asrkinlson - 21st Century Literature

Have you ever judged by what you are based on your physical appearance or even on the way you live? This story is an example of wanting the persona to accept her with her true self.

The story written by Amy Tan is all about an eight-year-old girl who has an extra in her hand that makes her different from other children. The persona's parents didn't mind it, not until her grandmother told her parents to do something about it. The mother disagreed, but later on, as one of her father's friends gave an opinion, they decided to remove one of her pure self-being.

As I have read the story, I was disappointed that they didn't ask for the child's permission. Or even give the child an explanation before deciding. They even listen to others' opinions than listen to their kid. The persona's parents thought that it would be nice for her. I understand that they want the best for her. But the fact that the girl felt that people could change the part of her is horrible. I can't blame her for wanting to be accepted for her pure self-being. She just wanted to be true to herself.

I believe that to be true in oneself is accepting one self-being, no matter what person is, their status, and their differences from others. The feeling that everyone is against your self-being is like living in a cell. You can't find peace and courage to share yourself in the world. The persona's life and opinion became secrecy that no one would ever know how heavy it is to live by hiding her true self. I also experienced it. To be scared of what people may think of me because of my appearance, and they always wanted something on me to be changed. The part of me was confused, believing that am I not good enough or pretty enough to belong with them? I once isolated myself. I am pretty upset to the point that I don't want to share my insights with them. There's a part of me afraid that no one will listen to me. So I pretend to be someone they easily interact with even there's a big part of me wanting to show off my true self-being.

Have you read a poem by Bj Patino about the relationship of the child and his father? If not yet, it's time for you to read the incredible poem made by him!

The poem seems only like narrating a story of the relationship of a child—which the persona and the persona's father but it has a deep meaning.

In summary, the story is about a child and his father. The child's father works hard, with his father's wearing a green uniform, perhaps his father was a soldier. His father always obeys a man named Apo, which his father's boss. And the day he sneaked to his father's office at home, with a handgun, plaques and all, the boy snapped and was caught by his father as he sneaks around, who told him that a boy like him doesn't have a place there, only men. And the picture of a man named Apo on their wall seems to warn the boy. The boy is probably scared, and if I were him, I would feel terrified too.

I liked how the poem describes the happening in the days or years of the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. It sounds scary, but I like how it went that this poem is the real-life happening in the past. It seems like we are the child, persona's father is the military or the soldier who always obeys Ferdinand's orders. Every mistake can be detected as if all were visible.

And it was a big difference between before and now where all people's nowadays is free and every move we made, we cannot feel that someone is watching us. I am glad that I have born away after the presidency of Ferdinand Marcos. I feel sorry and sad for those people who experienced that terrible nightmare and traumas.