February 2009 Archives

Continuing in the pattern of having speakers on Monday nights, we had a panel of Hmong students from CSP come and speak to us this week. We were able to hear each of their stories which were all quite different, and we had the chance to interact with them throughout the entire evening. We were very well prepared for this small group to come in and speak with us. We have had a lot of exposure to Hmong culture. As the weeks go by, we are learning what questions to ask and what things we would like to know. The sessions are filled with learning and keep us engaged the entire time.

I had been looking forward to the Hmong students coming in because they are our generation. They are sharing the same experience in time, but the subjective experience is very different. All three students were born outside of the US. One of the students came to US eight days before Sept. 11. I immediately thought of how I felt during that time, and I could not imagine how scared I would be if I have been in a new country, that seemed to offer a new start, and was going through similar problems that I had just left behind.
I also wanted to ask them about the movie Gran Torino. Since Christmas break, I have been dying to ask some Hmong students what they thought of the movie and how much was real or Hollywood. One of the students had seen it and she had much to say about the movie. What she said that struck me the most was that the rituals in the movie were not portrayed correctly. The calling of the spirits was done incorrectly and the cutting of the chicken was inaccurate as well. The Hmong do not chop the head of the chicken off, they simply bleed it out. The head has dome importance to the Hmong but I do not recall if she told us what that was.

I was surprised at how traditional the Hmong culture really is. The speakers we have had so far have focused on escaping Laos or giving history or the Vietnam War, which are very interesting topics. But being that these students are of our generation, we got a glimpse into aspects of their culture from a perspective that we as a class could understand. I was not aware of the traditional stance that the Hmong have toward roles of men and women. It was refreshing to hear students of my generation embracing ideals that are a core part of their culture, and expressing the desire to preserve that culture. 

                It is not very often that students have the chance to do something that is a weekend activity as homework. Well, in Honors, that's how it works sometimes. We were asked to watch the movie, Gran Torino, as part of our unit on immigration. I had seen the movie over Christmas break and opted not to go with the class, but I still remember the movie very well. The basic plot of the story is about and ex-military veteran, played by Clint Eastwood, and his neighborhood that is "taken over" by Hmong immigrants. It is a story about loving, losing and how even the most powerful of prejudices can be turned around to life sacrificing friendships.
                If you dig back into my blog history toward the very start of my Honors career, you will find my first posts about my internship project with American Indians in Unity. Going into the project I had some very strong prejudices that I had set out to address. For the sake of being polite I did not state my feelings to the fullest extent. If I had to pick one film or person that embodied my thought prior to my internship, Gran Torino hit the nail on the head. I am not proud of my thoughts, but they were a reality. If I had seen this moving before my internship I would have received it in a much different fashion. What I did through working with my mentor, my on-site research and outside source research, Clint did through the school of hard knocks. The end result was the same, but I would choose my way again if I had to.

Watching the first part of the movie made me realize all over again why I chose the internship and project that I did. The way I defined marginalized in my project not only included those in need, but those like me who marginalize themselves by holding a negative attitude toward peoples of another race. Some may feel justified, like I did, because of encounters that did not leave a pleasant feeling behind. Labeling an entire race from the actions of a few is a gross injustice to those who are not represented in those actions. There is so much to be learned and realized from others that have not had the same upbringing and background as me. Like Clint's character, I have been reminded of the value that a diversified friendship base can be.