Hi, everyone. I'm Yini. You can also call me Sophie. I come from China and it's my third year here. I'm a mass production senior student at MU. I like to hang out with my friends when I'm free. When I'm alone, I spend most of my time watching movies, reading books and dreaming. Now I'm reading a book written by Japanese writer Murakami Haruki called "1Q84". It's really an amazing book, and you should read it if you have chance. Also, I'm very interested in photography. So if you want to take your camera to a photo trip, you should tell me and we can go together! If you are also interested in art, then we can definitely become good friends~~
Sunday, August 29, 2010
You have the choice!
After reading the article “American Born Chinese” written by Cene Luen Yang, I feel that I really have something to say about it. This is a story made up of three main characters-the Monkey King (Also Chin-Kee), Jing Wang (Also Danny) and Wei Chen (Monkey King’s son). The author combines the story with three different parts and tells it in a humorous way. On the surface, the story has a happy ending that Jing Wang meets Wei Chen again and tries to behave and live more Asian. Nevertheless, I don’t fell that all the problems will be solved because Jing Wang would like to behave more Asian. I agree that a person should face himself and accept his ethicality, but at the same time I think that people have the right to choose what kind of people they want to be.
The Monkey King is a crucial character in this story. He and Jing Wang share a lot of similarities. They are both not accepted by the new world. Monkey King is refused to enter into the dinner party because he is a monkey. And King Wang is mocked and unaccepted by his classmates because he comes from China, who is an Asian eat weird food and even dog. Both Monkey King and Jing Wang are ashamed of their status. They are different from the people around them and these differences make them feel miserable. In the end of the story, Monkey King persuades Jing Wang that he should accept the fact that he is an Asian and he should be happy to be an Asian, because Monkey King finally realizes how good it is to be a monkey. In some extent, I feel this is good for Monkey King. But I must question that does he really give up his desires to be one part of the dinner party? He gives up this thought because he doesn’t want to go to the party anymore, or because he finds that it’s difficult to get in the party? I feel the reason is the second one.
So, I have some advices for Jing Wang on my perspective. Firstly, like Monkey King, I think Jing Wang should accept that he is an Asian American from his heart. He needs to know where he comes from and respect it. Secondly, different from Monkey King, I don’t persuade Jing Wang to behave more like an Asian-to go to Chinatown or drink pearl milk tea. I think Jing Wang can choose what kind of person he wants to be. There are no limitations for that. He can become a more than typical American boy, since he grows up in America. He can also be more like an Asian boy. It’s his freedom. Why I think this way is because that I have the experience for this. Two years ago, I came to America. At that same time, a lot of international students came to Miami University. Now, after two years staying in America, everybody has changed, but in different ways. I have friends who make a lot of American friends and live in a really American way, just like “banana”, who has the yellow skin outside, but white culture inside. And I also have friends who still live in a quite Asian way, just like before. I don’t think any of this two way is better or worse. I think people have the right to make their personal choice, which can make them happy and comfortable. This is also my advice for Jing Wang and Wei Chen.
This article reminds me of a writer Enmei Tanwho focus on the topic that how Asian American lives their life in America. One of her work has been filmed as a movie-The Joy Luck Club. I feel that if you want to know more about Asian Americans, this is a good choice. Hope you can enjoy the movie!
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