In ASTU (a writing class taught at the University of British Columbia) we have begun reading Obasan by Joy Kogawa. I was, admittedly, reluctant to read this book and had not one single clue as to what it was about. But as I began reading this book I was shocked and slightly embarrassed. In Chapter 4, we learn that Grandma Nakane was imprisoned right here in Vancouver at Hastings Park in 1942. How could I have grown up in Vancouver but never known about these internment camps? Or the racism towards Japanese? Or anything!?
This reminded me of earlier this year in Sociology when we learned about the Komagata Maru. The Komagata Maru was a boat full of (potential) immigrants from India. Ultimately the ship was not allowed to unload it’s passengers into Vancouver. These people were searching for a better life and a new beginning but were brutally turned away. Canada found a loophole which legally rejected them from our society even after they had travelled for months and just wanted to get off the ship.
Both incidents are racist blemishes on Vancouver and Canada’s past. We have a holiday to remember the war (Remembrance Day). Of course we can’t forget the war! But why do we have to forget everything else?
In chapter 7 of Obasan the author brings to light the important issue: Should we remember?
The character’s responses display a broad spectrum of beliefs and are those that we still contemplate to this day. Aunt Emily is deeply angered by what happened to her people during WWII and she thinks that Japanese-Canadians need to understand what happened to them and their ancestors otherwise they will forever hold a grudge and pass on the resentment to future generations. On the contrast, Naomi (the narrator) is indifferent to events that are long past. Obasan (the other aunt) and Uncle are grateful towards Canada; thankful that they are allowed to live here. Allowed to live here.
Personally, I’d like to be more informed about the history of the city that I live in. I’ve learned more about Vancouver in these past 2 months of University than I have in 20 years of actually living here. Maybe they’re (whoever decides our history) just trying to keep up the image that Vancouver is an accepting and positively diverse city. Or maybe they’re embarrassed too.
Hi Isobel,
I really enjoyed reading this blog post! I agree with your argument regarding the “loophole” which the Canadian government created in order to turn away people looking for a better life on Canadian shores. I think that this treatment is very relevant in Obasan, and these loopholes are continously being created.
I thought this was a very compelling post, well done!
Cheers, Natalie Phillips
Hi Isobel!
I enjoyed reading this blog post, for you talked about quite a lot of things that we are still struggling to find the right answers for.
It is disheartening to think that perhaps the Canadian government is purposely trying to hide our ugly past from those that did not experience it first-hand to avoid conflict or an apology being sent out. Whether it be because they are embarrassed such a thing had tarnished our Canadian history or because they want to maintain the pristine and ‘nice’ stereotype that Canada has to boast about, I find it unacceptable to allow such blatant disregard on an important matter such as this.
I think our education system (especially from elementary school to high school) is extremely flawed. Like what you said, it is highly possible to learn more about our history in a span of a few months in a post-secondary institution such as UBC than the past 13-14 years spent in elementary and high school.
It’s appalling once you think about it: you have spent more than half of your life learning the in-depth histories of other great nation-states, both the positives and negatives of them all. Yet when you come to your own country, that’s when fences are being built to prohibit you from learning the outright negatives in our history.
Professor Erickson had talked about something similar to this in his past lectures, specifically about why we’re enrolled in school so early and why we are given a set of guidelines to learn. It is due to our curiosity that we start school so young, and it is due to us needing to stand for the government rather than against them. All in all, I guess you could say that we are the puppets of the government’s disposal.
On that somber note, I think this is a well-written blog post, and like I said earlier, I really enjoyed reading it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Isobel!
(By the way, I really like the ending of your second paragraph, the one that talks about the celebration of Remembrance day to commemorate the deaths of the fallen soldiers, and why we forget about anything (and anyone) else, but not the war itself. I would comment on it further, but this comment is already too long, so apologies for making you read through this lengthy post!)
Jackie