Session 9 - 2/2/10 - Dube - Conclusion

[Anonymous]

Hello Miranda and everyone from the cohort,

My delay in responding is inexcusable and I beg your forgiveness. Life has a funny way of throwing curve balls at us at just the right (sarcastically stated) moment.

My comments will be brief. I have to say as a concluding class experience this one ranked up there with the best in memory for one simple reason: Professor Dube's passion for his topic was matched by our desire for more information. This was evidenced by the fact that even at 7:30 I did not want the session to end. Although the little girl in the back of the room (my daughter) was ever so glad to be going home.

Speaking of the little girl in the back of the room, I would like to personally and publicly thank both Miranda and Prof. Dube for your indulgence as my personal life and professional life collided for all to see.

East Asia Since 1800 has been a memorable experience. It is interesting to me how my perspectives have shifted: now when a topic is broached in the classroom or in company anywhere I find myself considering it from a wider perspective.

Being American born and raised I was raised to fear and despise the Japanese; my father was a survivor of Pearl Harbor and fought many campaigns in the Pacific. Considering the run up to the unannounced and despicable invasion of December 7, 1941 from the point of view of the Japanese has not been easy, but I have managed to see things from their point of view.

My conclusions have not changed about the Japanese government's motivations, but my understanding has broadened and, who knows, maybe someday I will even visit Japan to enhance my understanding further.

Thank you Miranda and Prof. Dube and all the other lecturers for your effort and knowledge.

Regards,

Thomas M. Alfera

😀

[Anonymous]

I am always impressed by Clay's passion and wealth of knowledge of China, and how he has embraced the culture. Every session I gaining new understanding of the development of East Asia. Being of Japanese and Chinese ancestry, yet being raised primarily Japanese, it is interesting to learn about the relationship between Japan and China from an objective, historical, anthropological perspective. To grasp how Japan progressed, and to see how prevelant that is in Hawaii as well...Which makes me excited for China and Korea to see how they have advanced and are able to compete in the nations economy.

[Anonymous]

It understandable how a very difficult position to be an American whose father survived Pearl Harbor... Imagine how the people of Hawaii felt to see their beautiful aina destroyed!
There is more then the American/Japanese version to Pearl Harbor, there is the story of the true Kaamainas, Keiki O'Ka Aina E Hawai'i... Residence, Children of the Land of Hawaii...

Consequently, as a mixed Asian-American growing up in Hawaii, I was not aware of what the Japanese experienced. I asked my grandmother and as a child she had no recollection, except being called a "jap". It wasn't until I participated in the Manzanar workshop. and went to the mueseum in downtown LA, Japanese town...I was ashamed of not having this knowledge.
Then when I would return home and asked my Japanese-American friends, and yes they were aware....But me being of mixed -breed, was raised in a family who was not affected as the 100% Japanese and Japanese/American were.

The greed of progress never considers justice as an option....

[Anonymous]

Clayton and Miranda~
Once again thank you very much for hosting a wonderful seminar, filled with a wealth of information, that has opened up for much interest, awareness and broke down barriers...
Life's best to you...Keep up the incredible work!
Aloha~

[Author]

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