During the past week my peers and I have been reading “Poems from Guantánamo” By Marc Flakoff. It has played a prominent role in our class discussions and I have learned a great deal from this short piece of text.

When reading the first few pages of the book the message Falkoff wants to get across to his audience is clear. He asks the reader to set aside any judgments they might have already made about the men who wrote the poems – he wants them to be read with no bias – simply remembering that these men are human, just like you and me.

As the book unfolds reading the poems with no bias becomes increasingly difficult. Reason for this being that prior to every single poem a short profile is displayed entailing different facts about the writer to come. Details about their families, degrees, schooling, and previous jobs are littered within the book – but not a single page is dedicated to revealing what crimes these men have been convicted and detained for. The book offers information about these men that the reader would consider “normal” or “human” they are things that we can relate to – in turn we feel a connection with them.

While reading through some of the blog posts this week I couldn’t help but agree with my peer Dixon Scott because the points made in his blog are quite reasonable. Guantánamo is clearly a horrific place with below average living standards and I strongly believe that nobody – not even individuals convicted of these crimes – should be forced to live in these conditions. When thinking about the men stuck in these places my mind is “torn” as Dixon said.

Should we stand up for these men? Should we care about others who act out in these horrendous ways on innocent individuals?

Men whose poems are in this very book and have been released are now confirmed members of ISIS, they were let go because it was initially determined that they were not a threat.

This book is an incredible collection of writing and I do not think it should go unnoticed. Whether these men have been convicted of these crimes or not this is their only means of expression and I do believe they have every right to write. At the end of the day it offers a diverse viewpoint for this situation and I believe it to be a significant piece of literature to make reference to when discussing the details of this touchy subject.

Todays ASTU Class proved to be extremely interesting creating a conversation that I felt everyone contributed to. We focused our discussion in on different aspects of Judith Butlers “Frames of War”. Throughout the discussion the idea of mourning some lives while ignoring or acting with coldness toward others came onto the table – the points raised by my classmates were the ideas that got me thinking. Butler addresses ideas of grievable oppose to ungrievable situations suggesting,

“We might think of war as dividing populations into those who are grievable and those who are not”(Pg. 38). Where do we fit into this divide? Who are we in these times of war? Butler believes that individuals need to ask themselves “whose lives are considered valuable, whose lives are mourned, and whose lives are considered ungrievable”(Pg.38).

While these questions were discussed in class a fellow student suggested that we “mourn what we are framed to mourn” addressing the idea that what we mourn is constructed and based for example on the life we live, or where we come from. I immediately made a connection to the way society mourns for victims of horrific situations – for example the Robert Pickton case and the fact that he brutally murdered a large number of women. When reading about the case, you will find that a majority of his victims were prostitutes or women who were living on the downtown east side. When taking into consideration what he was doing and at the rate he was doing it, you might question the police on their urgency to find him. I strongly believe that due to the demographic of the women, the case was not considered a priority.

This whole case is a prime example of the way society dictates the lives that are considered “valuable” or “invaluable” and frankly – in this case – it is extremely disappointing, with horrific consequences. How do we select that we do and do not mourn, are we framed to mourn particular situations while acting in coldness towards others? These are all questions that this weeks material has led me to asking – questions that will

Traumatic events often bring feelings of terror and stress upon the individuals caught in them. Whether these unfortunate events harm a specific person – or someone close to them – the aftermath can be quite horrific and daunting. The two events I wish to focus on are 9/11 through the lenses of Oskar Schell in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close By Jonathan Safran Foer and the moving of Japanese Canadians in the Second World War through a collection of memories in Obasan by Joy Kogawa. These though times leave people trying to find ways of coping with their mixed emotions or “Heavy Boots” as Oskar Schell would describe them. Both Foer and Kogawa offer examples of the way that small and simple activities can act in therapeutic ways; this activity being writing. I have selected a specific page from each book that addresses the act of writing in a therapeutic manner. The First example can be found on page 119 in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Oskars grandfather expresses his feelings towards writing and its therapeutic ways; he suggests that Oskars grandmother try it.

“ It was my suggestion, and at the time I thought it was a very good one, I thought maybe if she could express herself rather than suffer herself, if she had a way to relieve the burden, she lived for nothing more than living, with nothing to get inspired by, to care for, to call her own”(Pg 119)

He exemplifies that fact that writing might help his wife, and Oskars grandmother to relieve the burden of her suffering. The second example I pulled is from the letter that Naomi’s mother writes in Obasan, explaining her reasons for having not contacted them through their lengthy childhood years. She states

“ If these matters are sent away in this letter, perhaps they will depart a little from our souls … for the burden of these words, forgive me” (Pg 259)

Both Oskar grandfather and Naomi’s mother feel that the act of writing and releasing their emotions on to a page will lift the burdens of their suffering. Although they came from very different situations and traumatic events, their coping mechanisms have endless similarities. I never would have though that something so small could bring such hope and relief to people as they try to move on from their fragmented past.

First term ASTU afforded the incredible opportunity to read an array of genres that depict civilians unique first hand experiences as they struggle to survive in corrupt and war-stricken parts of the world. With the first term coming to a close my peers and I had the privilege of examining the fonds of Joy Kogawa author of Obasan. The novel had a large impact on the way I examine my neighborhood in particular; I will never pass Hastings Race Course again without the Japanese Community lingering in my thoughts. The fonds elicited feelings of connectedness and specific emotions that I felt could never be repercussions of archives from a woman I hardly knew. Naomi and her mother feared that their mutual knowledge of one another’s pain would sever their relationship, in turn they chose to be silent; ironically enough silence was the one thing that severed it. Though tragic it is my favorite aspect of the book; because in moment Naomi realizes that silence evidently destroyed their relationship she makes the decision to listen. It is in this act of listening and breaking the silence that I came across my favorite line of the book

“Mother. I am listening. Assist me to hear you.”(Pg264)

Of the entire book this simple phrase was the one to hook me; she was speaking to her mother directly. While analyzing the fonds I came across a rough copy of the book, one that was to be edited and re assessed before being published. Within the pages Joys small handwriting scratched out some words, and added in others; editing it as she pleased. Then, I came across a paragraph and the last three lines had been viciously scribbled out of sight the replacement for those lines written below read “Mother. I am listening. Assist me to hear you”. Overwhelmed by a rush of emotions I felt a connection to Joy. I was holding the “birth” of my favourite line; it was as if I was seeing my favourite celebrity in person for the first time. Being able to see her writing and just hold the pages made the entire book that much more real. The artifacts truly changed the way I look at the book and make me want to read it a second time over with this new perspective.

As you may have noticed I continuously make reference to novels containing the first hand experiences of individuals living in the midst of war and violence. Such as Marjane Satrapis recollection of her childhood during the Islamic Revolution.

While reading books that embody fragments of these historically significant events debates arise over who has the right to document them, individuals with first hand experience or the outsider looking in? Authors attempt to write books on said incidents and act as if they can accurately express the feelings of pain and suffering that accompany the War. I initially found these attempts to be offensive, until coming across Safe Area Goražde By reporter Joe Sacco; a graphic novel that displays horrific incidents acted out during the War in Eastern Bosnia. Upon realizing Joe was a reporter I was unsure as to whether his story would truthfully encompass these events. Surely (I though to myself) it is not difficult to go somewhere, take some photos, gather some “juicy” stories and publish the findings to make a great deal of money.

The more I read the more I realized that the stereotypes I created in my own mind embodied everything that Joe Sacco was not. He visited the safe area many times, and developed strong, personal relationships with a countless number of individuals. Page 103 displays one of these relationships; Joe states “I was as close as I came in Bosnia to bursting in to tears” his love of Riki is expressed through pain that overwhelms him while watching his friend leave. I assumed he created this novel for his own benefit, but in reality he documented these memories and recollections because he wanted to help the people of Goražde. Joe served as a symbol of hope and movement as expressed on page 57, people got close to him because they assumed that he would get them out.

By documenting and publishing their reality he was able to help them; he uncovered the Real Truth, stressing through his writing that these are not over exaggerations. Although Sacco did not experience these incidents first hand he continuously reminds the reader that he is an outsider looking in simply serving as a “means of transport” for the Real Truth. Through his documentation of these accounts Joe gives an alternate and rare perspective on War, proving that if done right these historic events can be documented by outsiders in a beneficial way.

In last weeks blog post I made reference to the graphic novel “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi. In turn I do not feel I had the chance to shed light on this significant true story that I initially underestimated. When assigned the novel I was baffled, a comic book? On the Islamic Revolution? Not only did I consider the “comic book” a foreign genre, but the Islamic Revolution is a topic that originally, I was not well acquainted with. I found it challenging to try and related to young Marji. She was growing up in the midst of corruption and a war that was taking the lives of people in mass numbers; two situations that I am blessed to say I have not had to experience first hand. A girl at that age is already struggling to find herself and her place in the world, considering the fact that the representation of ones self was basically forbidden the chances for growth and personal discovery were slim to none. Thinking about life when I was that age I do not recall being given a criteria as to how I would have to dress, act, and speak. My mother allowed my siblings and I to determine how we would represent ourselves; to an extent. On pages 132 and 133 this type of repression is exemplified and enforced by women known as “Guardians of the Revolution”.Marji is harassed by these women in her community shouted at for being “[A] little whore!” because she was sporting her new denim jacket, Nike sneakers, and Michael Jackson pin. These pages struck me in particular because, 99% of girls I know would be wearing an outfit similar if not identical to Marjis at that age, and the fact that a mature woman would proclaim a young girl a “whore” for wearing such an outfit seemed to me to be outrageous. I have always believed that staying true to ones self is a crucial aspect of living life. Though I feel I can relate to Marji and the struggles she has to face in find herself, part of me cannot help but feel very dissimilar. A simple reason for this being that if I were to try and leave in something too revealing my father would have probably made me change, but if Marji is seen wearing anything other than the black veil she could very well be a dead woman. Processing and taking all of this in I felt extremely frightened by the fact that there are young women around the world who are still living under rules and regulations such as these with no choice. In a nutshell reading this graphic novel led me to realize that growing up in a home and community where I could be myself is a great privileged one that many girls don’t have. Consequently I would consider this to be a life-changing novel, one that I will recommend to people I meet in the future.

“The Role of Interpretative Communities in Remembering and Learning” By Farhat Shahzad exemplifies the immense effect that communities can have on the way individuals take in and remember information. I usually try my best to interpret information based on what I believe in, and I would not label my self as a person who is influenced or swayed by the opinion of others. When reading Farhats research I was taken back because I had never really considered where my beliefs come from. One of the essays composed by a twenty-one year old first generation female immigrant from China caught my eye. She wrote, “Most of the information I have in relation to this war mainly comes from my father and grandfather’s discussions”(pg.307). Just a few days before reading Farhat’s essay I had finished “Persepolis” By Marjane Satrapi, which could very well be the reason as to why I was drawn to this sentence. Persepolis is a graphic novel that follows the life of a young woman living in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. She struggles to understand the war but is eventually enlightened by the teachings of her parents; whose beliefs influence her throughout the rest of the comic. I found it fascinating that these women were from two completely different cultures yet both influenced by the opinions of their parents. When I took the time to think about what I value and believe in I realized that my parents influence the majority of my beliefs, similar to the two women I read about. Their memories of the two historical events are shaped by the memories of their community; in this case their family. I initially struggled to comprehend the concepts of Farhats essay but connecting it to Persepolis helped solidify my understanding on the role of interpretative communities in remembering historical events. Both texts have taught me a lot about myself and have led me to seriously think about what I am influenced by. In my opinion Persepolis is a perfect example that supports Farhats findings as to how our beliefs are influenced by the people and communities around us.

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