The causes of war often derive from excessive desire and controlling. Most of the time, the stronger party will successfully attain victory. It has the tendency to end with damages. The resulting effects are major ruins and shattered families. Similar case occurred in Persepolis story was that when the Iraqis invaded Marjane's beloved homeland, and bombed her childhood hometown. It happened so sudden that no one was notified soon enough to make preparation for shelter. Marjane was still out with her girlfriend shopping at the time, and in the midst of their shopping, suddenly there was a loud boom. Marjane and her friend overheard the shocking announcement from the nearby radio that her neighborhood was bombed. The announcement from the radio was such shocking news that Majane got home just in a flash. When she arrived home, she instinctively feared for her family survival. Fortunately, she was so joyful to find that her parents including her grandma survived the attack. On the contrary, her neighbor's home was attacked. Her neighbor's house was totally destroyed. Marjane also presumed that her neighbor did not survive the attack. After what had occurred in Marjane's neighborhood, she became fearless and rebellious. She was so untamed and misbehaved at her school. Based on this fact, Marjane's parents feared that their daughter may get executed if they did not tame her. In my opinion, this is the theme where it created a major impact on Marjane and her family, especially her parents. They did not want the execution to impose on their daughter for punishment, not because she was their only child, but because the punishment was senseless. Therefore, they concluded that Marjane will be better off if they sent her out of the country, away from the repressive regime. Also in my opinion, this theme represented a major part in Persepolis and was as essential to the circumstances. If Marjane's parents did not come up with the brilliant idea, sending her away for safety soon enough, then we probably will not have Persepolis to read today.
I enjoy reading not only for school tasks, but also for leisure, especially this novel. If there is any gap in between my daily busy schedule, then I would take that opportunity to read a book, a magazine, or newspapers. I also have a desire to write. However, I do not succeed in writings as I have for reading. I was not born gifted with having the natural ability to write brilliantly. Thus, it usually takes me longer to complete a writing assignment compared to the gifted natural writers.
Marjane had so many uncles in her family. Of all the uncles she had, I think she adored and admired her Uncle Anoosh the most and she looked up to him. He portrayed somewhat a hero to her. Her Uncle Anoosh was a Justice same as Marjane had desired to be. He was a Democratic with a dream to free the people of Iran from the repressive politic system. Unfortunately, he did not accomplish his dream due to lack of resource and power. I predicted that this was the same reason happened to other heroes in Marjane's country and the regime still has control.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Character Description
As I read Persepolis further more, I was amazed to find Marjane an interesting mature young character with such big courage and fearless heart. At the age of six, Marjane said, "I was already sure I was the last prophet" (6). I think she wanted to be a prophet so that she could make improvements to the currently bad situation in her country. She thought, "everybody should have a car, eat together at the same table, and no older person should have to suffer". Despite of still being too young, Marjane already had an unshakable thought of being a revolutionary to defend her country.
There were so many invasions occurred in Marjane's beloved country in the past. When the Islamic revolution took place, she wanted to be justice. Marjane said, "but let's be fair. If women faced prison when they refused to wear the veil, it was also forbidden for men to wear neckties (that dreaded symbol of the West), and if women's hair got men excited, the same thing could be said of men's bare arms. And so, wearing short-sleeved shirts was also forbidden" (75). This quote emphasized the significance of equality and justice. After the Islamic revolution took place, young Marjane's beloved country was invaded by the Iraqis. The news of this invasion provoked young Marjane's moral.
One scene from Persepolis that I could relate to is the part when Iraqis bombed the place where Marjane's family friend, Mali, lived. Mali's family and the people lived there lost their homes and all their belongings. As well known, wars always inflict unnecessary suffering and lost. As I recalled the scene when we had our last similar war occurred in our country, Vietnam, years ago. We had a government changed from democratic politic system to a repressive regime, or so called a dictatorship system. The war started from the Northern part of Vietnam all the way down to the South. There were chaos everyday and body remains scattered everywhere in the city where I live. As I remembered, my uncle and his family lived in another city, not too distance away from where my family and I lived. During that chaotic moment, they came to our house seeking for shelter, because the place where they lived almost got demolished. We lived in fear for so many months, did not know when to expect the disruption to end. As a result of this war, many families lost their loved ones. Many of the people were also taken for imprisonment. Engineered city streets and manicured parks and gardens were also destroyed. This corrupted scene left a carved depressing image in every Vietnamese mind.
In my opinion, the author purposely mentioned this scene to express a country subsided when war occurred. The author wrote this scene to clearly provide the aftermath details from the occurrence of a war. The author skillfully emphasized this scene so that readers can easily visualize themselves in the scene itself.
There were so many invasions occurred in Marjane's beloved country in the past. When the Islamic revolution took place, she wanted to be justice. Marjane said, "but let's be fair. If women faced prison when they refused to wear the veil, it was also forbidden for men to wear neckties (that dreaded symbol of the West), and if women's hair got men excited, the same thing could be said of men's bare arms. And so, wearing short-sleeved shirts was also forbidden" (75). This quote emphasized the significance of equality and justice. After the Islamic revolution took place, young Marjane's beloved country was invaded by the Iraqis. The news of this invasion provoked young Marjane's moral.
One scene from Persepolis that I could relate to is the part when Iraqis bombed the place where Marjane's family friend, Mali, lived. Mali's family and the people lived there lost their homes and all their belongings. As well known, wars always inflict unnecessary suffering and lost. As I recalled the scene when we had our last similar war occurred in our country, Vietnam, years ago. We had a government changed from democratic politic system to a repressive regime, or so called a dictatorship system. The war started from the Northern part of Vietnam all the way down to the South. There were chaos everyday and body remains scattered everywhere in the city where I live. As I remembered, my uncle and his family lived in another city, not too distance away from where my family and I lived. During that chaotic moment, they came to our house seeking for shelter, because the place where they lived almost got demolished. We lived in fear for so many months, did not know when to expect the disruption to end. As a result of this war, many families lost their loved ones. Many of the people were also taken for imprisonment. Engineered city streets and manicured parks and gardens were also destroyed. This corrupted scene left a carved depressing image in every Vietnamese mind.
In my opinion, the author purposely mentioned this scene to express a country subsided when war occurred. The author wrote this scene to clearly provide the aftermath details from the occurrence of a war. The author skillfully emphasized this scene so that readers can easily visualize themselves in the scene itself.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Reader's Response Theory Practice and Discussion
According to an article written in "World News", from "The Wall Street Journal", dated August 19, 2011, world leaders urged Mr. Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian President or currently being called Syrian dictator, to resign for misleading his political system. Mr. Assad has not had the morality to treat the people of Syria with human rights. Under his authority, the Syrian people were being tortured to death. There were unarmed people being shot and no one was being held accountable for it. Protesters were out marching demanding for better change, demanding to be treated with dignity and with respect to their basic human rights, also got shot by Assad's security forces. Since the Syrians began protesting against the Assad's regime earlier this year, the regime has killed more than 2,700 protesters and injured many more, according to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. World Leaders including United States President Barack Obama indicated that Mr. Assad had squandered his opportunity to liberalize Syria's political system, and now has to step aside. United States and European Officials were concerned that Mr. Assad's overthrow could ignite civil war with neighboring Middle Eastern Countries. They then froze all of Assad Regime's finances and assets held in the U.S. and other ally's countries to prevent rebellion. I found it interesting that consciously knowing if the U.S. and its allies have "the Assad Regime overthrown could fuel a sectarian civil war that could spread into neighboring countries", then why do it? If their only purpose is to stop the bloodshed violence for human rights, then they should not create any more wars that could cause more deaths.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Marjane will become a great influence
Marjane will become a great influence to others. Young Marjane was bright and kind. At such young age, she already knew justice. She did not like the new government system in her country. She wanted to oppose it by joining the demonstration with her parents. Her liberal personality and ideas led her to explore and admired the political characters. In addition, she wanted to be a prophet and actually understood what it meant. She wanted to be a prophet with the purpose to help cure ill people and to undo the bad circumstances.
As being liberal, she wanted to have a freedom of speech. She wanted her people to have the right to speak their minds and share their thoughts. She also wanted her people to dress the way they desired without restrictions. She wanted them to have a joyful life without hesitation. They can party with friends or reunion with family members without being watched and reported. She wanted her people to have the rights vacationing where ever they desired without limitation.
As being liberal and potentially becoming a great influential, she wanted to set equal rights for the females in her country. She wanted them to be able attending the same school as the males. She wanted them to be taught all subjects, including politics as the males. She wanted them to have jobs and work equally as the males. Also, on the streets or on the way home, they do not have to have the fear walking alone without being harassed.
Since Marjane came from a loving and liberal family, she wanted to use that privilege to expand and enhance her knowledge. She wanted to study abroad so that she can learn more than what her country current government offered. As she grew older, she wanted to choose her own marriage rather than to have it arranged by the parents. She wanted to set her own life and destiny. Undoubtfulness, Marjane will become a great influence to her people and loved ones.
As being liberal, she wanted to have a freedom of speech. She wanted her people to have the right to speak their minds and share their thoughts. She also wanted her people to dress the way they desired without restrictions. She wanted them to have a joyful life without hesitation. They can party with friends or reunion with family members without being watched and reported. She wanted her people to have the rights vacationing where ever they desired without limitation.
As being liberal and potentially becoming a great influential, she wanted to set equal rights for the females in her country. She wanted them to be able attending the same school as the males. She wanted them to be taught all subjects, including politics as the males. She wanted them to have jobs and work equally as the males. Also, on the streets or on the way home, they do not have to have the fear walking alone without being harassed.
Since Marjane came from a loving and liberal family, she wanted to use that privilege to expand and enhance her knowledge. She wanted to study abroad so that she can learn more than what her country current government offered. As she grew older, she wanted to choose her own marriage rather than to have it arranged by the parents. She wanted to set her own life and destiny. Undoubtfulness, Marjane will become a great influence to her people and loved ones.
My mother never had a good life
My father was born and raised in a middle class family. After the era of wars and the new transition of government in our country, Vietnam, my father's family managed to have a restaurant business. The restaurant business was very prosper and busy. It opened from early in the morning until late at night, everyday of the week, serving the industrial workers. It earned the family good income during that period of time.
My mother's family however, was less fortunate. My mother had six siblings and she was the oldest. When my mother was fifteen, her father got very ill and passed away. My grandma was struggling and she worked very hard to feed her kids. Despite her big efforts and elastic strength that my grandma had, it was still not enough to fulfil her kids' needs. At the time, my father's family lived in the same village as my mother's. My father's mother needed a helper for her busy restaurant business. She asked my mom's mother for her son to marry my mother, so that my mom's family will not have to suffer as much. My grandma did not have any better choice and thought it was a good solution for the current situation. Therefore, she accepted the offer for my mom's marriage.
Shortly after the proposal, my mother became a wife and a new daughter in-law. Unlike what my grandma expected, other than being a wife and a daughter in-law, my mother also became a maid to my dad's family. She worked in my dad's family restaurant kitchen all day long, and continued the work at home as server to my dad's entire family. They even made my mom work during her pregnancy. Her daily routine went on for years until my dad's mother passed away. My dad's family restaurant business was no longer in business. They sold it to one of my dad's relatives. Not too long followed, my dad also passed away. Then, my mom and I got kicked out of my dad's family. My mom was very sad, but she had to be strong consciously to take care of me and herself. She decided not to go back to her own family, instead she brought me to reside in another city and made a new living there.
At the new city, same as any other city in the country, everyone was still trying to adapt to the new government system. We did not have the choice to do what we desired. Therefore, my mother grew tired and had no hope with the circumstances. She thought of a way to flee the country, seeking for better life and opportunities. After long awaited with the hope to flee the country, we were fortunate enough to seek refuge in America. We came to America with empty handed. We did not have any money and did not know any English. However, my mom managed to find a day time job and to learn English in the evening. She did not make much money at her new job, but she was very happy with it. She enjoyed her new life, thought she had turned her life around, but bad luck did not spare her. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and kidney failure. Due to her symptom was not detected soon enough, it became incurable. Her Doctors predicted that she got about a year to live, but she did not live as Doctors predicted.
I was full of tears every time I thought of my mother. I cried for her because she never had a good life. I often prayed that my mother will have a better life if she reincarnated.
My mother's family however, was less fortunate. My mother had six siblings and she was the oldest. When my mother was fifteen, her father got very ill and passed away. My grandma was struggling and she worked very hard to feed her kids. Despite her big efforts and elastic strength that my grandma had, it was still not enough to fulfil her kids' needs. At the time, my father's family lived in the same village as my mother's. My father's mother needed a helper for her busy restaurant business. She asked my mom's mother for her son to marry my mother, so that my mom's family will not have to suffer as much. My grandma did not have any better choice and thought it was a good solution for the current situation. Therefore, she accepted the offer for my mom's marriage.
Shortly after the proposal, my mother became a wife and a new daughter in-law. Unlike what my grandma expected, other than being a wife and a daughter in-law, my mother also became a maid to my dad's family. She worked in my dad's family restaurant kitchen all day long, and continued the work at home as server to my dad's entire family. They even made my mom work during her pregnancy. Her daily routine went on for years until my dad's mother passed away. My dad's family restaurant business was no longer in business. They sold it to one of my dad's relatives. Not too long followed, my dad also passed away. Then, my mom and I got kicked out of my dad's family. My mom was very sad, but she had to be strong consciously to take care of me and herself. She decided not to go back to her own family, instead she brought me to reside in another city and made a new living there.
At the new city, same as any other city in the country, everyone was still trying to adapt to the new government system. We did not have the choice to do what we desired. Therefore, my mother grew tired and had no hope with the circumstances. She thought of a way to flee the country, seeking for better life and opportunities. After long awaited with the hope to flee the country, we were fortunate enough to seek refuge in America. We came to America with empty handed. We did not have any money and did not know any English. However, my mom managed to find a day time job and to learn English in the evening. She did not make much money at her new job, but she was very happy with it. She enjoyed her new life, thought she had turned her life around, but bad luck did not spare her. She was diagnosed with liver cancer and kidney failure. Due to her symptom was not detected soon enough, it became incurable. Her Doctors predicted that she got about a year to live, but she did not live as Doctors predicted.
I was full of tears every time I thought of my mother. I cried for her because she never had a good life. I often prayed that my mother will have a better life if she reincarnated.
One interesting passage from Persepolis story, page 6.
It is very interesting that Marjane wanted to be a prophet when she was only six years old. I found it very interesting because she was so young to have such a thought. At this age, normally most kids would think what game they want to play or what sweets they want to eat. Often times, their minds are only filled with simple thoughts and would not go beyond the nature of that age group. However, at such a young age, Marjane already knew that she wanted to be a prophet, and understood what it meant. She wanted to use the prophecy power to change the bad to the good and to heal the ill. Therefore, I found young Marjane interesting with such thought.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
I am
I am Trang Dinh. I was born and raised in Vietnam. I came to the United States with my family as refugees a little over ten years ago. After the cold war ended in April 1975, Vietnam was taken and ruled by the new government. Under this new government regulation, majority of the Vietnamese people lived in poverty and suffocated with the new transition. My family and I were part of this category. We attempted so many times to flee the country by using boat to go over seas. Unfortunately, not only we did not succeed our mission, but also got ourselves in worse situation. We got locked up for awhile for punishment and were released afterwards with a fine. After this great experience and life long memory, we never attempted to flee the country again. Then in 1990, the new government came to the agreement with the United States to allow sponsorship. We were granted with a sponsorship and came to the United States a little over ten years ago. I am currently married and being a mother. I enjoy being with my family and do memorable things together. I also enjoy cooking. I find it as a hobby rather than a chore. I considered myself as an open minded person. I am also a curious individual. I have an ego to explore and experiment different activities to improve my knowledge skills. I also enjoy working with people and the greatest strenght I have is patience. I have always dreamt to be a nurse not only because I have the patience, but I also enjoy the customers services. Currently, I enrolled in school at San Jose City College to complete my general education courses then, transfer to a University to acquire my BS Degree in Registered Nurse. Hopefully, I will accomplish my desired goal as planned, so that healthcare facility will gain another nurse to assist the ill patients.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)