Essay 4 Workshop

Barbara Hough-Sisson

Lauren Servais

English 100

December 8, 2010          

                                          

    The Meaning of Filial Piety

Before I started reading, “All I Asking For Is My Body,” I had no idea how a novel with a title like this could be a classic.  I learned the answer very quickly and also what two very important words meant to the Japanese-Hawaiian families,” filial piety.” This is not a common American phrase, and some of us had never heard it, but it conveys a widespread statement. Through my research, filial piety is discussed in terms of six major categories: respect for the parents, filial responsibility, to be in agreement with the family, repayment of parent’s debts, affection to the parent, and sacrifice for the parent.

 A comment for an assignment was sent to me, and I started thinking about the differences there are in people being filial.  In “All I Asking For Is My Body,” the grandfather wasn’t burdened with debt, but he quit school to take care of the family farm, and he created the debt to be placed on his children and grandchildren.  When I was living in my parent’s home, filial piety would have meant be the perfect child, respectful, stay out of trouble.  In different circumstances filial piety is obviously different.

The origin of the Oyama family provides a historical and cultural explanation of the unlimited power of filial piety. Toshio and Kiyoshi are Nisei, native born citizens of the United States and the parents are Japanese immigrants.  Conventional Japanese values consist of unconditional filial piety.  Traditional filial piety means loyalty and obedience.  The children owe their parents throughout their lives,  and it is the moral obligation to respect and care for their parents; filial duty must hold a major role in their moral values.  With changing generations, the battle between old country values and modern America can cause difficulties within the family, among  siblings and inter-generational tension. How much loyalty do the children owe their parents, and how long?

The highest virtue is respecting one’s parents. Respecting means bringing no disgrace to the parents or family.  Children treat their parents with courtesy, care for them and treat them with deep respect.  Looking back at my life in the early 70’s, I stayed out of trouble and respected my parents because I wanted to and was afraid to do otherwise.  I did not want to disappoint my family and I tried to be the perfect child. I was burdened by this, and if I made a mistake, I felt I failed my family.  My father is still alive and to this day the thought of disappointing him devastates me.  As for my two older brothers, that was another story.   I remember it did not matter to them if they brought dishonor or disrespect to the family.  They were headstrong, and the growing differences between the boys and my parents caused the same tension in our home as Toshio’s.  My brothers lived their life as they wished and were in control of their body. “For Japanese, the supreme source of guilt is the sense that they have hurt someone else by failing to behave as that person expected.” (Christopher, The Japanese Mind, p. 71).  I thought it was interesting in the story that filial piety is a traditional value for the boys and not the girls.

Toshio felt he was in prison and wanted to escape but continued on with his responsibilities that were expected of him.  In a traditional Japanese way, an expression of filial responsibility is the boys would refrain from distant travels because they owed the family. 

Children’s love and affection towards their parents is another conventional Japanese value. Toshio wanted to be filial but struggled with the traditional family values daily.  He confronted his parents with angry words and continually cursed them for abusing his body throughout his young life.  On the other hand, Kiyoshi agreed with filial piety.  He remained thoughtful and submissive towards his parents but was the son that pursued a future in the outside world.  As I see it, love and affection towards each other, child to parent, parent to child is a two way street.  Love and affection should be a natural instinct, but if the child does not feel this from the parent, how is it possible for them to reciprocate?

Children were to be in agreement with their parents.  When pointing out and correcting their parents’ mistakes, this would be done in a courteous way,  as it should be.  Filial piety consists of total and unconditional obedience.  The idea of rebellion, which we consider a “normal” phase of teenage years, is the direct opposite of filial piety, and was not acceptable. 

It was Toshio and Kiyoshi’s obligation to pay off their parent’s $6000.00 debt, and they felt confined to the family and plantation in order to do this.  Filial piety was about compromise and the reasons behind it.  Only when the principle of filial piety is communally accepted, can the idea of loyalty be viable and be regarded today as a virtue.  In the past, the idea of filial piety was a one way relationship, the child being dutiful to their parents. Filial piety today is about people treating each other with love and respect no matter what the pecking order.

The last Japanese value is sacrifice to the parents.  Our parents gave us life, cared for us and they do deserve our respect, but I cannot imagine expecting my children to sacrifice themselves to pay of my debts because of family tradition and values.  Toshio and Kiyoshi sacrificed their bodies, and souls as young men for their families, but were able to overcome and change tradition for themselves.

In conclusion, the traditional filial piety states that repayment from the children to the parent is never complete.  The parent gave child life, and the children will always be indebted to them.  Filial piety was not a skill in keeping the family, but rather a moral goodness in repaying gratitude to one’s parents, regardless of whether the family ends up happy or not. Through generations traditions have changed, children are able to make decisions for their own life and bodies.   In, “All I Asking for Is My Body,” filial piety seemed distorted and emphasized wrong values.  Kiyoshi was able to free himself from, “this prison of filial piety” (p. 102).  This really surprised me; I thought it would be Toshio who made the move first.  Even though I didn’t know what filial piety meant before I started this essay, I always had a dutiful spirit towards my parents because that was the right thing to do.

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part III, Dialogue

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part III, Dialogue

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE TITLE?

I think the title means that Toshio and Kiyoshi felt they were not in control of their destiny.  Their bodies were to be used as their parents wished because of filial piety. Toshio felt more inner turmoil and anger than his brother, but they both struggled with family responsibility versus what they wanted for their life.

Toshio and Kiyoshi’s parents told them many times that it was their duty to work hard and pay off family debts. It was their responsibility even though it meant they were used as child labor with little pay.  The children were slaves to their families, and the plantation, which was cruel and ugly.  This was a constant weight on Toshio and Kiyoshi’s shoulders because they were not able to make decisions and do what they thought best for their mind and bodies.  They wanted to have control of their life; they wanted to be able to make decisions on how their bodies would be used. The title, “All I Asking for Is my Body” was spoke many times in the book and I felt this was used to tell us that Toshio most of all, felt suffocated  because of traditional Japanese filial piety.

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part II, Dialogue

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part II, Dialogue

What is the importance of the body in the book? 

I think the importance of the body in the book is Tosh and Kyoshi, the two older sons felt they had no control over their life which meant their body.  They had to be good obedient boys and obey their parents or this showed disrespect. They were unable to make decisions for their own life and were not able to pursue their dreams.  They had to give up their bodies as their bodies belonged to the family.

Their parents were in financial disaster and because of their culture the boys were obligated to work and turn their money over to the family.  They were sacrificing themselves and their body to hard work because of family obligations, traditions and culture.  Their mom worried herself sick due to the financial burden, not taking care of her body which told us she to, gave up her body.   The boys have to work so hard their body was exhausted as their mother’s.  The number one boy was expected to quit school and work in the cane fields to help the financial burden of the family.  This was the way of life for his great grandfather, grandfather and father also. 

Writing Topic Summary Rules for Writers Chapter 32 Commas

Writing Topic: Chapter 32 The Comma

I have always struggled with the correct placement of commas.  I read the chapter three times about commas in “Rules for Writers” and was more confused than ever.  I did some research and found information that I comprehended easier.  Please accept this writing as my writing topic information.

The comma helps the reader understand sentences.  If a comma is not used, or used incorrectly it is possible that the sentence will be confusing or not clear.

There are a few tall tales that go along with the use of commas.  Long sentences always need a comma not true.  Whenever the writer is reading a sentence and there is a pause a comma should be used, not true.  Mystery is the name of the game with commas. (This is true in my eyes, but getting clearer.) This is really not true if commas are put in logical places the sentence becomes clearer. An introductory word or phrase cannot stand alone it must be set off by a comma.  FANBOYS is an acronym for coordinating conjunctions: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. This is an easy way to remember these conjunctions.  Commas should always be used before FANBOYS that join two independent clauses.  If there are not two subjects, two verbs, or two complete thoughts a comma is not needed. There are fake FANBOYS also called conjunctive adverbs i.e. however, therefore, moreover and some other words.  A semicolon would be used after the first complete thought if it was not two independent clauses, or if the sentence could be broken down into two complete sentences a period would be used.   If writing a list commas should always be used to separate the items. If there is two or more words that describe in a sentence separate with a comma. If a reader can take out a section of a sentence and it still makes clear sense commas should be used around the part that could be left out.

This was very helpful to me.  I am really trying to remember what FANBOYS stands for. For, And, Nor, But, OR, Yet, So.

http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/commas.html

All I Asking For Is My Body, Part I, Dialogue

All I asking For Is My Body, Part I, Dialogue

Question B.

Who is Makot?  Makot is a young man from a Japanese family that everyone thought funny things about.  He is an outcast trying to buy friendship from younger kids.  He is the “general” of the kids.  He is taking younger boys in directions they should not go with their peers, their young ages and their setting.  He is taking them away from their morals and values, teaching them to defy their parents.

Do I feel sorry for him?  Easy answer, yes I do.  He feels that he is an outcast amongst his age and he makes up for this loss by directing younger kids in directions they should not go.  It makes him feel that he is in control of something because his immediate family is out of control. He is embarrassed because of who his family is.  His father is the pimp and his mother the prostitute in a Filipino Camp with mostly bachelors living there.  What a sad life for a boy.

What are my thoughts about him and the way he copes with his parent’s. He is a very lonely boy with no respect for his parents or the boys he calls his friends.  Makot was embarrassed about his family.  His parents are gone most of the time and there is no real home life. Even though he has money because of his parent’s way of life it does not make up for his lack of family and love.

Extra Credit-Writing About Film

Extra Credit: Writing About Film

Taking notes and writing about novels or stories is different from writing about films.  Novels have one author films have many people and elements that determine the final product. A person has to be engaged in the movie, thinking and summarizing as the movie progresses in order to write about a movie. The two most complex elements to movies is directing and editing. The elements that go into film making today are much more involved than the 1900’s.  It can be hard to write about a film because we can get caught up in the entertainment of the film instead of the work that goes into it. 

When we write about a film it is the invisible aspects we should also see.  We might not see the camera work, editing, lighting, sound and understand the different parts seen in a movie which create the whole, but they are important.  To write a good essay about a film analyze in parts which is called formal analysis.  Do the elements function separately or together?   Each scene or shot needs to be understood. Learn about film terms.  Research the film, find out who made it, what other films did they make, what is the production history, what do others have to say about it, what can be learned from the films style or does the film reflect a culture?    

I definitely learned more about “Smoke Signals” through research before I watched the movie and wrote my essay. I found out about the production history and the culture of the film which was very interesting. I did take notes while watching the movie but it was hard because I kept getting caught up in the story and the emotions in the movie instead of thinking about taking notes.  I had to go back and watch it a couple more times.

Essay 3 workshop

Barbara Hough-Sisson

Lauren Servais

English 100

11-3-2010

                                                  “Forgiveness Liberates the Soul”

Forgiveness can free people from anger, hate or rage.  The importance of forgiveness is summed up in a quote by Nelson Mandela, “Forgiveness liberates the soul.  It removes fear.”  Forgiveness is a powerful weapon in the movie, “Smoke Signals”.

In the movie Victor needed to forgive his dad and let go of past hurts or his anger was going to consume him.   Although Victor had no control over his father’s disappearance, growing up without his dad had a negative emotional hold on him. Victor needed peace and happiness in his life and true peace for him would come from a sense of security and forgiveness.   Dr. Tom G. Stevens writes, “Remember that anger stems from fear and a sense of helplessness…”.  Victor was unable to admit that he was struggling with his emotions or feeling hurt or fear by his dad’s actions because that might show a sign of weakness, but in reality he felt both and showed this by being aggressive and disrespectful. By Victor keeping grudges bottled up he was hurting people in ways that he did not know or understand. Thomas knew the betrayal Victor felt by his father and stood by his side nonetheless, keeping his father’s memories alive through his stories.

  Without even knowing, Victor’s dad delivered pain by breaking three hearts, his own, his wife, and Victor’s through his aggression and abuse.  This pain was seen and felt by Victor and his mother who were witnessing it every day.  Was Victor’s dad asking for forgiveness and the only way he knew how to do this was by making a change?  Was he protecting his family from himself by leaving?  Arnold was not able to cope with his pain from the fire turning to alcohol and he destroyed the relationship with his family.  His inner turmoil terrified him and he feared for his family, and left.  This is a love not many men are capable of, but he did this to protect his family.

Even though Victor coped with a lot of deep-rooted anger throughout the movie he did learn how much his father loved him. Arnold’s friend, Suzy Song brought this to light through the stories she told Victor about his dad and Victor was able to mourn him.  While Victor was at his dad’s trailer he found a picture in his wallet of the three of them, mom, dad and Victor and on the back was wrote family, this told the story, his dad loved them. There is no way that a man would carry a picture in his wallet for so many years if the picture was not important. This brought Victor closer to hope and life.  Once the ashes were retrieved Victor wanted nothing to do with them until they were heading home.  He said to Thomas, “Let me hold onto my dad.”  This was a turning point for Victor in healing old wounds.   

This movie was built on a special friendship between Victor and Thomas which was difficult at times.  There had been a brother like bond from the time they were saved from the fire even though Victor was disrespectful to him throughout their young lives.   Thomas believed in people, Victor trusted no one.  Thomas felt that through his stories of the goodness about Victor’s father he kept him real in Victor’s eyes.  As in the movie, sometimes we all need help. Victor’s mother made a reference to Victor that maybe he should depend on Thomas for help, he needed financial and more important, moral support for the journey. Thomas was a rock that Victor could depend on.  

Forgiveness does not come easy, but while the two young men were on their journey life’s meaning and possibilities are discovered through their adventures. Life is not always fair but the miracle of forgiveness cleanses the soul.  By Victor making a liberating shift at the end of the movie he cleansed his soul by forgiving his dad.  

 In conclusion, a massive reform had taken place in Victor.  Victor chose to seek freedom and forgive with the help of his friend, Thomas, his mother and his father’s friend, Suzy. He was not chained anymore to his past.  He came to a crossroads in his life and was able to forgive and free himself as he was putting his father’s ashes into the river at Spokane Falls Bridge, and he fell to his knees and cried out forgiveness to his father.  Everyday people and situations deliver us with pain, sometimes knowing and sometimes not, but we need to rise above, be strong and forgive as Victor did.  Smoke Signals portrays that anger, alcoholism and hurt cannot defeat love.