1. What similarities can be drawn between No-No Boy and Bread Givers in regards to the generational conflicts of immigrant families?
2. What do you think this novel is trying to say about patriotism and being American?
3. What do you think Kenji and his injuries represent and is he a "good" American?
1) Multiple parallels can be drawn between these two tales about a family's home away from home. In both these stories, the characters struggle with assimilating in America, a constant battle is represented between their cultures and new environments. Just like the daughters struggled with living in a "man's world" in bread givers, so does Ichiro struggle with living in a world that condemns anyone who isn't pro-war. He is ostracized from his community, even by his own family, for refusing to fight in a war, essentially against his own people. Maybe marrying someone you don't wish to marry and living a life of servitude isn't as bad as fighting a war and possibly dying, it still goes against ones freedom essentially and creates identity confusion as well as distorting ones own feeling of belongingness.
ReplyDelete2) Just by the title you can tell what message the author is trying to serve to the readers. No-no boy refers to people who would answer loyalty questionnaires which would consist of 2 questions, regarding their readiness to partake in the war as well as their loyalty to America , even if that meant being disloyal to their own native country. So, people who would answer no to both questions were called no-no boys, like Ichiro. People like Ichiro were then denounced due to their refusal to essentially be patriotic. From this one can ascertain that patriotism went hand in hand with being American, if you weren't patriotic you were labeled as a no-no boy and told to go back to where you came from.
3) Kenji and the injuries he sustained represents the choices young men like him made and what they led to. He made a choice to fight in the war and from it he was losing his leg. Kenji was one of many whom got injured and possibly even died, an event they had accepted when they were filling out the questionnaire. I'm sure that according to the soldiers and the American government and our dear friend Mr.Roosevelt, Kenji would be labeled as a good American, probably the only context in which he would be referred to as American. In reality, fighting and dying for your country isn't the only and mandatory reason to be labeled a good American, there are many upon many reasons you can be a good American without doing those things.
1) There are many similarities between No-No Boy and Bread Givers. In both stories, there is a big disconnect between the two generations. The older generation does not see America as a true home, but instead it is just the location of where they live. The younger generation, however, feels America is more than just a location. It is a lifestyle they desire and want to live by. The older generation does not understand this, and does not want this for themselves or their children. In both stories, the two generations clash over there differences with this.
ReplyDelete2) John Okada does not make you search long and hard for this answer. He mentions it early that Japanese Americans were asked two question; would they serve in the U.S. military, and if they were loyal only to the United States. These questions show you must earn the right to be an American. If someone was to say no to these questions, like Ichiro did, they would be sent to prison for two years. Even after the two years, it was still difficult for these people. They were looked down at, and were labeled No-No boys. This was a derogatory term, and made them feel like outcasts.
3)The injuries Kenji received from the military showcase he sacrificed for America. In this context, it would classify him as a "good" American. However, we only say this because of his injuries. We don't say he is a "good" America because of his love of the country, or anything related to that. It is only because he served in the military. To showcase this further, we even see Kenji break the law most people would have to abide by. He receives a ticket for parking his car too long, and he throws the ticket away because he is a veteran. We ignore this, and continue to call him a "good' American because he did his duty, and sacrificed his body for it.
1) There are a lot similarities between these two novels. In Bread Givers the four daughters struggle with the way of thinking of their father Reb Smolinsky who was always leading his daughters in the "Old World." He prefer that his family live according to the Jewish culture and not the American, even though that was the place they where living in. So as Ichiro in No-No Boy who encounter difficult situations because his family was Japanese and he was Japanese-American. He refused to go and fight for the war against his own people and for that reason he was in the cancel for two years. Ichiro was suffering because most of the people around see him as Japanese and not American for the decision he committed even when was born and educated in the United States. Bread Givers and No-No Boy represents the suffering and the problems that Parents begin an provoke because they want their children to follow their steps but in reality the children don't want to and don't agree with that kind of perception and practice.
ReplyDelete2) This novel makes clear that it's very important for everyone in the community to classify themselves as Americans. If you don't agree with the regulations of the country you are not going to be able to experience the benefits that are given to those who follow the government. For instance Japanese American families during that century were was ask these two questions. Would they serve in the U.S military and Would they be loyal to the United States. If they say "No" these people will be known as "No-No boy." Also they will go to prison for two years as Ichiro did. later people will point out to them as different from the community because they decided not to go with the demand of the government.
3) Kenji's injuries represent that he was loyal to the United States. He gave his life for the benefit of America and for that reason he can be called a "good" American. However he did it to fulfill with his obligation to serve America. Kenji was obligated to represent America in the war because if he didn't do it later the consequences of breaking the rules will be difficult to resist. The only good reason to be a "good" American is to be part of the U.S military that's why Ichiro's brother wanted to served the U.S to be known as a American because Ichiro didn't go. However you don't have to fulfill the blank to be known as a "good" American. Now Kenji because he said "YES" to serve in the military and sacrifice his life and be known as "good" american.
1) There are a lot similarities between these two novels. In Bread Givers the four daughters struggle with the way of thinking of their father Reb Smolinsky who was always leading his daughters in the "Old World." He prefer that his family live according to the Jewish culture and not the American, even though that was the place they where living in. So as Ichiro in No-No Boy who encounter difficult situations because his family was Japanese and he was Japanese-American. He refused to go and fight for the war against his own people and for that reason he was in the cancel for two years. Ichiro was suffering because most of the people around see him as Japanese and not American for the decision he committed even when was born and educated in the United States. Bread Givers and No-No Boy represents the suffering and the problems that Parents begin an provoke because they want their children to follow their steps but in reality the children don't want to and don't agree with that kind of perception and practice.
ReplyDelete2) This novel makes clear that it's very important for everyone in the community to classify themselves as Americans. If you don't agree with the regulations of the country you are not going to be able to experience the benefits that are given to those who follow the government. For instance Japanese American families during that century were was ask these two questions. Would they serve in the U.S military and Would they be loyal to the United States. If they say "No" these people will be known as "No-No boy." Also they will go to prison for two years as Ichiro did. later people will point out to them as different from the community because they decided not to go with the demand of the government.
3) Kenji's injuries represent that he was loyal to the United States. He gave his life for the benefit of America and for that reason he can be called a "good" American. However he did it to fulfill with his obligation to serve America. Kenji was obligated to represent America in the war because if he didn't do it later the consequences of breaking the rules will be difficult to resist. The only good reason to be a "good" American is to be part of the U.S military that's why Ichiro's brother wanted to served the U.S to be known as a American because Ichiro didn't go. However you don't have to fulfill the blank to be known as a "good" American. Now Kenji because he said "YES" to serve in the military and sacrifice his life and be known as "good" american.
1) There are multiple similarities between No No Boy and Bread Givers, specifically Sara and Ichiro's struggle with balancing the old world mentality with the new. Each novel has at least one parent who is very much rooted in the ways of the old world, for Sara it is her father Reb, and for Ichiro it is his mother. Both parents are harsh, strict and firm in their beliefs, going to great lengths to prove they are right. While one parent is allowed to be a tyrant, the other must carry the burden of taking care of the family, as it is for Ichiro’s father and Sara’s mother. One of the more complex issues both Sara and Ichiro deal with is the pressure to become successful. However, Sara and Ichiro’s success is only acknowledged if it fits within the realm of the old world mentality. Sara can only gain her fathers praise if she marries someone of his choosing, and Ichiro is only successful by continuing to uphold his mother’s standards of what it means to be a “good Japanese son.” Both main characters struggle to carve out a place in the new world, while respecting their old world roots. Sara and Ichiro grapple with understanding their parents mentality while simultaneously trying to figure out the rules for the new world, which is the main cause of tension within their families. While Sara and Ichiro have similar stories, it is important to note that they each have distinct differences (gender, politics, etc.), which changes their perspective on what it means to be an immigrant.
ReplyDelete2) John Okada doesn’t make it easy to figure out what he is trying to say about patriotism, because there is no clear-cut answer. Immigrants built America, and there is a contradiction in the idea of imprisoning immigrant families, because of their refusal to swear loyalty. The whole idea is hypocritical and he wants the reader to understand that. He also adds another layer of complexity having Ichiro question whether or not he made the right decision in refusing to join the war. He spends most of the novel in anguish over his choice and is constantly punishing himself by denying himself any sort of redeemable future. Having characters like Emi and Kenji who have made huge sacrifices, both emotional and physical, telling Ichiro that even if he did make the wrong choice that he is capable of moving on, gives the reader a sense that even if a person may not want to bleed for their country, what makes America special is that they have a choice to refuse. Okada leaves the reader with the feeling that being American is all part of being able to start over, and have the freedom to make choices that would be denied elsewhere. While Ichiro may be haunted by his past and his choices, there is a bigger picture; in war there are no right choices, and part of being American is picking yourself back up and staring anew.
3) Kenji is most definitely a “good” American. He made the active decision to embrace the war and fight for his country, and he paid the price with his body. Kenji has no regrets and even expresses to his father that he would have gone even if his father forbade it. He was well aware of the sacrifice he would be making to fight for his country and is understanding that not everyone is able to make that choice. Kenji in the novel is somewhat of a wise father figure. He helps Ichiro grasp what has happened to him and does his best to uplift him. Kenji knows the world is not perfect and that sometimes there is no right choice, but the best thing someone can do is move on. Kenji does not regret his choice because he is proud, and is close with his family, which he claims is all that someone can really ask for. He gives Ichiro the room to feel his feelings but also pushes him to be grateful and hopeful for having a future. His loss of his leg symbolizes the loss of his freedom, and he encourages Ichiro to take advantage of the freedom that his leg paid the price for. He wants Ichiro to move on from the war because some people don’t have the luxury of moving on from their pain.
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ReplyDeleteI believe Okada's views on patriotism are actually much more complex than we are lead to believe based on the treatment on his main character. While Ichiro is labeled a no-no boy, he is not the only one to face "othering" for abstract and absurd reasons. There are racial slurs and such a pride in heritage that it actually becomes gang-like in the physical violence presented and the refusal to include anyone even a little bit different. Okada presents the novel in such a way that Ichiro is meant to be pitied and judged for being a no-no boy, but then we have a major contrast in the character of Kenji, forcing us to actually second guess what Okada's thoughts are.
ReplyDeleteIchiro, a no-no boy, judges himself harshly and struggles with his own decision. He comes across people who belittle him in multiple ways for refusing to fight, but he also meets people who are accepting and understanding of his choices. Then, on the flip side, Kenji agreed to fight. He ends up losing his leg, lamenting his choices, and ultimately winds up dying. Okada, to me, presents this contrast because he is trying to show that patriotism, in and of itself, is not good or bad. It's about if it is accepted willingly or not. When forced upon people, anything is a dangerous concept. Patriotism, in this case, either gets you "othered" or risks your life.
I think Okada, more than anything, wants us to draw our own conclusions about patriotism, and I don't think he truly feels there is a right or wrong answer. Ichiro is made to struggle for his choices, but ultimately finds a type of peace and acceptance. Kenji is made to struggle for his choices, despite being the polar opposite, and ends up dying for them. Okada, in a grand way, is asking us - what do you think it means to be patriotic and a "Good" American, dying for your country, or finding your own way in the face of serious adversity? Neither is without its drawbacks and neither is always the right path. His novel leaves me feeling that "good" American's make their own choices, "good" Americans accept their choices, and "bad" Americans are the obstacles that stand in the way of free will.