Hello readers!
This week on ASTU we read the comic book Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and I must say this is a marvellous and well written comic book. The book enables us readers to oversee the whole Islamic Revolution in the view of a child, it helps deliver the serious message in a simple, childish and pressure-free way.
A scene in the comic resonated with me long after I read the book, in that scene Marjane Satrapi (the protagonist of the book) was in the car with her parent. She asked them why didn’t they leave the country and her father coldly replied, “So that I can be a taxi driver and you [Marjane] can be a cleaning lady?” (page 64) After reading this scene, I sympathize with Marjane and her family. I feel a sense of hopelessness because the political outlook of the country is so unstable; trapped because there is nowhere they can go. Moreover, this particular scene reminded me of the sacrifice my parents made migrating to Canada 20 years ago.
Hong Kong used to be a British colony until 1996 when Hong Kong was handed back to the Chinese government. My parents were terrified of what will become of Hong Kong after the handover, they do not wish to raise their kids in a communist country and decided to migrate to Canada. They gave up the stable jobs and comfortable lives they enjoy in Hong Kong and moved to another continent. After moving to Canada, they struggled to make a stable living and have to put up with the constant racist comments and harassment from their co-workers. Some might ask why didn’t they switch jobs? Well, let me ask you a question. If you have a 2 years old child and another one on the way (the other one is me to be exact), can you afford to be picky? Besides, not much jobs were opened to new immigrants at that time.
It was especially hard for my dad, he earned a degree in urban planning and worked in the government in Hong Kong. Although he is a very talented man and is passionate about his studies, the only job he landed in Canada was to work in a fish market unloading boxes and boxes of seafood on and off truck. Due to the heavy load he carried everyday during that period, he severely hurt his back and is still in constant pain till this day.
Marjan Satrapi’s story reminded me of what happened to my parents and how influential the head of state or government can be. One wrong decision they make can severely affect the lives of millions. In event like these, both Marjane and my parents are choosing better the lesser evil and are asking themselves the ultimate question. Would they rather risk raising their child in a potentially unsafe environment but have a high social standing and a stable income or would they give up all they have just so they can have a stable life but earn an unstable income?
Overall I enjoyed the book, I have always been a fan of memoir or comic books. Having these two genre combine is just perfect. To those who are also interested in this genre of books, I recommend you to read “The Book Of Negro” written by Canadian author Lawrence Hill. This book is otherwise known as “Someone Knows My Name” in New Zealand and in the United State. Although it is not a comic book but a novel, it is not at all dull or boring.
I hope you enjoy my blog and find it a pleasure to read!
By Rachel Lam
PS: After my parents lived in Canada for 5 years, they realize Canada is not the promise land that the country advertised so they moved back to Hong Kong.