The Boat People (Part 2)

"People who forget the wrongs that were done to them perpetuate those same wrongs on others." (Chapter 'Enemy Aliens')

The Boat People. Amazon, 2 Jan. 2018
amazon.ca/Boat-People-Sharon-Bala/dp/0385542291.
Accessed 06 Dec. 2018. Advertisement.

Throughout the history, people have done the same mistakes over and over again which caused big tragedies. Unfortunately the people who actually learns from those past mistakes are minorities. So these mistakes will repeat itself in the future...unless the next generations can have more awareness. 

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Welcome to another blog on The Boat People!! To be honest, I was not that into Part 1 of this book but then Part 2 came along and I am shook. The first part of the book was entertaining and informative but the second part is something else. The very last chapter of the Part 2, "True or False" reveals a shocking thing about the protagonist Mahindan but we don't know what it is yet and I am going crazy over it. As soon as I am done writing this blog, I am on the next chapter. Don't worry guys I will explain everything. 

I got you. Giphy, media.giphy.com/media/xULW8wR2MiuOdWUswg/giphy.gif Accessed 06 Dec. 2018

There is a reason why I started my blog with a quote from this book. It is one of the main things the author is trying to emphasize but it's more dominant in the Part 2. From the beginning of the book, the author talks about the next generation. Every three perspective seen has a connection with young others that can influence the world in a positive or negative sense. And Sharon Bala, by writing and publishing the Boat People, is trying to reach the young generation and inform them about these specific situations. Such as the Tigers, refugee situation... Most importantly, Bala is trying to reach the next generation so they can have a broader understanding to sympathize with others regardless of their status or the situation they are in.  

Before I start getting more into it, I recommend watching this 5 minute Ted-Ed video about "What does it mean to be a refugee?"

"What Does It Mean to Be a Refugee? - Benedetta Berti and Evelien Borgman." Youtube, 16 June 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=25bwiSikRsI. Accessed 6 Dec. 2018.

The major character for the next generation from the refugees is Mahindan's son, Sellian. One of the main reasons why Mahindan was on that ship to Canada is his son. "You are here now and there is a future for you here, Mahindan said." (Bala 254). Mahindan sometimes mentions his vision (expectation) for Sellian's Canadian future with him. For Mahindan, there is always this notion that Sellian will get a better future, better job, better English, etc. in Canada. But at the same time Mahindan does not want Sellian to forget about him and his roots especially when he gets separated from him. Mahindan's expectation for Sellian also reminds me of Gogol's and Ashoke's relationship from The Namesake. Ashoke moves to America to get a better education as well as giving their child a better future. At the same time, they continue to apply their traditions and culture even though they are in a different place with a different culture and values.  I think why Mahindan and Ashoke thinks that way is because they want their kids to know and remember what happened to them and what they have gone through. Maybe Mahindan also wants Sellian to learn through his mistakes and never repeat them in Sellian's future life. What do you guys think Mahindan's purpose is behind his thought about Sellian?

Westworld. Wild Wild West, Joanna Robinson, 5 Dec. 2016, www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/ westworld-finale-recap-the-bicameral-mind-is-ford-dead-elsie-stubbs-abernathy-logan. Accessed 6 Dec. 2018.

What links the three perspectives to each other is they have a connection with the next generation. Mahindan's connection is Sellian, now let's talk about Priya, an articling law student who has Tamil parents. She is herself belongs to the next generation. Before working with Gigovaz, the reader can see that she did not understand and sympathize with refugees. Let alone refugees, she did not even associate with other Tamils because of her dad. But in the first place what gave her the opportunity to be there as a law student is her parents. "Her parents had left in '77, before the worst of it. The riots in the fifties were child's play compared to what happened in '83. Black July. We had a near miss, Ma used to say. " (Bala 219). If her parents decided to stay like others, Priya could also have been a refugee or have a totally different life. I also think Priya's decision going into law is impacted by her parents. Just like Prasad who found law important because of the issues with the government and justice. Later in the part two, we can see Priya's shift and her increasing care toward refugees. When she was talking with her uncle, she makes it clear that "Six months ago, she would not have been able to answer" to her uncle's question "You know what is worse than violence?". "But now she said: Waiting" (Bala 227). I think most of us can relate to this situation since most of us applied for universities. A lot of people complain about universities and how stressed they are. But we are not stressed by the actual application. We are stressed about the offers and if we are going to get accepted or not. The waiting process is the hardest.

Waiting. Giphy, media.giphy.com/media/3ohzdT2LZbSorXj90A/giphy.gif. Accessed 6 Dec. 2018.

The third point of view belongs to Grace, the adjudicator. Her connection with the next generation is her two teenage daughters. I actually find it so important how kids are raised with what kind of values in their household. There is a proverb that Turkish people use to highlight the importance of instilling the values from young ages. "You cannot teach an old dog new tricks". It's often so hard, almost impossible, to change old people's perspective on some concepts even though it is wrong. This is because they grew up with those values and like an old habit, it is hard to change it or even judge their opinions. But twins are still young and their brain is still shaping, they are just experiencing new things along with shaping their characters. "The twins could take a nuanced view, balancing the wrongs of the past against the good fortune of their present." (Bala 275). I love the character Kumi, because she actually cares about the past and how important it is for her granddaughters to know about these events. They are the ones that can change the future, even one person matters. Do you guys also think one young person can impact the future?  

Extra Opinion:

WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MAHINDAN?!


Someone please explain because I am way too confused. I used to like Mahindan but now? He thinks "What is important is not what is true or false. The important thing is what these people, the Canadian authorities, believe is true and false. What they want to believe" (297). Excuse me but what? Of course it matters what it true or false. That's how the justice works. Mahindan is becoming way too selfish. Please leave a comment on this so we can discuss it together :D

See you guys later!