems to limit me from going that direction. Now I just want to become a Nurse. School is hard but I definitely love it. I rather go to school than go to work now. Yet I still have to work part time in order to financially support my own family and me. Life is busy, hard and unexpected but I would rather strike through it. I have wasted so much of my younger years in unnecessary and useless things. Time will never going backward again. And if I don’t try my best to achieve my goal, I would never be able to do it again.
Also, I realized that my identity was not affirmed just by working and working. I wanted something else besides just working for the money. Something could give me more challenges. And of course, I wanted to do something beneficial to give back to our society. Honestly, more education could mean higher pay, more opportunities to find a job. I am pursuing this Pre-Nursing program because I believe that I can do it. A lot of people can do it, why not me, right? I had always been the one who sit back and follow others’ directions or wishes. Now, I want to take the action, to take control of my life. I want to fulfill my dream and show the world that I, as anyone else, could become anything once I set my heart to it. Nothing can stop me now.
I feel proud and confident about myself enough to continue my dream goal. Education is the first and the most important step to be successful in life. Even though there are many challenges, education will eventually pay you back for your hard work. I want to encourage young people and my children to give serious thoughts about education. Education will lead you to where you want to be as long as you set your heart in it. You will be able to achieve your dream goals. I am working on my dreams now. That class reunion with my high school friends several years ago was my most important turning point in life. It opened my eyes to a whole new life and education. It led me to who I am now. It gave me the absolute reason to pursue an educational goal.
Spring 2009-4795
Nancy Ngoc Mai
Essay # 1
The Most Challenging Moment in my Education
After high school, I came to the United States to continue my study abroad, and to carry my parents’ wishes in higher education. Even though I had chosen a major of Business Administrative, I still had no idea of what I wanted to do if I would graduate. I didn’t want to be a teacher because I hated school so much. My father was a businessman, so I guessed I would rather be a businesswoman. I spent two years struggling in a community college because of the language barrier, and also because I really didn’t like school. Luckily, I did most of my prerequisites for that major. However, I figured out I was not interested in school anymore. I felt that I had spent so many years studying already. I had dropped out of school, worked for money and enjoyed life as any young person would. I was living a wasted life without serious thoughts about life or anything else. Then, I took the first trip back home to visit my parents who were living in Vietnam after being away for five years. After seeing friends at a class reunion, I realized that education is very important and I had been wasting time looking for the meaning of life out of education.
At that trip, I had a chance to attend my class reunion with all of my high school friends. I was shocked and surprised when we talked about our personal life. My friends were all graduated from a four-year college, had earned a Bachelor degree, and some were working on a Masters degree. Some even wanted to go for a PhD degree. Compared to them, I was nothing. I was just a high school graduate, nothing more. Not even to mention that, some of them didn’t achieve the academic performance as I did. I was so embarrassed when they asked me what I had achieved during the five years in America. I couldn’t answer their question. My parents were upset about my decision. I was confused and depressed afterward. What could I have done in those years? I could become a business woman, a lawyer, or even working on become a doctor. I didn’t become anything.
After that trip, I had decided to go back to America and do something, at least for my own sake. After giving serious thoughts about what my life would be, education was my only option to make changes. Without education I can’t accomplish anything. I didn’t want to become just a labor worker. I wanted to be able to use my brain for challenges. I wanted to change my life around. I wanted to be proud of myself when I told my high school friends or my family about who I was. I wanted people to take me seriously because of my knowledge. I decided to go back to school. However, I didn’t continue my education in Business because I feel like I had no interest in it anymore. People were talking a lot about the medical field. So I decided to explore myself in this subject. It was really hard at the beginning. I was struggling between school, a full time job and a new baby. With my husband’s support, I was able to fully engage myself in studying; to concentrate in learning. I had mostly overcome my fear about the language barrier.
My life has turned around. I love school so much, and I am so regretful for those wasted years. I graduated from Empire College with a Clinical Medical Assistant certificate, became a state certified Medical Assistant. I realized that I really like the medical field. I am thinking about going to the Medical school for a Doctor degree but my age seems to limit me from going that direction. Now I just want to become a Nurse. School is hard but I definitely love it. I rather go to school than go to work now. Yet I still have to work part time in order to financially support my own family and me. Life is busy, hard and unexpected but I would rather strike through it. I have wasted so much of my younger years in unnecessary and useless things. Time will never going backward again. And if I don’t try my best to achieve my goal, I would never be able to do it again.
Also, I realized that my identity was not affirmed just by working and working. I wanted something else besides just working for the money. Something could give me more challenges. And of course, I wanted to do something beneficial to give back to our society. Honestly, more education could mean higher pay, more opportunities to find a job. I am pursuing this Pre-Nursing program because I believe that I can do it. A lot of people can do it, why not me, right? I had always been the one who sit back and follow others’ directions or wishes. Now, I want to take the action, to take control of my life. I want to fulfill my dream and show the world that I, as anyone else, could become anything once I set my heart to it. Nothing can stop me now.
I feel proud and confident about myself enough to continue my dream goal. Education is the first and the most important step to be successful in life. Even though there are many challenges, education will eventually pay you back for your hard work. I want to encourage young people and my children to give serious thoughts about education. Education will lead you to where you want to be as long as you set your heart in it. You will be able to achieve your dream goals. I am working on my dreams now. That class reunion with my high school friends several years ago was my most important turning point in life. It opened my eyes to a whole new life and education. It led me to who I am now. It gave me the absolute reason to pursue an educational goal.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Nancy Ngoc Mai
Hello all, welcome to my blog.
Let's share our thoughts, feelings and laughs to make our life even more wonderful as it has already been.
Love each others more. (wells, I am try to..........)
Let's share our thoughts, feelings and laughs to make our life even more wonderful as it has already been.
Love each others more. (wells, I am try to..........)
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