Our field trip to the Japanese Internment Memorial in downtown San Jose was a pretty eye opening experiencing. It is an amazing piece of art dedicated to a period of time in America, and specifically on the west coast, that speaks volumes and is put together beautifully. All things considered, this monument is often times passed when walking down the street without a second look. While on our mini trip we learned a lot about the situation with Japanese immigration into the United States and the situation in America post Pearl Harbor travesty.
It was in the 1880's that the first generation wave of Japanese immigrants, the Issei, started arriving on America's west coast. Most who arrived were middle aged males who worked as agricultural laborers, hoping to one day have land of their own. As the Japanese started to have more and more success in society with their own land and businesses, sentiment toward the Japanese as a people grew. Eventually the first real organized racist league against the Japanese started, the Oriental Exclusion League, and it boasted around 78,000 members. They were set to do one thing, hault Japanese Immigration, and in 1908 they succeeded. This was only the beginning of the prejudice and intolerance of the Japanese people in the states.
The severe restriction of Japanese immigration, called The Gentleman's Agreement, made it so that only the Issei already living here could stay and only their immediate family members could enter. This prompted the popularity of picture brides for Japanese men living in the states. They were arranged marriages with women in japan and they would communicate though letters and photos. They were technically married in Japan, and so finally between 1910 and 1913 more than 20,000 picture brides left Japan and made their journey across the sea to join their husbands in the US. This huge influx of Japanese woman gave rise to more Happa (Japanese-American) families in the US and 2nd Japanese generation, the Nissei, were born.
There was much discrimination and prejudice on the families. The second generations parents couldn't legally own land (Alien Land Act) and to add to that, they couldn't become citizens. Shortly after this unequal treatment, in 1924 the Asian Exclusion Act was passed which barred any further immigration. This is where the monument comes into play. Despite all this widespread discrimination toward their race, the Japanese showed little hostility toward the larger community. After the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1942, President Roosevelt authorized the internment and relocation of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans along the Pacific Coast. The order was called Order 9066 and it allowed the military to evacuate Japanese Americans from their homes and towns, including San Jose, and resettle them into designated "exclusion zones."
One of the vignettes on the moral was of some of the Japanese American soldiers getting ready to go to war against Japan. This part of the monument blew my mind because of the circumstances in which they were participating. The circumstances were, that if you were Japanese male and living in America, you were either fighting in the war against Japan, or you were being held basically prisoner in an internment camp with the rest of your family, away from your home. This specific area of the moral paints a picture of Japanese American men fighting the good fight alongside other American men against their own homeland. Despite all the prejudice and mistreatment their race had endured over years and years in America they still fought. As explained by professor McCune, there were many Japanese men who participated because they wanted to show their immense and swelling pride in being Americans. The fact that these young men, who were 2nd generation Japanese immigrants, could feel so much for a country that had treated them so unfairly amazes me.
The amount of injustice to have been endured by one people, and still there was an overwhelming feeling of Americana pride really just blows my mind.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
1.maledicent
2. I was skimming through a scholarly journal about our generations tendency to use inappropriate language non-nonchalantly and in everyday situations.
3.maledicent (mayl-di-sent)
a.Speaking reproachfully; slanderous.
b.One who is addicted to abusive speech
4. Howard Stern is an infamously known shock dj who uses maledicent vocabulary in his everyday verbage.
2. I was skimming through a scholarly journal about our generations tendency to use inappropriate language non-nonchalantly and in everyday situations.
3.maledicent (mayl-di-sent)
a.Speaking reproachfully; slanderous.
b.One who is addicted to abusive speech
4. Howard Stern is an infamously known shock dj who uses maledicent vocabulary in his everyday verbage.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
1.Accubation
2.My friend Shawn was talking about his life as a young bachelor. When asked what kind of leisurely activities he likes to partake in he simply replied, "Sex. Drugs. And accubation." I had to look it up....
3.Accubation (ak-ku-bay-shun)(n.)
a.The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the ancients at meals.
b.the act or habit of reclining at meals.
c.the practice of eating or drinking while lying down.
4. Since Shawn is usually too lazy (or hung over) to get out of bed in the morning, he has perfected the art of accubation.
2.My friend Shawn was talking about his life as a young bachelor. When asked what kind of leisurely activities he likes to partake in he simply replied, "Sex. Drugs. And accubation." I had to look it up....
3.Accubation (ak-ku-bay-shun)(n.)
a.The act or posture of reclining on a couch, as practiced by the ancients at meals.
b.the act or habit of reclining at meals.
c.the practice of eating or drinking while lying down.
4. Since Shawn is usually too lazy (or hung over) to get out of bed in the morning, he has perfected the art of accubation.
In my Humble Opinion
Oscar Wilde once said that, "Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing." And you know what? He was right. The whole point of an experience is to take something away from it and be all the wiser. In my humble opinion, we need to stop teaching woman to be weak females.
I couldn't tell you the countless times that I have listened to girl friends of mine cry and complain about their guy situations. It always starts out with some guy that is treating them badly in some way. He doesn't call. He's unavailable. He's playing games (this one's my personal fave). Enough already! We need to be counting our blessings, looking at the BIG picture and moving on. Being aware of these red flag kind of "men" is key! There is no use in burying your head in the sand and pretending that the treatment is "good enough" and "only gets to us sometimes".
Over the period of our lives, girls are constantly exposed to countless portrayals of weak females. Woman in our television shows, in our movies, sometimes even in our own lives who rely on these time-warn, antiquated roles that women are supposed to play. Always roles that involve females as swooning, damsels in distress who couldn't see their way out of a paper bag, much less understand why the men in her life treat her poorly or lets face it, like she's not worth it.
It comes down to self respect. And squarely from self respect comes self esteem. Enough self esteem say to drop a dead beat boyfriend? Or shoo away any wishy-washy suitors only interested in mind games, sex, or both? I'd like to think so. In the famous words of notorious play boy Tucker Max, guys will treat you the in exactly the manner you allow them too.
Tucker states it ever so plainly. "Ladies, let me give you some advice. You can throw all your stupid fucking chick-lit, self-help, why-doesn't-he-love-me books out, because this is all you need to know: Men will treat you the way you let them. There is no such thing as "deserving" respect; you get what you demand from people.. if you demand respect, he will either respect you or he won't associate with you. It really is that simple."
Girls these days have really go to know that knowing their worth is one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge one can possess. To be able to be confident enough to say through your words and actions that, "This is what I want. If you think you can manage to respect that, then I think we can have a good time."
I've grown weary of hearing from friend after friend ( and sometimes random, hurting girls in public restrooms!) that, "Oh their this way because this guy.." and "Oh, well this guy made me like this and that's why.." The point of that experience at its end is for you to have learned a lesson, for better or for worse. It was not for you to be a jaded, bitter, guarded female who either wallows in self-pity or seeks comfort in promiscuous fits of behavior that have become more and more socially acceptable. As much as it won't seem like it in the heat of the situation, you've been given a gift. A life experience that you can now say, "I've grown from that experience in ways I never realized" or "WOW. NEVER AGAIN." Now you know what you like, what you don't like, what you won't allow, and what you want next time around. All the things that don't work out in life, whatever they may be, are only stepping stones to the ones that will!
A great woman named once said, "The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing --- and then marry him.” That woman's name was Cher, and Cher was right. Work on self love, and then find someone who can love you that much. The rest? You shouldn't give two shits to Shynola whether or not they decide to grow up. Whatever it was, it didn't work out. Save your tears and move forward. You've got to have enough chutzpah to let that which does not matter, truly slide.
Ultimately, any self-respecting woman wouldn't want to end up with/waste time with someone who couldn't take the time to get their clever dick out of their own mouth and decide whether or not they like a woman enough or not. So ladies, please, value yourselves as priceless commodities..not just anyone can have you.
I couldn't tell you the countless times that I have listened to girl friends of mine cry and complain about their guy situations. It always starts out with some guy that is treating them badly in some way. He doesn't call. He's unavailable. He's playing games (this one's my personal fave). Enough already! We need to be counting our blessings, looking at the BIG picture and moving on. Being aware of these red flag kind of "men" is key! There is no use in burying your head in the sand and pretending that the treatment is "good enough" and "only gets to us sometimes".
Over the period of our lives, girls are constantly exposed to countless portrayals of weak females. Woman in our television shows, in our movies, sometimes even in our own lives who rely on these time-warn, antiquated roles that women are supposed to play. Always roles that involve females as swooning, damsels in distress who couldn't see their way out of a paper bag, much less understand why the men in her life treat her poorly or lets face it, like she's not worth it.
It comes down to self respect. And squarely from self respect comes self esteem. Enough self esteem say to drop a dead beat boyfriend? Or shoo away any wishy-washy suitors only interested in mind games, sex, or both? I'd like to think so. In the famous words of notorious play boy Tucker Max, guys will treat you the in exactly the manner you allow them too.
Tucker states it ever so plainly. "Ladies, let me give you some advice. You can throw all your stupid fucking chick-lit, self-help, why-doesn't-he-love-me books out, because this is all you need to know: Men will treat you the way you let them. There is no such thing as "deserving" respect; you get what you demand from people.. if you demand respect, he will either respect you or he won't associate with you. It really is that simple."
Girls these days have really go to know that knowing their worth is one of the most valuable pieces of knowledge one can possess. To be able to be confident enough to say through your words and actions that, "This is what I want. If you think you can manage to respect that, then I think we can have a good time."
I've grown weary of hearing from friend after friend ( and sometimes random, hurting girls in public restrooms!) that, "Oh their this way because this guy.." and "Oh, well this guy made me like this and that's why.." The point of that experience at its end is for you to have learned a lesson, for better or for worse. It was not for you to be a jaded, bitter, guarded female who either wallows in self-pity or seeks comfort in promiscuous fits of behavior that have become more and more socially acceptable. As much as it won't seem like it in the heat of the situation, you've been given a gift. A life experience that you can now say, "I've grown from that experience in ways I never realized" or "WOW. NEVER AGAIN." Now you know what you like, what you don't like, what you won't allow, and what you want next time around. All the things that don't work out in life, whatever they may be, are only stepping stones to the ones that will!
A great woman named once said, "The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing --- and then marry him.” That woman's name was Cher, and Cher was right. Work on self love, and then find someone who can love you that much. The rest? You shouldn't give two shits to Shynola whether or not they decide to grow up. Whatever it was, it didn't work out. Save your tears and move forward. You've got to have enough chutzpah to let that which does not matter, truly slide.
Ultimately, any self-respecting woman wouldn't want to end up with/waste time with someone who couldn't take the time to get their clever dick out of their own mouth and decide whether or not they like a woman enough or not. So ladies, please, value yourselves as priceless commodities..not just anyone can have you.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Z.Z. PACKER
ZZ Packer is an amazing writer. It doesn't take long once you've started to read her works that you are thoroughly enjoying yourself, and don't plan on stopping reading anytime soon. She does what only good writers can do for you; she transports you. Using detail, emotion and odd but seemingly fit correlations, she makes you feel as if you were in the story, as if you were right there witnessing the whole thing. A good writer doesn't TELL you, they SHOW you. I am not a 8 year old little black girl in Brownies trying to make sense of all the hatred my troop feels toward "Caucasians", nor am I an African American male college student struggling to come to terms with my decrepit father's idiotic rmabling's and arrogant attitude...but she brings you there.
One part I really liked in her story,The Ant of the Self, was the description of his father and his general personality that seemed to be summed up all in one sentence. "He used to be this way with Mama. Never hitting, but always grabbing, groping, his halitosis forever in her face." Describing this young man's feelings towards his father and his all-encompassing, though non-physical barrage of unpleasantness was done quite nicely here. ZZ uses some descriptions of the seat the father is sitting in that was also really great, "His arm falls away of it's own accord as he settles deeper into his car seat with this knowledge, the leather sighing and complaining under him."
Packer does a wonderful job of creating parallels between ideas that paint fantastic background information and really draw the reader in. I received her novel, "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere," as a sort of welcome to San Jose State University. Since that time, I have neither picked up nor thought of that book. Tucked away on a shelf in my room, I never knew what a interesting read was waiting for me, not 5 feet away. This blog post has prompted me to finish the book, and seek any other literature Packer may have published.
The feeling you get from a good book is one of those inexplicably amazing feelings that require a whole mess of verbs. However true this may be I must say J.D. Salingers, Holden Caulfield may have said it best.."What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.."
One part I really liked in her story,The Ant of the Self, was the description of his father and his general personality that seemed to be summed up all in one sentence. "He used to be this way with Mama. Never hitting, but always grabbing, groping, his halitosis forever in her face." Describing this young man's feelings towards his father and his all-encompassing, though non-physical barrage of unpleasantness was done quite nicely here. ZZ uses some descriptions of the seat the father is sitting in that was also really great, "His arm falls away of it's own accord as he settles deeper into his car seat with this knowledge, the leather sighing and complaining under him."
Packer does a wonderful job of creating parallels between ideas that paint fantastic background information and really draw the reader in. I received her novel, "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere," as a sort of welcome to San Jose State University. Since that time, I have neither picked up nor thought of that book. Tucked away on a shelf in my room, I never knew what a interesting read was waiting for me, not 5 feet away. This blog post has prompted me to finish the book, and seek any other literature Packer may have published.
The feeling you get from a good book is one of those inexplicably amazing feelings that require a whole mess of verbs. However true this may be I must say J.D. Salingers, Holden Caulfield may have said it best.."What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it.."
CLASSMATE PROFILE
Given the opportunity by his parents either to live on campus, or get a new car, 20 yr old Brandon Castillo, made the right choice and chose the wheels. Having witnessed the same ultimatum given to his older brother a couple years before, Brandon thought it a wiser idea to choose the more sensible route of reasoning. This route being the aforementioned automobile over dorm life reflects a lot about Brandon and how he lives his life.
Being a journalism major leaves a lot of room for interpretation and wide field of job opportunities to embark on and Brandon just so happens to fancy a focus in broadcast journalism. One day, if his wildest dreams and hopes were granted he would have his own glorious spot in the world of sports journalism. Not really asserting a preference between radio and television, Brandon shows no hesitation in declaring his undying love for writing about sports and all the fun, hard work and dedication that he expects comes with it.
Arms relaxed and placed at his sides, Brandon leans in and starts to tell me a little bit about where this passion all started off. It was in high school, that he first decided that journalism was a area of interest for him, specifically in the area of sports and athletics. Having always been an outgoing and active guy, Brandon has been playing league baseball for a number of years, and like many guys finds an oddly satisfying affection for all things to do with sports. Brandon exclaims almost exasperatedly, that any sport will do, "Any sport. As long as I'm outside doing something!"
Currently, Brandon is also nurturing another love of his; technology. His first ever job, happens to be the job he holds today and he gestures to me non-nonchalantly that, he is "quite pleased with it." He works alongside his brother at a small computer company close to downtown called Urban Peripherals. At urban peripherals Brandon is an introductory technical sales person repairing and selling refurbished Macs and Mac accessories. His job there he says, has been quite lucrative in the way that he has access to different types of technology, he gets practice dealing and conversing with clients to better his customer service skills, and the discount he gets on the merchandise there is none too shabby!
Brandon hopes to graduate from San Jose State with the rest of us journalism hopefuls in about two years, of course this relying that the budget cuts in school in California don't ruin our generations lives any more than they already have! Degree in hand, Brandon hopes to get a job and prosper in the writing field (don't we all!) and someday have his own radio and or television spot reporting sports news. God speed, Brandon!
Being a journalism major leaves a lot of room for interpretation and wide field of job opportunities to embark on and Brandon just so happens to fancy a focus in broadcast journalism. One day, if his wildest dreams and hopes were granted he would have his own glorious spot in the world of sports journalism. Not really asserting a preference between radio and television, Brandon shows no hesitation in declaring his undying love for writing about sports and all the fun, hard work and dedication that he expects comes with it.
Arms relaxed and placed at his sides, Brandon leans in and starts to tell me a little bit about where this passion all started off. It was in high school, that he first decided that journalism was a area of interest for him, specifically in the area of sports and athletics. Having always been an outgoing and active guy, Brandon has been playing league baseball for a number of years, and like many guys finds an oddly satisfying affection for all things to do with sports. Brandon exclaims almost exasperatedly, that any sport will do, "Any sport. As long as I'm outside doing something!"
Currently, Brandon is also nurturing another love of his; technology. His first ever job, happens to be the job he holds today and he gestures to me non-nonchalantly that, he is "quite pleased with it." He works alongside his brother at a small computer company close to downtown called Urban Peripherals. At urban peripherals Brandon is an introductory technical sales person repairing and selling refurbished Macs and Mac accessories. His job there he says, has been quite lucrative in the way that he has access to different types of technology, he gets practice dealing and conversing with clients to better his customer service skills, and the discount he gets on the merchandise there is none too shabby!
Brandon hopes to graduate from San Jose State with the rest of us journalism hopefuls in about two years, of course this relying that the budget cuts in school in California don't ruin our generations lives any more than they already have! Degree in hand, Brandon hopes to get a job and prosper in the writing field (don't we all!) and someday have his own radio and or television spot reporting sports news. God speed, Brandon!
Monday, April 5, 2010
1.malaise
2. found in an article referring to Jimmy Carters televised speech on July 15, 1979.
3.malaise (mah-lays), noun
a. A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness.
b. A general sense of depression or unease.
4."Each morning I wake up exhausted and not in the mood to be up and moving. This feeling of malaise generally washes over me until my lips are finally greeted by a hot, reassuring cup of joe.
2. found in an article referring to Jimmy Carters televised speech on July 15, 1979.
3.malaise (mah-lays), noun
a. A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, as at the beginning of an illness.
b. A general sense of depression or unease.
4."Each morning I wake up exhausted and not in the mood to be up and moving. This feeling of malaise generally washes over me until my lips are finally greeted by a hot, reassuring cup of joe.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
MYSTERY CHARACTER
I got my start across the pond. By accident, I entered a contest and won, thus starting my celebrity. Did my thing in Europe for a while and eventually moved out to the states where I only became more successful in my field. Nicknamed, "The Body" at the start of my career in America, I eventually ascended to "Angeldom." This is when my career really took off. Flanked and in good company with some of the most beautiful women in the world, I have been on the pages of some of the most circulated and widely advertised magazines in the world, including the coveted cover of Sports Illustrated's annual Swimsuit Issue in 1998. I have spent years modeling the undergarments many have in their dressers and routinely dawn elaborate angel wings down a catwalk. I now have my own reality television show that deals with the cutting and snipping of several talented hopefuls. I love to welcome and dismiss the contestants in cutesy, token foreign salutations. My show, as well as my social life has got a sort of cult following, however luckily for me life in the spotlight has not tainted my youthful, carefree spirit. After one failed marriage, I got back on to my feet and found the love of my life. His name brings up images of marine life. We've got 3 children and there may be room for more! WHO AM I!
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