1Week 3 Discussion: Hmong Culture
In order to effectively discuss Fadiman’s The Spirit Catches You, and You Fall Down, familiarize yourself with the following:
- The Lee Family
- The Hmong people
- The events in Laos
- The Viet Nam War
- Immigration experiences
- Language issues
- Poverty Issues
After familiarizing yourself with the above topics, answer the following prompts.
- The truce that stopped the war in VietNam was signed in 1975. What was the impact of this event on your parents or other family members?
- Imagine a “cultural confrontation” such as this in any setting – schools, housing, economic, politics, or daily life. What would you do?
- This situation contributes to an overall theme: “The DESPIRITUALIZATION of Modernity”. Have you seen manifestations of this in your daily life?
#2 Reply to 2 discussion posts a&b:
- a) The truce that stopped the war in VietNam was signed in 1975. What was the impact of this event on your parents or other family members?
– My parents are Vietnamese and they came here as teenagers during the war to escape and start a new life. The ending of the war brought relief to my parents because they had no way of contacting their families back in Vietnam so I know it brought some relief to them. As for my family in Vietnam, I haven’t seen them in a few years nor did I ever ask about their perspective on the war just because I did not want to bring up old memories but I can assume they were just as relieved it was over and to not live in fear and anxiety anymore.
Imagine a “cultural confrontation” such as this in any setting – schools, housing, economic, politics, or daily life. What would you do?
– I would educate people about it and explain to them how it really was for people during the war whether they stayed in the country or immigrated to America. How they struggle and the fear they had was different but both groups still experienced struggle in fear.
This situation contributes to an overall theme: “The DESPIRITUALIZATION of Modernity”. Have you seen manifestations of this in your daily life?
– Yes I have, growing up and being born in America, I did not have to experience those tragic events or see its aftermath. I was Americanized and even know I have knowledge of those events, It does not affect me the same as it does with my parents or family in Vietnam.
- b) The truce that stopped the war in VietNam was signed in 1975. What was the impact of this event on your parents or other family members?
The ending of the Vietnam war brought unexpected consequences in China. After the communist party of Vietnam from the north conquered the south, it started to invade Cambodia, which was a geopolitical ally of China. At that time, China faced tremendous military pressure from the Soviet Union, so China chose to side with the United States and started the so-called “reform and opening-up” policy. This is a dramatic change for the ordinary Chinese people. Since the “reform and opening-up” starts, many Chinese are able to visit the United States and eventually settle down here.
Imagine a “cultural confrontation” such as this in any setting – schools, housing, economic, politics, or daily life. What would you do?
My initial response would be shocked and amazed. I would compare and contrast the difference, trying to figure out why it is different. I might not get an answer right away, but I would persuade myself with some sort of reasoning while exploring the new life.
This situation contributes to an overall theme: “The DESPIRITUALIZATION of Modernity”. Have you seen manifestations of this in your daily life?
When modernization solves traditional problems people faced before such as famine, it is natural that people will be thankful for the advancement of technology. For example, it is true that the broad usage of fertilizer and pesticide produce more food. However, over consumption of food leads to obesity and deteriorating environment. I have seen obese patients who were so big and could not fit into MRI for essential diagnostic test. Modernity does solve physical problems but not spiritual problems. This is probably why we have more and more homeless on the street despite the fact that we live in the Golden State.
Reference
Fadiman, A. (1997). The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux: New York.
