In The Land of The Free

Jacqueline Procter
Journal # 22
March 14, 2008
Sui Sin Far

Quote:
“Little One, ah, my Little One!” cried Lae Choo.
She fell on her knees and stretched her hungry arms toward her son.
But the Little One shrunk from her and tried to hide himself in the folds of the white woman’s skirt.
“go’way, go’way!” he bade his mother.


Summary:
Lae Choo is finally reunited with her son after almost a year with no contact but her son does not know her.

Response:
This story is devastating in that Lae Choo has not had the opportunity to bond with her son; he has no recollection of her and identifies with the people who cared for him, white women. His mother is alien to him.

In a broader sense he has been stripped of his cultural identity. It was important to Hom Hing that his son be born in his native land of China which is significant in it’s implication that they are proud of their cultural heritage. Children adapt very well to change -- he will probably adjust, once again, to his biological parents. Regrettably, the most precious year is lost.

I just don’t understand how a baby could be taken away from its mother like he was a threat to national security -- seriously how could that have happened? What about the option of the mother accompanying her child to baby jail? What about visitation? I know that today if a child is born in the US and the parents are illegal, the parents could be deported, but at least action isn’t taken swiftly and the parents have the option of bringing their child with them.

A lot of blood, sweat, and tears were shed as the United States was being built into a supper power! -- That saying probably originated during this period.