Month: October 2013

Supposedly, Obasan led to a cultural change. It asked hard questions, such as “what makes an individual Canadian?” and talked about difficult themes, like ‘”identity and belonging.”

(Political Sciences, anyone?)

 

Kogawa’s historical fiction made citizens realize the damaging effects discrimination had, particularly when the above-mentioned segregation occurred at an institutional level in which the government sanctioned it.

The ripples the novel caused eventually triggered a new tolerance, acceptance, as well as, allowed Canadian culture to cherish multiculturalism in a way that would have been unimaginable otherwise….

Right?

 

Wrong.

Although Obasan is a beautifully written book, its “accomplishments” are empty.

The government apology served no purpose, except that of appeasing Canadians who were either shocked at the injustice or ashamed of having an ugly part of their past recorded in a novel.

This way of seeing things might appear cynical, but we must realize that a speech and $21,000 dollars could never make up for the disruption and despair caused by internment. How could a government ever cover the cost of emotional damages? How could they ever give a child their innocence back? Or, how could a measly apology ever provide solace after the loss of a home?

It is simply impossible.

 

Furthermore, let us think of the steps towards greater tolerance and cultural acceptance.

Canadians pride themselves in being welcoming towards immigrants and knowledgeable of other cultures. The word ‘racism’ rolls like a curse off their tongues.

But still, Canadians are no more accepting or welcoming or knowledgeable than most other first-world countries.

I can provide countless personal examples, such as one individual’s great surprise when I told him that Mexicans don’t really wear sombreros all the time (he looked crestfallen), or the innumerable questions I have been asked about my first language, ‘Mexican’. (There. Is. No. Such. Thing. People from Mexico speak Spanish.)

Or I can also give much more broad examples that demonstrate Canada’s racist tendencies. Finding a job if you’re an immigrant, for one, is an almost-impossible feat. Conversations are often started with the question “where are you from?”, particularly if you are not white. Stereotypes are used as naturally in conversation as adjectives. (Who isn’t familiar with “Chinese can’t drive?”)

 

In the great scheme of things, there has been no change. Canada remains a racist country that must portray an idea of tolerance because it is largely made up of immigrants. Discrimination has not disappeared, it has simply become subtler. And no matter how many apologies or redresses the government makes, or how many books with themes similar to those in Obasan are written, discrimination will never disappear. Not in Canada, and not anywhere in the world.

 

Edit: I would like to include this brief article about the ties between economy and racism (in USA), since I feel like it is somehow related to my posting.

http://www.bet.com/news/national/2013/02/05/american-money-the-economic-origins-of-racism.html

I have been thinking quite a lot about literature lately. After having read Nussbaum’s article, I have developed a much better understanding of its importance, as well as the essentialness of reading and analyzing texts.

 

As Nussbaum claims, arts are vital in developing civic values. She states that the power  of written works, specifically, can expand an individual’s mind.

Although I sincerely agree with this idea of the formative aspects of a good read, I am uncomfortable with the thought of all novels and books influencing our worldview.

Because, can we truly compare the powerful statements made by George Orwell’s “1984” with the overtly-popular (and in my opinion sickening) narration of ‘books’ such as “Fifty Shades of Gray”? (I am sure Orwell is retching in his grave at the mere suggestion of this.)

If, as Nussbaum reiterates over and over again throughout “Literature, imagination and Democratic Citizenship”, readers are consciously or unconsciously changed by the things they read, what will the next few generations amount to?

With novels such as “Twilight” polluting a fourteen-year-old girl’s mind and educating her on the finer points of teen-pregnancy, unhealthy relationships, and unhappiness-unless-you-have-a-boyfriend, I shudder to think of her future.

Or, let us go back to the fine example of the series “Fifty Shades”, in which the protagonist stays with an abusive man. (I read the books. The guy seemed to operate on a logic of ‘no’ means ‘yes’, ‘yes’ means ‘bring the cable ties, please’). What does that mean for us, readers?

 

If literature can instill civic values, is there a darker side to it? Does literature also help cement negative aspects in our society? The answer is, sadly, yes. In my examples, I talk about current books, of course. But novels and books have been utilized to brainwash individuals before. ( Think “Mein Kampf”)

 

With this in mind, should we not be much more careful of what we allow to be published? Even if authors nowadays are not aware of the atrocious effects their work might have, readers are still unknowing victims to the perpetuation of negative ideas.

Furthermore, should we be better at educating readers so that they can be much more intelligent and discriminating of the materials they are supposed to read?

 

Or, maybe I’ve been thinking a tad too much about the power of literature, when I should be immersing myself in mid-term studies.

 

 

Note: If anybody has no idea of what Mein Kampf is, here I present an interesting article explaining it, as well as its effects on history: http://www.livescience.com/2821-mein-kampf-changed-world.html