I think that Nien Cheng would behave just like the Red Guards because if she was born into the same background or family the red guards were born into. She would be just as much brainwashed as the other red guards. For example in red scarf girl in the beginning Ji-li didn’t know anything better than what the red guards were doing. She believed that changing the name of stores and cutting peoples cloths because they were four olds.
Tag: taylorLA6
RSG Perspective Journal
Standing around got harder and harder as the years went by. I finally got a walking stick and stopped talking to others and people think I’m a old bad guy. I mean yes I can be stubborn, but when my son-in-law got executed in the counterrevolutionary I became a little more obstinate sand solitary. One afternoon I became a target to the Red guards I got scared. When one of the red guards asked to borrow my bicycle I knew that meant keep it. I was scared but stood up for myself, I said a proud no! I knew they were shocked, but I was hopeful that they would just go bug some other person, but of course without a doubt they will never let anyone who disagrees leave happy or not hurt. Instead they just started swearing like sailors. Without me looking upset they finally left. I was hoping that was all they were going to do.
But not to my surprise they turned up this morning with drums and making loud noises. My heart rate was moving. What are they going to do to me, now I thought? They dragged me like if I was a piece of trash. My wife was sitting there I knew she wanted to help but if she did she would get hurt, I didn’t want her to have to go through pain too. They laid a wash board down, I was hoping that they just wanted me to clean laundry or clean fabrics. They bent me to my knees. “I’m an old man please if I go any faster by bone might pop out”, I whispered. One of the red guards kicked the cane out from under me and I fell slowly with my hands on the ground to catch me. I fell my knees down on the edges of the washboard. I was silent because I knew I couldn’t say anything to stop this harassment. I knelt there silent for a while looking down in pain. The sun was beaming the warm air was hitting me and I felt hot. Seeing the Red guards caring out my stuff putting it in a truck and then going to get more was too painful to watch. Even more painful than me kneeling on the wash board. After a while my wife came out to give me water. I took slow sips trying to save the taste of the cool water in my mouth. I was in heaven for a few minutes until a red guard kicked it out of her hands. I stayed in the hot sun for a few minutes until it started getting black and then blacker and then finally I fell over and passed out.
I woke up with a face so sunburnt it was peeling. In my empty house all I saw was my wife sitting there crying, an enamel cup, the wash board and my walking stick.
Perspective Journal
When Ying-chen came home from work, she told me and mom that the red guards started looking through family photos to look for four olds. I was nervous and knew most of our family photos had four olds traditions in them. We sat down at dinner, the dinner was quiet and I could see that thousands of thoughts were running through Ying-chen’s head. After dinner was over, Ying-chen told the children to go outside. When the kids went outside, she was going through some old bins and folders, until she found the bin named Jiātíng zhàopiàn “Family Photos” She took it out and brought the whole bin to the bathroom. She probably looked at me thinking I was an stupid because I just watched her, until she called me to bring a washbowl and a match. I knew something was going through her head. We sat there going through photos and laughing thinking of the fun times it was back then. We decided we should get a move on because if not the red guards might come tonight. We burnt the photos with four olds in it, for example the clothing. Ji-li, and Ji-yun came in around the couple of last photos. I knew mom told them but I don’t want Ji-li to worry. It was smoky in the bathroom and the window was opened just enough for some smoke to go out. We were almost done when we stumbled upon a picture of me and mom. I was sitting on a camel and mom was next to the camel wearing a warm fuzzy fur coat. I remembered that day, I didn’t want to burn it. I knew I didn’t have a choice. I didn’t want our family go through what Old Qian had to go through. I threw it in the fire. It was just sitting there probably saying “don’t do this to me” but then slowly the edges curled and it turned into flames, it caught fire and then puff it was gone.
The Ballet Class
Teaching classes all day
For money does not grow on trees
One more time I say as the crowd keeps moaning
They have been working since 8
We would be done already if they would point their feet
The counts are simple 5, 6, 7, and 8
Show is in 2 days
No way we will be done in time
No talking, sit up, straight legs and pointed feet
I have told you more than once
No more asking for water
I am dying of thirst myself
Again, again, keep turning
How did I become the bad guy
Good example of what not to do
One more time again
In my poem “The Ballet Class” , I created a story in which the speaker is the dance teacher. The dance teacher is mad because he is tired and no one is doing the steps right. I got this theme by looking at the girl on the piano who is aching and thinking that the dance teacher is saying again, again. I used a few poetic techniques, such as a metaphor. For example in the second line I say “money does not grow on trees”. I also used an Hyperbole. In the 12th line he says “I’m dying of thirst myself” when he is actually not dying. I used a little rhyme in the 1st and 3rd line. I rhymed day and say. This painting reminds me of my dance classes and how we are all tired and want to go home. I also thought of how whenever a dance teacher says one more time most of the time they don’t mean one more time.
My Favorite Character in Seedfolks
In the book seedfolks by Paul Fleischman, so far my favorite character is Leona’s grandma. I like her because I think that she is sassy. I think she is sassy, because in the book it tells us that she does not believe in doctors. When a doctor tries to help her she doesn’t listen and the doctor always dies before her. I think that she is also very funny, because after every doctor that tries to help her dies she keeps the obituary. One other thing that I like about her is that she does things her way. Something that I can relate to her is that I can be sassy and moody and funny at times. Personally I like when I and people do things my way. I also get things done. I think that Leona’s grandma is very funny and makes you laugh. She is a great character in seedfolks.