Talking Back and the Sins of Silence

Talking Back, Bell Hooks

This article regarding the subject of feminism is very impactful. It discusses the power of speech in the Southern Black Community and when one spoke it was considered “an act of risk and daring”. (15) Growing up in this community was every girl’s nightmare. To have an opinion meant that you were disagreeing with someone’s point and hence you were punished for it. Girls were discouraged to speak in any discussions as well as for talking back. Overall, girls were suppressed from talking in order to bring out the “right speech of womanhood”. (15)

However, in the Southern Black Community, woman did dare and did allow their voices to be heard. Although they’re voices were tuned out when giving orders, or making threats, or fussing to men, they shared speech and opinion among other woman.

Grouping together to fight for what you deserve is very courageous and fighting with someone gives you all the more confidence to do so.

Moving on, I felt extremely proud for Hooks when she said that she devoted her time to writing by doing so in cheap diaries and hiding them. By putting a pen to a page and writing something on paper shows not only evidence of one’s knowledge and opinion but also tremendous bravery and passion. When I read that her sisters found out and mocked her for it I was very shocked! I believed that her sisters also being girls would either be scared and demand her to stop or encourage her yet tell her to be very careful. I know that if I was living during that time and my sister had discovered my passion and confidence in writing. Yes, she would be very scared and tell me to stop but mocking is the last thing that she would do. As I read on, I observed how much she risked for her desire to write and how her creativity broke out of her and could not be tamed. I know that if I were living in a community like that today I would never have the ability to commit to this act of rebellion. When Hooks published her book and continued to she still did not believe herself to be a writer because she was still scared and living in her childhood. Fear and insecurity are both the results she acheived when chasing after her passion and committing to it in secret. If I were there with her today, I would tell her that every person’s childhood is a part of who they are, but does not make up the complete person that you will become. After reading this article, I knew one day she would realize this and continue to use her creativity and stand by it with confidence even if many did not agree with it.

Sins of Silence, Mai Kao Thao

This article discusses the beginning of a good Hmong woman who blossomed into something better. Thao says that her mother taught her to “Nod [her] head and say yes even [she] doesn’t agree. It’s much easier. No trouble.” (18) My first instinct when I read this statement was NO! I completely understand the fear the mother must have had if she did act and rebel. She must have also been very comfortable in this position of invisibility. She wanted to protect her daughter from any trouble and leading this life would not be bad because we were looked at as “good”. “Silence is power”, is not a statement I believe in this aspect. “Courage is power” and “Speech is power” are statements that I do believe in. One should stand up for what they believe in and fight for what they deserve that is rightfully theirs!

“My silence had killed my Self, the essence which holds and molds an individual together in order to form one complete organism.” (18) This quotation links to 1984 and connects to Winston. Winston is stuck in the middle because there are thoughts that cannot be tamed that continue to run over and over in his mind. This is hidden but as the story develops it is banging on the locked door and is opened when he finds a companion called Julia. Being silent does not allow one to fully develop into an individual.

I am thankful that in the end this girl did realize what she deserved and chased after what she believed in and not something that made her pass the test of a “good Hmong woman”. She realized that being a “good Hmong woman” had all negative aspects to it; “to ignore my identity, to swallow my pride so others can abuse me, or to shut my eyes in the face of injustice by turning the other cheek.” (19) This article really made me realized the tough times that woman had before me and I am grateful times have changed because living during that time would have been painful and unbearable. I would not enjoy the challenge that life offers that I do now.

Blog Portfolio

Welcome to Monique's brilliant blog! Below is a collection of my favorite blogs that I enjoyed writing immensely due to the many different perspectives I could connect it to. My blogs have been separated into different categories. Before clicking on the URL to visit my blog, please read the couple of sentences I have written below it which provides you with a short description of why I have written it and what it contains.

Coverage

First the Forests

This blog titled "Response to First the Forests" is the first blog that I felt was successful in communicating to my readers. Due to the fact that I had never owned a blog before, after writing two previous blogs I felt this blog was able to get across my opinions and ideas clearly and powerfully. I have raised many questions which should make you ponder about the future as well as the past. I have also included different perspectives. I connected this article to the movie "Click" which could be our potential future. In addition, I connected it to fairytales and myths as well as Christianity.

Depth

Politics and the English Language

This blog goes into depth about the element thought. I took out the key points made in this essay written by George Orwell and expanded as well as interpreted them. Due to the fact that Orwell wrote this, I linked it to his book 1984 because thought manipulation is a major theme in there. One of the ideas that Orwell mentioned in his essay was about the connection between society and language. My blog elaborates on this fact and picks out key phrases while analyzing them and relating them with examples in his book.

Interaction

The Use of Truth

This is a link to Wesley's blog where he has distinguished between objective and subjective truth very clearly. I have kindly disagreed with one of his opinions where he compares objective and subjective truth to the element innocence. Wesley has a very interesting logic by saying that "subjectivity is the loss of that innocence" I have supported my opinion by stating the definitions of what is subjective and objective truth and by using an examples of subjective and objective truths. Overall, Wesley raised many captivating questions and opinions that do stick in my mind.

Discussions

Born and raised in a North Korean Gulag

This blog is my most recent blog regarding the experience a man called Mr. Shin had in North Korea. This seemed to be the one which connected with me the most because the imagery that was created in my mind was so impactful and clear. I was able to make some parallels to We written by Yevengy Zamyatin and 1984 written by George Orwell. Furthermore, I was able to relate it to truth hence including another area that my blogs focus on. Finally, this blog relates back to my first successful blog (First the Forests) because it raises the question again "What is human?" Sabrina, Joel and Pooja wrote some very insightful comments and once they said them I automatically began to think in their perspective and agreed with many of the ideas they mentioned. Such strong ideas and concepts were able to come out of reading such a shockingly true article.

Do you believe in Magic?

This is a link to Jorina's blog where she discusses the psychology of the novel. She mentions colorations and connotations to emotions, the writing within a story and what devices it contains. She also brings in teen books like Harry Potter and Twilight which made me very eager to respond to because these are two of my favorite books that till today I continue to re-read at least 20 times :) We have a short discussion first, about the structure and what lies within a story, and then our discussion moves on to the writings of Shakespeare. Sadly it does not deepen any further than that yet I will make sure that I continue this with Jorina in person.

Xenoblogging

Freedom and Democracy

The Comment Informative:
This is a link to Nina's blog titled "Freedom and Democracy - Response". I responded to two of her blogs with this comment. It also relates to her blog before that called "Questions on Conquest - Response". Nina provided a very strong summary written in a manner that made me want to read on and find out more. Many interesting points were brought up that made me really think about freedom and democracy. I was very impressed when she questioned the authors inability of mentioning the "exceptions" She disagreed with the author and gave an argument that was very dominant that in the end I believed her over the author. I commented on her structure, pointed out the arguments and points I agreed with and made some thoughts and connections to We. Altogether, this was one of my favorite blogs that I read. :) Nina did a splendid job!

Wildcard

The following piece written below is something I wrote last year in my English class. It explains the direction of life that Gilgamesh takes when Enkidu is killed. When reading this part of the story last year I felt strongly attached to Gilgamesh because I cannot imagine what I would do if any of my best friends were killed. It was also one of my best pieces I wrote last year while practicing to write in the VIP format.

What happens to life when a friend is lost?

This excerpt demonstrates the direction Gilgamesh takes with his life when death steals his only friend, Enkidu:

              "My beloved friend has turned into clay - my beloved friend Enkidu has turned into clay." (168)

The path Gilgamesh takes with his life after the death of Enkidu is not a good one. Whilst still grieving, what his mind needs is rest and acceptance of Enkidu's death. However, he takes a different route and becomes stuck in a mud filled with sadness and grief. Unable to move on, he continuously repeats phrases like "my beloved friend has turned into clay" which shows that Gilgamesh is trying yet failing to accept life without Enkidu. In addition, it conveys that he does not want to forget his mission into bringing Enkidu back.
Furthermore, whilst Gilgamesh lives in his own world of misery, his attitude becomes stubborn as well as persistent and he works himself up into a rant when help is offered. When Shiduri advises him to enjoy life because he will "never find the eternal life," Gilgamesh gets enraged and ignores his comment by stubbornly replying:
             "Show me the road to Utnapishtim. I will cross the vast ocean if I can. If not, I will roam the wilderness in my grief." (169)

It can be noticed that "Show me" and "I will" are used in Gilgamesh's heaty response to Shiduri which informs readers his determination to bring Enkidu back. Gilgamesh still suffering from grief and overtaken by his stubborness takes the wrong path and strives to accomplish what many say is impossible. The excerpt displays evidence of his hurtful attitude towards others and additionally shows his constancy into getting what he wants. It also foreshadows to readers that Gilgamesh is tired of being told to overcome his grief when he knows he cannot and therefore is even more determined to bring Enkidu back. This excerpt allows readers to see Gilgamesh's condition after death steals away his only friend.