Pain and Hope (Extended Essay Rough Draft)

Raza Sagarwala

Professor Leake

Honors Writing 1733

28 April 2013

Pain and Hope

Tear drops stain their cheeks. Their eyes are red and puffy. The sobbing makes it certain that they are suffering. Dazed, children walk around with no sense of direction or purpose, while their mothers shriek cries of anguish that bounce off the walls. This is the typical life of a refugee. These men and women are alienated in society and have no place to call home. They also face heavy persecution everywhere they turn. From their skin color to their culture, this group is looked down upon as uncivilized and unfit for this world. However, refugees refuse to give up when presented with this adversity and, instead, fight for everything they believe in. By doing so, they are able to preach their stories of optimism and success to the rest of the world, similar to what authors, such as Mawi Asgedom, have already done.  Thesis

All of the refugee stories presented in class encompass the plight of refugees, namely the problems with assimilating into American culture. This singlehandedly sparks the initial pain and suffering newly resettled refugee families endure. Though many refugees come to America with the hopes of living in a "promised land" of equal opportunities, they quickly come to the conclusion that America is far different than advertised. This preconceived notion that life in America will be full of joy and free of sorrow is eventually negated when refugees realize that they moved from "war, famine, and refugee camps to another, less obvious, state of 'war' and abandonment: the neoliberal state that turns against its most vulnerable residents" (Mackey, 29). This understanding is apparent in Of Beetles and Angels, a story about a family that, for a majority of the book, fails to find its true identity in America. Centered around Mawi Asgedom, the author, the story introduces the reader to a life unfathomed to most of us. Throughout the book, Asgedom and his brother are continually bullied by other students at their school, thereby making it difficult for their family to assimilate into the new culture menacingly presented to them. This difficulty is clearly seen when Asgedom explains that his parents repeatedly emphasize that they "are the poorest in the land...[and] will have to work backbreaking jobs [while] never fully understanding [their] rights" (Asgedom, 33). These types of obstacles facing refugees today create deep feelings of isolation in America that are exacerbated by this group's longing to go back home. Further, as Eggers eloquently portrayed in the novel What it the What, Valentino Deng "(quote from book about wanting to be in Africa instead of America)". The very fact that refugees like Deng would rather go back to their home countries that are being torn apart by war and persecution emphasizes the struggle that this group goes through after relocating to foreign countries. With both of these accounts of refugee stories, the general supposition of the cultural incompatibilities refugees encounter is evident and brought to attention.

Though the superficial reason for writing refugee stories is to present the challenges refugees handle daily, these stories are also written to highlight the strength and optimism of this oppressed group. Namely, these authors stress the idea that refugees forgive but never forget, thus portraying their characteristic of ressentiment. In the expert from Translating Pain, Hron eloquently explains how ressentiment, based on Nietzsche, can be a positive aspect of a refugee's life, as it "urges individuals to identify the sources of their resentment and to work against them in a vehement 'no'" (Hron, 55). Through this, Hron stresses that immigrants are put in a "continuous process of transformation and of overcoming" (Hron, 56) their unique problems, thereby growing and blossoming into better individuals. Essentially, refugees use their negative experiences to push themselves to be the best they can be by using ressentiment, thereby reaching heights never imagined. For example, in Angels and Beetles, Asgedom loses two of his best friends from drunk driving, his father and his brother. However, he never revolts at society directly, but "manifests [himself] in 'clever' strategies, which include a perfect understanding of how to keep silent, how not to forget, [and] how to wait" (Hron, 55). By doing so, he funnels his anger into excelling at academics. With this skill of ressentiment, Asgedom is able to reach the pinnacle of success once he fulfills his "parent's dreams... [of] earning [his] scholarship and graduating"(Asgedom, 134) from Harvard, while also writing a book that, years after its publication, is still being read. Moreover, the theme of forgiveness is rich in What is the What. Although Michael, a child, physically abuses and harasses Deng throughout the reading, Deng, to the surprise of the reader, comments on how his "fondness of [Michael] grows... and forgiveness fumbles back into [his heart]" (Eggers, 109). Though young Michael treats Deng mercilessly, Deng has the ability to continually forgive those that mistreat him. Although he decides to run away from the horrors he suffered from the previous night with the robbers, Eggers makes a point to note that Deng will "reach upward [and] will attempt to do better" (Eggers, 533) in the future by being more cognizant of his surroundings, thus learning from his previous mistakes. Through this powerful ending, even Deng's sense of ressentiment stays strong toward the end of the novel as he maturely puts his anger and energy into learning and growing into a more complete human. This distinctive quality of refugees is, in fact, the main reason why this group continually ignores harassment, as they are able to harness the resulting anger into productive results.

Though ressentiment is integral in telling a refugee story, humility is just as important. Very few people possess this characteristic, especially here in America.  Nevertheless, as evident in the film God Grew Tired of Us, refugees get their strong values of humbleness through their upbringing and culture they grow up in. In What is the What, Eggers powerfully states that Deng works for "$5 or $6 an hour... which seemed like a great deal of money [to him]" (Eggers, 514). It is amazing what this unique group is willing to put up with to have a life of freedom and peace. Not only do they work menial jobs that no one wants, but they also do these jobs with a smile on their faces. This is the same mentality I noticed while volunteering at the ACC. When I came for my second volunteering session, I was told to step into the employment director's room. I ended up walking right into a meeting with a women who had just come from Africa. Essentially, the employment center was trying to get her a job at a small, local hotel near the highway as a cleaning lady. Though most Americans would ignore the mere thought of a job like this, she was more than willing to accept it. I still recall with fondness the large and genuine smile that erupted on her face when she found out that she had received the position. The Lost Boys were another group that were ecstatic to work at places like McDonald's, as portrayed in God Grew Tired of Us. This group never complained about the countless hours they had to study and work for throughout their first years in America. Instead, they put in the hard work with the utmost level of respect and humility that I have ever encountered in my life. Thus, this high level of morale and humility are key factors in narrating a compelling and complete refugee story.

Finally, credibility and authenticity link all of the aforementioned characteristics of refugee stories, as it is this quality that garners sympathy and genuine interest from the audience. With the established ethos of the speaker, the audience is able to emotionally be affected to a new level, as the pain and suffering portrayed seems more realistic. In the end, it is this part of the refugee story that sticks with the audience the most, and, hence, is what helps refugees receive recognition from the rest of the world. In fact, this is truly the end goal of all refugee stories, especially the three stories presented in class. They are here today to "spark unimagined changes" (Asgedom, 137). By coupling this with the other facets of a refugee story, authors and directors alike can make an impact in today's society.

Refugee stories give me hope in humanity. Looking past all of the crime and violence around me, I am proud to say that there are people in this world that are still attempting to help others out of the good of their heart. Furthermore, refugee stories are perfect examples of what optimism can do. Although many refugees have a worse life in countries like America than their torn apart home countries, they still never give up. With this optimism, many rise to success. If we can look to refugee stories as examples of how to live life and carry one's self, I strongly believe that we would live in a better place. 

***The Stuff  highlighted are the things I am still working on editing. Also, I think I need to work on my conclusion and was thinking of adding on some of Fadlalla's criticism***

P9

The Voices of Refugees event opened my eyes to the true lives of refugees across the world. During the event, there were three speakers, Nizibao from Burundi, Tin Tin from Myanmar, and the Odari family from Bhutan. Each of the speakers had many interesting stories to tell, however there were many similarities between the three. With this and the other connections I made with the material we were presented to in class, I have come to a better understanding of what a refugee story is.

One new aspect that I took from the event was the fact that many refugees come to America to not only make their lives better, but to also improve the lives of their children, grandchildren, and subsequent generations. This was quickly apparent when the Odari family came up to speak to us, especially when the grandfather of the family stressed that he came to America to set up a better life for his family. Essentially, he hopes that moving to America will give his family a better and more complete life than he ever had while in Bhutan. Further, the plea for the children of the family to receive free education spoke to the high expectations refugees have not for themselves, but for their younger one. This selfish desire and want for the children to live the "American Dream" clearly explains the rational for leaving behind everything in one's home country to come to a brand new country like America.

Moreover, the Voice of Refugees helped me put into perspective the large problem language barriers can cause. Tin Tin was able to clearly illuminate this problem when she explained to the audience that she could not get food the first night she was in America because she had no way of communicating this desire. As a result, Tin Tin and her children  went without food that night, thereby creating the initial feelings of helplessness and hopelessness in America that many refugees experience. Additionally, Tin Tin explained that this inability to understand or speak English while in America has impeded her ability to feel a sense of belonging in this culture. In fact, her main wish to make her feel comfortable in this country is for people to be friendly and to talk to her, even if she does not understand English. If we can take this lesson to heart, I strongly believe that we can help refugees assimilate into America.

Overall, I was very happy that I could attend the Voice of Refugees, as it was able to supplement the reading and discussions from class. Further, having men and women who have gone through this process explain the horrors they have gone through in their lives has made me appreciative the life I have right now, for discussing and reading about refugees is not nearly as powerful as hearing from them first hand. 

P8

Volunteering at the ACC has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Not only has it given me the opportunity to give back to the myriad of refugees across the world, but it has also helped me put our reading assignments and class discussions into perspective.

The attitude of refugees has been the most interesting aspect of my volunteering at the ACC. Although I have only volunteered for a few weeks, every conversation I have had with refugees has been full of optimism and hope. However, I have noticed that though they are optimistic about their new lives in America, they understand that America is not the "promised land" that some people make it out to be. Instead, they have come to America with realistic expectations of the situation they are getting themselves into. After reading all of the material given to us in class, I was understandably quite surprised with this mentality. At the same time, I am happy that refugees (at least a few) are beginning to learn from the mistakes of their companions and colleagues, thereby giving them realistic expectations while in America.

Another interesting thing about the ACC was the enthusiasm the employees have found in their job. When you talk to a typical person working in an office, they usually complain about the monotony found in the work place. Yet, after watching the ACC employees and talking to them, I have realized that these men and women are proud to serve refugees. As one employee put it, her  job constantly keeps her on her toes, as every refugee comes with a different background and story to tell. This positivity and willingness of the employees are exactly what refugees at the ACC need to make the most out of their lives in America.

As one can imagine, this volunteering experience has allowed me to compare and contrast the material covered in class, thereby helping me learn outside of the classroom. It has also taught me that service learning can be very beneficial with the right attitude. For me, I came into the ACC with the mindset that I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. With this positive attitude, I have truly taken a lot out of my volunteering at the ACC. Now, for the rest of the quarter, I hope to be able to continue making a difference in refugees lives, while also hearing more of the diverse stories that these refugees have brought with them. 

P7

Peak's Humanitarian Narrative and Posthumanist critique: Dave Egger's What is the What vehemently attacks the life and the system in place that refugees encounter after relocating to countries such as America. This is quickly apparent through Peak's denouncement of the idea of "the promised freedom and equality for all that emerges from conceptions of a universal humanity [that] is continually offset by the realities faced by [refugees]" (Peak, 116). Although many refugees have a preconceived notion that life in America will be full of joy and free of sorrow, they eventually realize that they only move from "war, famine, and refugee camps to another, less obvious, state of 'war' and abandonment: the neoliberal state that turns against its most vulnerable residents" (Mackey, 29). It is this very same "neoliberal state" that has given Mawi Asgedom, the Lost Boys, and now Deng little to no support in growing and flourishing in the new countries they are placed in. With this, we are able to realize the hard work that this group must put in to achieve success.

This sad realization of the true life of refugees in their respective countries is evident in many stories across the world, including Deng's. These men and women are forced to work menial jobs hovering around six dollars an hour and are constantly disappointed in the "promised land" they had dreamed of in Africa. In fact, many, like Deng, yearn for their former lives in their old, torn countries. This is readily obvious with Eggers' juxtaposition of Deng's life in Africa and America, specifically during the robbery. By comparing both the brutal crime found in America and the incivility found in Africa, the reader is able to understand Peak's negative criticism of the way countries treat refugees. This negative treatment can also be seen in Asgedom's life in America. The society that he is forced to live in only brings him down. From losing his brother and dad to being bullied constantly, America gives Asgedom more sorrow and suffering than help.

However, after digesting all of the material presented in class, I now truly appreciate the success refugees manage to find in their new lives. Although they leave their home countries to foreign places and are attacked for being refugees, many continually climb the dangerous ladder to success. By viewing stories with this perspective, I now look at refugees in a new light of amazement and admiration. 

P6

What is the What is a captivating story that combines Valentino Deng's life experiences in America and Africa. This compelling book has many strong similarities to Angels and Beetles and God Grew Tired of Us. It is through stories like these three that we are able to put refugees' lives into perspective while they are assimilating into their new country.

The major similarity found throughout all three of these stories is the pain and suffering that refugees go through due to the insensitivity of others. Though there is inevitably bias in creating these books and documentaries, the authors and directors portray the citizens of the United States of America as an ethically immoral group of individuals. This theory is quite apparent in God Grew Tired of Us, especially when these men are forced to separate the group due to the town's fear of them. Though this group of men are some of the nicest people I have ever seen, they are still looked down upon because of their differences. This absurdity and insensitivity is also strikingly apparent while Deng is being robbed  and is further compounded with how Michael, the TV boy, "thinks [Deng] is not of his species" (Eggers, 50). The very fact that a young boy is treating an adult like a lesser being portrays the deep mistreatment that many refugees encounter in their daily lives. If a boy like Michael can treat Deng like this, I cannot imagine how bad life is for refugees around the world.

Although both books and the documentary portray the pain and mistreatment many innocent refugees run into, I now understand that the authors and directors of refugee stories portray the pain and suffering of this group to not only receive aid and sympathy, but to also highlight the sincerity and kindness in refugees. For example, in Angels and Beetles, Asgedom does not revolt at society for killing his brother and father. Instead, he continues to believe in the kindness of humanity and, in the end, seems to forgive society for the pain it inflicted on his family. Moreover, the theme of forgiveness is rich in What is the What. Although Michael, a child, harasses Deng throughout our reading, Deng continually comments on how his "fondness of him grows... and forgiveness fumbles back into [his heart]" (Eggers, 109). Though young Michael treats Deng mercilessly, Deng seems to have the ability to continually forgive those that mistreat him.

As a result, Deng's story has now given me a new look into the complicated story of a refugee. Though all authors and directors create refugee stories to portray the mistreatment refugees encounter daily, they also exhibit the ability for refugees to forgive, but not to forget. By doing so, refugees are able to use their negative experiences to push themselves to be the best they can be, hence reaching height never imagined. If we can take this lesson and apply it to our lives, our world would be a much better place.

SE 1

The Struggle

Tear drops stain their cheeks. Their eyes are red and puffy. Dazed, children walk around with no sense of direction or purpose. These Sri Lankan refugees are found in every corner in India. Oppressed in Sri Lanka, this group migrates to countries across the world, thereby attempting to evade the persecution that awaits them back home. However, even after migrating to a new country, they encounter many obstacles, namely the difficulty of assimilation into a new culture. This is a typical plot for many refugees, regardless of where they are from or where they relocate to. This "typical" refugee story surrounds a family that goes through a myriad of suffering that is unknown to most people. When in their new country, they still struggle for acceptance. In fact, a Sri Lankan refugee who was interviewed by P.V. Srividya, the author of the article What it feels like to be a Tamil refugee, commented that there are slurs and negative connotations associated with these Sri Lankans that contribute in giving them a tough transition in India. Even with this negative stigma, this group continues to strive for success on a daily basis.

However, after reading this article, I noticed obvious issues with Srividya's representation of the Sri Lankan refugees in India that are highlighted in Fadlalla's Contested Borders of (In)humanity: Sudanese Refugees and the Mediation of Suffering and Subaltern Visibilities. Although Srividya emphasizes the pain these people go through on a daily basis, he offers no solutions for fixing the root problem that is causing the Sri Lankan population to feel persecuted. Instead, Srividya attempts to instill "universal morality" and "humanitarianism" (Fadlalla, 81) in the readers by making them feel guilty and, hence, obligated to help the refugees. With this representation, the media continues to ignore the main cause of persecution felt by the refugees in the first place. While nothing is done to stop the original source of destruction in these countries, positive change can be taken from this flawed approach.

            Srividya also falls into the traps Fadlalla sets forth with the media's misrepresentation of refugees. According to Fadlalla, the media tends to portray refugees as "innately 'violent' and 'disruptive'" (Fadlalla, 87). Because the media has a large influence on people's views and thoughts, it causes a majority of the population to create false images of refugees and the problems they face. Again, this causes many people to avoid fixing the root problem that creates refugees and, instead, allows people to blame the problems that refugees have on their personal characteristics. By doing so, a false perception of needing to save refugees is created, as it is assumed that refugees live in "Peter Pan's 'never-land' of 'exotic wonders' that hosts tigers, beasts, and savages who threaten the security of the land" (Fadlalla, 102). This representation of developing countries creates a negative perception of how helping refugees is viewed, as there is a fundamental difference between saving and helping refugees. The Western ideology of "saving" looks down upon refugees as primitive and lesser beings. Conversely, emphasizing the philosophy of "helping" treats refugees as humans. This mentality greatly assists in forming a mutual relationship between those of an outsider status and those in dire need of assistance.

            This article also generalizes the Sri Lankan refugees by starting with two examples of pregnant women taking care of their family. With this, the reader is able to represent this entire group with an "easy-to-consume image" (Fadlalla, 81) of close knit families surviving together. Accordingly, this helps The Hindu push its own agenda of garnering an audience and spreading awareness of the debacle found among many refugee families. Nevertheless, though Fadlalla criticizes this form of representation in the media, this technique is absolutely critical in conveying a message to a target audience, as this helps the audience remember and connect to the story. This can potentially result in aid for refugees.

            Through a basic analysis of Srividya's article on Sri Lankan refugees in India, the reader can quickly discern the various techniques the author uses to spread knowledge of the anguish found in many refugees. Though Fadlalla rightfully criticizes authors like Srividya for their superficial representation of refugees in mass media, it is important to note that this depiction of refugees is still potentially positive in the impact it can make for refugees. With the awareness this flawed media spreads, the first foot is put forward for change. While this does not fix the root problem creating refugees, it still makes this problem visible to the world andsets the path for further improvement.

P5

     In the expert from Translating Pain, Hron eloquently explains what suffering and pain really mean, specifically to immigrants. While reading, Hron's discussion on ressentiment stood out to me, as this topic is clearly portrayed in Of Beetles and Angels and God Grew Tired of Us. Essentially, Hron emphasizes how ressentiment, based on Nietzsche, can be a positive aspect of a refugee's life as it "urges individuals to identify the sources of their resentment and to work against them in a vehement 'no'" (Hron, 55). Through this, Hron stresses that immigrants are put in a "continuous process of transformation, and of overcoming" (Hron, 56) their unique problems, thereby growing and blossoming into better individuals.

     In Of Beetles and Angels, Mawi Asgedom narrates the struggles he and his family go through while they are refugees. As the reader finds out from the very beginning of the book, Asgedom goes through many life changing events. Not only does he lose his beloved brother, but he also loses his father before he can see Asgedom graduate from Harvard. Though he loses two of his role models and closest friends because of drunk driving, Asgedom never revolts at society directly, but "manifests [himself] in 'clever' strategies, which include a perfect understanding of how to keep silent, how not to forget, [and] how to wait" (Hron, 55). By doing so, he hones in his anger into excelling in school. With this skill of ressentiment, Asgedom is able to reach the pinnacle of success once he graduates from Harvard and writes a book that, years after its publication, is still being read.

     This theme of ressentiment is also readily apparent in God Grew Tired of Us. Though the Lost Boys come to a brand new place where they do not even understand the "basic" concept of electricity, the Lost Boys continually fight for their survival in America by working jobs at places like McDonald's. Still, even while working low level jobs, the boys are surrounded by hostility, especially when they are forced to split up into smaller groups to not scare off the townspeople. Though any sane person can tell you that this is absurd, the Lost Boys, like Asgedom, stay quiet and continue to push themselves, hence becoming more complete men when they reach success in their lives on a daily basis.

     It is this overcoming of a struggle unknown to most of us that allows the audience to appreciate its relatively luxurious lives. However, the key to using ressentiment while dealing with pain is the correct employment of it. For, as Hron points out, this can lead to a group of people "even cleverer than any [other] noble race" (Hron, 55). 

P4: A Refugee Story

A refugee story is one encompassing pain and suffering from living in a foreign place and culture, hence eliciting feelings of sympathy in its audience. Though this story is similar to those dealing with feelings of gloominess and despair, it has its own element of challenges and obstacles of cultural identity and assimilation into a new culture that are not seen in a typical story.

Of Beetles and Angels is the perfect example of a refugee story. Centered around Mawi Asgedo, the story introduced me to a life that I had never imagined. Mawi not only elegantly conveys his and his family's situation as refugees perfectly, but also draws upon the cultural problems a refugee deals with. These harsh challenges Mawi goes through during his childhood are like none I have ever encountered in my life. Throughout the book, Mawi and his brother are continually picked on by other students in their school, thereby making it difficult for the two of them and their family to assimilate into the new culture menacingly surrounding them. This is clearly seen when Mawi explains that his parents continually emphasized that they "are the poorest in the land...[and] will have to work backbreaking jobs [while] never fully understanding [their] rights" (Asgedom 33). Challenges like these make a story such as Of Beetles and Angels a true refugee story, as the challenges presented to them are tough to overcome due to the new culture and environment presented to them.

Though the movie God Grew Tired of Us takes a different approach in conveying a refugee story with its comedic relief, it too has elements of struggle in a new environment. In this documentary, the audience realizes how little the Lost Boys know about America. From the appliances used to the culture of America in general, this group of men initially has a tough time adjusting to  America. However, even when this group is able to learn the typical American life, they are still unjustly persecuted because of their ethnicity. This is clearly evident when the men are asked to not travel in groups because of people's fear of them. Although absurd, the director is able to successfully portray the difficult obstacles refugees must face on a constant bases.

All in all, a refugee story is unique because of its elements brought on by a movement into a foreign place. As one can imagine, this leads to a trouble in understanding and being part of the new culture, hence directly causing refugees to yearn for their past lives. However, even after reading a large portion Of Beetles and Angels and watching God Grew Tired of Us, I have come to realize that I will never truly understand what it feels like to be a refugee. Nonetheless, the best I can do is volunteer at places like the ACC to attempt to help this group as much as I can.