by Connor GilliganIn March, my article focused on happiness in America. I wrote a list of things that made me happy and on that list; I wrote fishing as one of the activities that made me happy. What I didn’t mention was that fishing gives me a joy like nothing else. When I’m fishing, I feel a sense of complete peace; there is no other thought in my mind besides the idea of catching a fish. For me, fishing is possibly the most relaxing activity out there. Fishing has been my favorite hobby since I can remember; I even figured out a way to fish in the middle of the desert. I would like to talk about the significant impact fishing has had on my life. Fishing has given me some of my greatest memories and happiest times, but that will not be the only focus of this article. In typical fashion, I will also shed some light on the health benefits of the subject at hand, which, this time around, happens to be one of my favorite things in the world: fishing. There are multiple benefits to be had from fishing. The act of fishing is soothing and stress relieving, yet it is a great source of exercise; reeling in a fish uses muscles from your calves to your neck. And if that wasn’t enough, it has been proven that eating fish can improve life expectancy. Those all sound like good reasons for a fishing trip. Fishing doesn’t just boost your mood because of the fresh air and sunlight; it is also one of the healthiest foods on the planet which affects everything from our brains, to our hearts, to our eyes, and our stomachs. Fish contains protein, omega-3, and vitamin D; most Americans are deficient in at least one of these. There has been a number of studies conducted proving that eating fish improves overall health and well-being. In my last article, I mentioned taking omega-3 supplements to combat depression; and because fish is packed full of omega-3s, eating fish at least three times a week has been proven to reduce signs of depression and raise overall mood. For me fishing is not only about the health benefits, it is about the feeling that comes with it. I can spend countless hours fishing even if the fish aren’t biting; I become mesmerized by the idea of reeling in a monster fish and I lose track of time. In fact, my mind is cleared of every worry in the world as soon as my line enters the water. For me, fishing is comparable to meditation. It’s like the old saying goes, “A bad day fishing is better than a good day at work.” We all need a break from modern society and its hectic pace. Fishing is a great way to relieve the stress placed upon us but the pressures of modern life. Less than an hour a week outdoors can reduce stress levels buy minimum of 20%. Whether you’re fishing for food or for fun you can still relieve stress, increase happiness, and feel at one with nature. I recommend that we all spend more time outdoors, whether that’s fishing, hiking, biking, walking, camping, hunting or frolicking in the woods (I will delve more into this topic in the next article). Fishing has the capacity to make us feel as if we are at one with nature. Weather deep-sea fishing of the Baja Peninsula, fishing a creek in Montana, sitting on a dock in the Gulf of Mexico, or surfcasting in the Atlantic, there is a calming, yet awe-inspiring feeling of being one with nature. There is a yearning in all of us to feel at one with the world, and fishing is a great way to achieve that. Fishing can be somewhat of an existential experience, especially being surrounded by nothing but water, with no land in sight (or for hundreds of miles in any direction for that matter). The ocean enables a different mode of thinking about not just the world, but about one’s self. There is something magical about being on a boat surrounded by nothing but water, or standing at the edge of a lake that has been there for millions of years, or sitting on a dock watching the sun set over the glistening water, not just to fish but to admire the beauty of the world. I can say with all honesty that I have never had a horrible experience fishing; I have had some days that are better than others but I always had fun. Fishing holds a special place in my heart. There were a few years when I was a kid where I wanted to be a commercial fisherman. It is something that makes me happy and helps me get through life with a little bit of sanity. I have wonderful memories of fishing with friends and family. My father and my grandfather introduced me to fishing and someday I will introduce it to my children and their children. Fishing bonds people to the earth and to each other. I’ve had some of the greatest times of my life while I was fishing. Recently my grandpa Jack passed away. I was able to be with him and spend time together for a few days leading up to his death. Many of my most magnificent memories involved this man whom I loved. He was the greatest man that I ever had the pleasure of knowing. He was one of the first people to take me fishing and some of my fondest memories of our intervals together were the hours that we spent fishing. He was always there to take me to whatever location I wanted to fish. I know it made him happy to see me overjoyed at reeling in a fish and I cherish that memory now. He was the kind of person that I aspire to be because he possessed such quality characteristics. I miss him every day, but he taught me a great deal of my most valuable skills and I will cherish the wisdom passed down and the times shared. I’m sure that every time I’m out on the water I will think of him and the good times shared atop the deep sea.
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by: Jeng Yan WongIt was a rainy and chilly Saturday morning and the weather seemed to foretell the atmosphere of the day. We were heading to a destination with one of the darkest moments in history, and it was an indescribable feeling. The saddest part of the exhibition was where a number of luggage are displayed. The victims of Nazi persecution entered the camp believing in a common lie, a lie that reassured them that they will be reunited with their families. Each luggage held its own identity, with individual names written on it with the hope of being reclaimed. The truth was never realized by the victims until the moment of their impending death. The sight strikes a chord in me, knowing that these luggage will never be reclaimed. Their individual identity was striped from the moment they entered the camp, they were shaved, tattooed, and given prisoner clothes. They were reduced to a set of numbers to be selected and sent to the gas chamber. The prisoners were not united by their common struggle but their dreadful fate because the camp system was designed to distinguish the slightest hope of resistance and moral collapse among the perpetrators and victims. Gas Chamber The very reason the gas chambers were built in concrete was aimed at speeding up the chemical reaction. The chamber is relatively small in size with 4 openings that enable Zyklon B, a chemical that releases Hydocyanic compounds (HNC), when it comes into contact with concrete and iron. The scratches on the concrete walls are evidences to the undeniable atrocities that took place within the chambers. Traces of life were no where to be found, all that remained was the scratches that revealed the desperation for life by those who were suffocated to death within the chambers. The gas chambers and the rooms with 4 ovens are divided by a door that connects both rooms. Traces of iron rails can be seen on the floor connecting to the ovens. Images of the carts delivering corpses to be burned flooded in my mind. It was beyond comprehension that these ovens served a terrible purpose. The inscription on the gate to Auschwitz 1 is translated into "work sets you free." From the moment one enters the camp, one is destined to enter a system of lies. Auschwitz 1, with its brick blocks leaves the impression of a civilized settlement, a confined settlement warded off by barbed wires. One would of never thought of the cruelty, unspoken rules and social hierarchy that established within these blocks. Auschwitz was chosen because it is located in a region annexed by the German Reich, the railway links directly "to every capital of Europe: to the old Reich, to Holland, France and Belgium, Italy and to the Polish railway network" (Gilbert, 287). In fact, Auschwitz offered a better chance of survival among other extermination camps such as Treblinka, Belzec, Sobibor and Chelmno, which the survival rate was less than 1 percent. Auschwitz functioned as both labor and concentration camps where inmates were not sent directly to the gas chambers but exploited for their labor to produce goods for the German nation. Among the 300 wooden barracks hastily constructed in Auschwitz II-Birkenau, there were only 2 functional barracks with latrines. Considering there were time restrictions when prisoners were allowed to access the latrines, those who were left behind were forced to pee on themselves. The wooden barracks were occupied by inmates well beyond its capacity. The living conditions within the barracks are beyond human comprehension. Winter months in Poland are dire, given that the inmates are not provided with blankets, clothing, heat and other necessity that are resistance to the cold. The erosion on the concrete floor was resulted from rain, urine, excrement and menstrual blood, the inmates were not provided with the basic necessity of living, let alone paper towels or any kinds of feminine products that were considered luxurious to the people whose lives meant nothing to the Nazis. It was also the very intention of the Nazis to deprive individuality and dignity of the prisoners by having them to live in their own filth. Traces of civilization are no where to be found in these barracks, normal societal orders and moral values ceased to exist. Bread crumbs replaced the value of currency as survival became the sole purpose for many. The gate symbolized the gateway to death as its entrance was designed as a Jewish tombstone's arch. The gate created an atmosphere of death which was meant to be entered once.
The sky is still the same after decades had passed, yet its histories and atrocities remained, it will never be forgotten as Elie Wiesel stated "to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time". Work Cited: Gilbert, Raul. The Holocaust, 20 January 1942: The Wannsee Conference. p287 by Amerra Bukhari"I had turned a monster into art." “GRAB HER BY THE P***Y!” is what you probably heard on the radio and watched on the television, spoken by our president, Donald Trump. He uttered those words in a trailer with an entertainment news reporter, Billy Bush. The recording of what he said was leaked during Trump is campaigning though few months later he was elected as our 45th president. Now my question is how could we vote for someone who holds such disrespect toward women? I question the women who voted for him, how could they bring themselves to the voting booth and color in the circle next to his name? Maybe they didn’t see that it was a big deal or they chose to ignore that he is promoting a rape culture. Emilie Buchwald, author of Transforming a Rape Culture described rape culture as “a complex set of beliefs that encourage male sexual aggression and supports violence against women… condones physical and emotional terrorism against women as the norm.” Rape culture stems from rape, where aggression and violence toward women and has become the standard. It is the society’s beliefs that also encourage the furthering of rape culture. Trump is an influential person, whatever he says and/or does is picked up by people, who think it is ok to say such things and later act on it. The recording of what Trump said in the trailer was played during a performance called Seeing Rape, held in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay – College of Criminal Justice. The performance was broken down into ten plays written by 16 John Jay students and acted out by New York City actors. The plays were written as part of a course called Seeing Rape taught by Professors Shonna Trinch and Barbra Cassidy, where students studied how rape is viewed in society, law, politics, literature, poetry, war, religion and education. The plays were called: The Movement, A Modern Romance, The Girl, Cycles End, The Blind Reflection, An Ordinary Day, La familia de Papa, Unintended, Colorful Markers and Jubilee. The mini plays performed showed the ugly side of our society; how screwed up their mentality toward rape/sexual assault can be. Along with the fabulous performances, I want to point out the language used in the plays, which I observed was a bit too vulgar for the crowd. There was a lot of cursing and sexual innuendos made. For instance, in one of the plays called The Modern Romance, four girls were talking about their Tinder dates gone wrong and a topic of men on Tinder. One girl said “salty corn flakes”, after her friend said that men like to make anything sexual. Which was supposed to mean the “men’s fluid” being used in the cereal. I heard people sitting next to me gasp and laugh at the same time. Majority of the attendees were college students but there were aged people and young children. I heard a little girl in the theater and I was pretty shocked because why would someone bring their young children to a play that has such vulgar language and knew it was inappropriate event for children? What I am saying is, the parents knew about the topic of this performance and expected some sort of vulgarity, it would have been sensible to not bring a young child. I am not going to tell parents where to and not to bring their young children but if that little girl was a child of mine, she would not be sitting there. I personally did not find the language to be appalling because I hear it being used around me; was not fazed at all. Another example of vulgar language used was during the play Colorful Markers, where two male friends meet up and one of them describes the high school party he attended. In short, it was about a gang rape of a drunk girl; where several boys wrote, and drew all over her body using markers. For instance, they drew penises all over, wrote “slut, bitch, whore” and other “colorful” words. The part that got to me was when one of the boy started inserting the marker inside her vagina. Now for the older and young people sitting in the theater, it must have been very uncomfortable because a friend of mine told me that he saw someone walk out when the two men on stage started describing the rape of the vulnerable girl. Lastly, my point in bring up the language used in the plays was because there were people from different generations in attendance, maybe they are not used to hearing this sort of language in their home, people they associate with, work place, and most importantly they do not use this type of language. Aside from the vulgar language, I want to add a few comments. First of all, I want to applaud the actors and playwrights for their hard work. They took a sensitive issue and showed it to the audience through real life instances, it felt very real and personal to me. The idea of seeing and not seeing rape in our society is a big problem because some people do not fully know what counts as rape, maybe they know and choose to ignore and do what they want and some keep quiet about it they fear retaliation. I personally feel that media plays a big part in spreading rape and promoting a rape culture, they might show something in a humorous way but this is not something that should be joked about. Preventing rape is what everyone should talk about, for example this performance was a way of showing and telling and getting the message of knowing what rape is, to people of all ages. by Samantha Sheets“Thank you Evan Hansen for doing what you’re doing” are words spoken in the Broadway production “Dear Evan Hansen” that holds truth outside of the stage. The musical is written by Obie, Golden Globe, and Oscar Award winners Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who tackle dark themes and elements head-on and with ease in their show. The plot is loosely based on events from the creator’s high school experiences and revolves around title character Evan Hansen, played by Pitch Perfect’s Ben Platt. Evan uses the suicide of a fellow classmate Connor Murphy (Mike Faist) to obtain all he ever wanted: a place where he belongs. Through fake emails and exaggerated tales, Evan elaborates on the endearing friendship Connor and he shared and hid from the world. And while the true intentions of their relationship are often the butt of a joke, Evan is able to use this fictitious life to overcome his crippling anxiety. This lie not only consumes his own life; Evan befriends and helps the Murphy family cope with Connor’s death and becomes a second son to them. Evan paints Connor in an angelic light, when in reality he is deemed a “monster” by his own sister. Evan unintentionally attaches himself to a tragedy that eventually gives both he and his dead classmate unwarranted popularity. “Dear Evan Hansen” is a Broadway musical, so there are songs sprinkled in throughout the show. The show uses these numbers unconventionally by making almost all of them depressing and heartbreaking. Even the sweeter numbers, such as “For Forever” a number in which Evan describes a perfect day with Connor become doleful. Likewise with “If I Could Tell Her”, where Evan attempts to explain his feelings for Zoe behind the false facade of them being Connor’s true feelings. It is especially tragic when the audience is reminded that Evan and Connor were never friends and this is all a false manifestation within his head. What sets this musical apart from its predecessors is the reality the musical displays these taboo situations. Platt’s portrayal of an anxiety ridden teen is believable by his introductory monologue, as well as the slight unconscientious ticks that Platt uses. The show’s brilliant use of social media only further supports Platt’s performance, as well as the rest of the cast. The show’s creators not only cleverly promote the musical through social media, but they utilize technology in the show making it relatable to youthful audiences. Projections of tweets from classmates appear upon the stage as they share the death of Connor Murphy. The public embodies the positive and negative impact they can have over those directly involved in a tragedy. This is evident when Evan accidentally starts “The Connor Project” in honor of Connor and convinces the public to raise money. However, the public also shuns the family for not being able to prevent his suicide. Sung through musicals are my personal favorite, but this show has several scenes and dialogue in between numbers. And these scenes are what make the show a truly unique experience. Every argument expressed and every panicked outburst feels entirely real. Whether the characters are full-blown screaming at one another or they are sobbing openly on stage, the wording and diction of every line has a sense of realism. We have either been in their shoes or have seen someone be there. Evan’s lying for personal gain is inexcusable and horrible, yet you root for him because you see yourself in him. You acknowledge the selfishness of his choices, all while understanding it roots from his need to be needed. “Dear Evan Hansen” is two hours and twenty minutes of sadness and it leaves you in awe. You reach a point in the show where you think it has to get happier and yet that time never comes. It ends ambiguously and you can take two distinct and different interpretations, one more optimistic than the other. The way in which Connor committed suicide is also left up in the air. What we do know about Connor’s personality and life, Evan has constructed. Thus, the ability for the audience to interpret Connor’s death as well as the shows ending is an interesting decision made by the show’s creators. Like the high-schoolers they are portraying on stage, you are left to gossip about what you think has happened. What Evan knows about Connor is the same information the audience gains: nothing. So like Evan, the audience gets to create who they think Connor is. I am a Broadway aficionado. I have seen over twenty different Broadway shows and this includes the critically acclaimed musical “Hamilton”. While I really enjoy every song in “Dear Evan Hansen”, the music is not necessarily my favorite in comparison to other musicals like “RENT”. Nevertheless, this show has pushed itself to the top of my list. The music, scenes, and acting all come together perfectly and it leaves you in tears. As someone with anxiety, I wish “Dear Evan Hansen” could have been around when I was in high school. The show’s anthem “You Will Be Found”, are words everyone needs to hear at some point in their lives and this show nails how it feels to be an outcast. Simply listening to the soundtrack does not do the show justice. To quote the show once more, “Oh my God everyone needs to see this”.
by Leslie RomanI bet when you were reading the title you thought I was about to start off talking about a breakup between a boy and a girl, girl and girl, or boy and boy. I will, but not at this very moment. What I want to shine light on is the way pain cannot be described in words—even though I will try my best to, and how it affects the person who held onto or still holds onto such pain, aka heartache. Heartache does not necessarily have to be associated with losing something, but gaining. The moment one begins to experience this is when you know you had to or need to lose whatever does not play out well in your life to move on to greater things. But, it is normal to have a set-back but to remember that you are totally over it. Each individual handles and deals with Heartache differently. I will give an encounter with someone whom I know. She was the youngest in her family, with four brothers. She did not grow up in the United States but in a different country. Her father was an alcoholic, and the mother owned a restaurant where she herself had to wake up early and cook for the customers. We will call her Courage. Courage as a young female helped her Mother with this restaurant, and you would think that because she had older brothers they will help too, but they did not. They instead preferred to live their life, go to bars, and find money whenever they can and use it to their own benefits. If it wasn’t for Courage, she would have grown up illiterate. She told her neighbor she wanted to go to school and with the help of them; she was able to go to elementary school, high school, and at least some college. Right about now you are thinking, why did the mother not put her daughter in school? Did the Father try to help ends meet? Did her brothers not do anything to help their one and only sister? These are the same questions that have been running through my mind, but that is a lot of burden to put on a thirteen year old adolescent. The moral of the story is not to go into detail on how her life was, but how she expressed herself as she expressed it to me. As the words rolled off her tongue, her eyes would look at different directions to avoid eye contact; I guess she was afraid of breaking down at any moment if she saw my face. Her tone of voice was soft, and relaxed. Suddenly, Courage began to tell me, “You are lucky to have what you have now. When I was growing up I did not have a Mother to give me love, or parents that thought it was a good idea to put me in school. I had to open my mouth to say that I wanted to study. Better yet, I did not even have toys. At this point, I began to feel her heartache. She was like a child in that moment once again, hoping that she could go back in time and change the way she grew up. “I remember waiting on line on where people gave out toys and someone giving me a Barbie doll”. As she told me this, her voice broke up and she began to cry as she struggled to finish. Courage had the courage to speak on what had hurt because she no longer has that life. But besides the heartache that one can remember from the past, there is the heartache that one feels when there is no support from the people who are the most closest to you. Parents or guardian have to know that there would be a time that a daughter or son has to explore the world trusting and believing that they know right from wrong. But, even though one may stumble along the way, it was a mistake. Parents want their children to look for opportunities in life but they have to let them go and be proactive. They can’t be like, “Oh look for a job”, and when you are looking for a job, they want to be protective and say, “Don’t be working too late”, or “The pay is low”. At least it is something. Parents are no longer the issue here, but the issue is it hurts when someone does not believe in your ability to go after your dream. We begin to think what if and now that dream is a long-forgotten memory. I do not know what your definition of heartache is, but everything I have said up to this point is mine. If there is a moment that you are about to experience Heartache, think if it’s really worth it? Would you prefer to hold on or let go? Would this be a good thing or bad thing? Take the chance or don’t take the chance? To be or not to be? by Erick Garciaril 22, 2017. That is the date that I’m anxiously waiting for and always look forward to every year. At least, every year since becoming a part of the annual event known as Record Store Day back in 2013. This year in particular is a special year because it marks the 10th anniversary of the event which started back in April of 2007. To give a bit of detail about this event, essentially what happens is that a special list of limited edition releases by a wide variety of artists is made available on this day. When I say wide, I mean wide! There’s all kinds of genres on the list by well-known rock, blues, soul, and hip hop artists just to name a few. Every item on the list is limited to a certain number of copies, and every item is distributed nationwide to any record store participating in this event. To most people, especially record buyers and collectors, this is an amazing opportunity to cash in on some extremely limited edition records that are either long out of print or have a special appearance such as being printed in a different color other than its standard black format. To me, Record Store Day is so much more than just about limited edition records and how much they’re worth. To me, Record Store Day is a celebration of music and the symbolism of the vinyl record. Music in general, whether it be digital, on cd, or on vinyl, is something near and dear to my heart. Music is to me what video games are to my fellow zine writer Samantha Sheets. Most of my money goes towards music (but I’d be lying if it didn’t go to video games as well!). So when I found out about a special day that celebrates all things vinyl, I knew I had to find out more about it and most importantly, find out how to be a part of it. Now, I’m not someone who has a room dedicated to vinyl as probably most record collectors do. I have a modest collection in my room, but it’s nowhere near to what I would consider a real record collector’s to be. As a student in college, there are other more important things on which to spend money on. However, I always save up a decent amount of money to spend on this particular day of the year. Since becoming a part of this event back in 2013, it’s been a real experience. Every year, the list of releases is different, which is pretty awesome because it mixed things up and it helps to promote different kinds of music. What makes this day so special to me however, isn’t so much the list of special releases, even though that’s half of what my money is spent on. What makes it special is the overall celebration of music on this day. Many people come together at these different music stores to celebrate music, to talk about music, and to bond over it. Ever since I got my best friend Lisa hooked on vinyl in 2014, we’ve made it a tradition to go to different record stores in the area on this special day and just make a fun experience out of it. There’s no better feeling than being part of an experience with other people, and ever since she became a part of this event, she too has seen the beauty and significance of vinyl and also looks forward to this day every year as much as I do. In her words, “collecting records is something really special to me. When you start collecting, you become a part of this community that welcomes you with open arms. You meet a lot of new people just by going out to record stores and bonding over bands while also sharing new music with each other. The reason why I believe vinyl is so important is because nothing can compare to physical media. In the world we live in today, everything is streamed, downloaded or can be found on YouTube but to me, that takes the fun out of having the full experience of listening to music. To be able to go out to the record store and physically hold the album of your favorite band is incomparable to streaming or downloading music. Records are beautifully made inside and out. The cover art, gatefolds and different color variants are all factors to why record collecting is coming back stronger than ever. Even with CD’s, you don’t get the same effect when it comes down to the packaging, art and sound quality. People, like myself, who appreciate record collecting are living proof that physical media is not dead, which is why going out to Record Store Day is so important because these are independent music stores that especially need customer support in order to survive.” Honestly, I couldn’t have said it any better myself!! Lisa and I as well as a lot of other people think very highly of Record Store Day. However, I’ve noticed that not everyone is a fan of Record Store Day, and after having examined the reasons for this, I can’t really say I blame them. Some record stores see Record Store Day as nothing more than just another way to make money, and in their minds, Record Store Day misses the point of celebrating vinyl. Other people don’t like Record Store Day not so much because of its special releases, but because of the record collectors that buy the special releases. Think of them as the ticket scalpers of Record Store Day: they buy the things on the list that they know that mostly everyone is going to want to buy (at a fair price might I add), and then sell them on eBay for sometimes up to quadruple the price they originally paid! In my opinion, this is something that also gets me angry, not so much because of the skyrocketed prices, but because it just ruins the spirit of the event for everyone else. In my mind, this is a day that everyone should be able to enjoy. But as I said, the best part of this day is just to celebrate music, regardless of whether there is a list of special limited releases or not. The reason why I think the list is so important, even if it is just another way to take everyone’s money, is because it exposes the public to a wide variety of music that they probably didn’t even know existed. If you want to look at Record Store Day from an anthropological perspective, essentially it keeps the conversation in terms of vinyl moving forward. I’m willing to bet that despite the huge crowds of customers that this day gets, a lot of people still think that vinyl is outdated, useless, and just not cool anymore. If that were true, then how would they explain the recent rising sales and popularity of vinyl? Record Store Day tells us that vinyl, despite its periods of waning popularity, is still a fixture in our culture and that it still has a place in our homes. As for the list of special releases, it acts as an ethnography of sorts because it introduces music, both new and old and from different genres and parts of the world, to a new and younger generation of music fans. It is in this way that Record Store Day keeps the conversation about vinyl going, because it not only states that it is still relevant to the people who buy it, but that it is also relevant to the artists who create the music. If it didn’t matter to the artist, vinyl then would definitely have disappeared from existence a long time ago. If you’re a huge music nerd like me and you still have an appreciation for physical music, then check this day out! Go to google, type in Record Store Day in the search bar, and click on their website for more details. And even if you’ve never owned a record or a record player before, I encourage you to go either way! Why? Because more than just another excuse on how to spend money on music, Record Store Day is an experience and a celebration of music, one of the truest forms of human expression that is truly ours. by Kevin TranWhile growing up, every individual tries to find their place within society. We all go through this no matter whether we admit it or not. In the spring of 2016, I was having a conversation with my professor and we had spoken about my Vietnamese heritage. He recommended a novel written by a Vietnamese professor at the University of South California (USC), Viet Thanh Nguyen, named The Sympathizer. Before I started reading it, I looked into the novel and noticed that it was a recipient of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. This had made me eager to purchase the book and begin reading. I was always amazed at the lack of Vietnamese culture portrayed within American society unless it was about the Vietnam War. Looking up books or movies about Vietnam always gave me pictures and videos about soldiers, war-ridden streets, and despair of the Vietnamese people who were given no choice but to endure what was going on right before their eyes, just as my parents did. This novel opened my eyes to the war and its aftermath from the perspective of a Vietnamese individual instead of those who came in to help fight against communism. However, growing up with Vietnamese parents helped me realize how beautiful the country truly is regardless of it being ruled as a Socialist Republic. This debut novel for Viet Thanh Nguyen follows an undercover communist sleeper-spy during the Vietnam War and its aftermath. The main character, who remains unnamed, is giving a confession on his recollection of events between the Fall of Saigon and his imprisonment in Vietnam many years later. During this time, we notice a conflict in his character as he knows that he must report to the North but he sympathizes with the people of the South. From the opening moments of the book, we are put right into the actions that occurred before before the Fall of Saigon. The beginning of the book helps us fill the gaps within society and gives a voice to the voiceless. It also helps bring a new perspective to those events that transpired 40 years ago. The novel highlights the many themes that are still evident in today’s world. First, the theme of betrayal and how it has harmful effects on the person and those who are involved as well. Being a sleeper spy was no easy feat as the main narrator describes it as talent, and it is either the best or the worst qualities of his personality. Also, the conflicts that occur between both the Western and Eastern cultures/societies come into play as societal integration occurs with Vietnamese finding refuge to escape the war. First and foremost, the protagonist makes us feel like we are one with him in every aspect of his life. From his decision making to his thoughts, it makes us feel as we were right there from the opening lines: “I am a spy, a sleeper, a spook, a man of two faces. Perhaps not surprisingly, I am also a man of two minds, . . . able to see any issue from both sides. Sometimes I flatter myself that this is a talent,” he continues, but “I wonder if what I have should even be called talent. After all, a talent is something you use, not something that uses you. The talent you cannot not use, the talent that possesses you — that is a hazard.” The talent that he speaks about is the ability to be able to sympathize. It helps him develop a conflict within himself to do what he believes is right. This talent that he possesses is both his strength and his weakness. Gaining the General’s trust while on the route to betrayal for the Communist party. The protagonist secretly is observing the general and others around him in order to report back to the Viet Cong. This complex binary personality helps us sympathize with the narrator as we go through the various emotions and drama that we encounter through the novel’s 382 pages. After fleeing from South Vietnam, we follow the narrator to Los Angeles, California where he lays low in search of ‘refuge’ from the war. While located in America, he is learning to adjust to the Western culture as many Vietnamese refugees did to escape their war-ravaged homeland. He also experiences the racism that occurred due to the relocation of thousands of Vietnamese people in America. After being located in California, he then works on set of recording in the Philippines before leading the exiled Vietnamese troops back into Vietnam. He becomes imprisoned on this mission and starts to confess everything that transpired leading up to that moment. The ending of the novel speaks perfectly to the events that transpired and the people that Viet Thanh Nguyen wrote them for. “WE WILL LIVE” the protagonist states. Despite the hardship that the Vietnamese people faced, they had endured. This beautifully written novel gives voice to the voiceless. Nguyen states himself that “Although my family and other refugees brought our war stories with us to America, they remain largely unheard and unread, except by people like us.” Americans tried to forget this war that they lost but sometimes they forget that they were not the only ones who lost. The South Vietnamese people lost their land and the country lost its freedom.
I was born and raised in the United States to Vietnamese refugees. I was lucky enough to be able to have many Vietnamese traditions passed along to me. What I am most proud of is my parents and the journey that they endured to get to where they are today. Vietnamese is who I am, it is in my blood. Hopefully one day, the tales of the Vietnamese refugees will make mainstream media and help individuals understand the war better from the viewpoint of those who were directly affected. I want to thank Viet Thanh Nguyen for writing such a beautiful novel and helping me say even louder that I am proud to be Vietnamese. by Joseph "Joey" ButtsTo Mr Anthony, It’s a cycle: I get my hopes up and then I’m disappointed. Then I start to have faith again, and the cycle continues. I must be a glutton for punishment. I am always left disappointed and I am always foolish enough to start having faith once more. But it has to end at some point, right? But just not now. I’ll have to revisit this again next year because it hurts too good to quit now. Mr. Anthony, you’re in this same cycle. From the outside looking in, my suffering might not seem severe. But you cannot tell me I don't know what I am talking about. My exposure to the blue and orange stems from what some may call “conformity” or even “peer pressure” The slightly modified cliche of “all the kids are watching it”. I followed, unknowingly setting myself up for years of depression and anger. I first saw you Upstate. At such a young age, you were carrying a heavy weight on your shoulders. From that, they praised you and your gifts. They saw potential that they have seen in only a few before you. It was said that you were only outmatched by possibly one. Back then I didn't get what he had accomplished. I saw a tall grown man, with what seemed like he had nothing to lose. You went on to better things in the middle of the country. Those were the years I was stuck admiring the once-seemed-promising man who infamously ate Vaseline. Eventually, some promising youth came along, but none of which gave us anything to really gloat about. Fast-forward some ten years and here comes the “resurgence”. The Mecca seemed like it was the place to be, yet again. You made your way back to the Big Apple, the place where you were born. Every bit of pain that we all endured seemed like it could be worth its while. But I was wrong. Albert Einstein once said “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results”. This quote, feels so familiar. The repetition from the top office is unsettling. Nothing seems to change, no matter who is manning the fort. Insanity seems to be a plague in this city. But last year we were given a gift from the gods. A young unicorn, if you will. So I applaud them for that. It was a highly doubted and controversial move, but the master seemed to prove us wrong. I haven’t left because I believe in you. But if it isn’t about winning then what is it? Loyalty? Each year seems like a failure. Each year holds one massive disappointment after another. Even when there are glimpses of success, it always seems to be followed up with wrongdoing and malpractice. This is where it is troubling, the excellence of this unicorn and the prestige it carries with it, cannot be disputed. It is special, unheard of, and developing. But is this where the cycle continues? My hopes are up. They have probably been up longer and taller than they have in a few years now, but that is the scariest part. I’m higher up, but that usually only means a bigger fall. After some short lived days of boasting, what came after was massive tragedy. It’s like I was on the 6th story of my apartment building, and jumped off to land directly on my feet, breaking every bone in my leg. The year after that, is like the surgery went wrong, and I was crippled for another year. Pushing myself around with my head down and my pride hanging on by a thread. I take that thread and sew it back up, just as I do most years. I stitch together a new image on my blanket, probably with different faces then the one before it. I only have one suggestion, Mr. Anthony. Like David once did to Tim, and now Tim to Kawhi, you must pass the torch. You are loved here, and I appreciate what you have done. We all do. You have given us our first moment of pride in over 12 years. But your time on top has come to an end. It is time to step back, and let this divine power of the gods come to the forefront. I am not telling you to leave us. I am only asking for you to take some of the weight off your shoulders, and let this unicorn have his turn. Show us the leader that we know you can be. Give the throne to him or, teach him how to acquire the throne with grace and dignity. Coming into the throne without any support never ends well, tyranny and dictatorship usually ensues. But if you stand next to him, and give him direction, and you can watch him shine. Work with him rather than around him. Help him develop the tools to be just as efficient as you are right now. It will be beneficial to you both. If you truly want to remain at the Mecca; with your family, with your team; then this is your best shot. He is young, still learning. He doesn’t know what it is like to succeed in today’s game. You do. It might not be the success you have been longing for, but you know what success is. He will need you every step of the way. Best of luck, Your fan through thick and thin. |
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