Journal #33 Sui Sin Far

Shirly Ong
English 48B
13 March, 2008
Journal #33 Sui Sin Far

Quote:
“For twenty moons my wife care for and nurse the old people, and when they die they bless her and my son, and I send for her to return to me. I had no fear of trouble. I was a Chinese merchant and my son was my son.

Summary:
In this quote, Hom Hing was telling the customs officers about his wife and his son after the officers told him they must take away his son.

Response:
When I was reading the story, I think it is weird that Hom Hing tells the officers about what Lae Choo did after giving birth to their child and how his parents blessed them. These are not related to the immigration status of his son at all. However, when I read this quote again, I think Hom Hing is actually expressing indirectly how eager he is to have his wife and his son staying with him in the United States. To have his son born in his home country China, he was separated from Lae Choo. After his son’s birth, his parents, who were in China, fell sick and Lae Choo took care of them until they die. For this expected events, Hom Hing and Lae Choo have been separated for a long period of time. I believe Hom Hing must have missed them so much. He should be very upset and disappointed to learn that his son must be taken away from him again. I feel so sorry fro Hom Hing and Lae Choo. It is sad that their family had to be separated again after they got together at the steamer shortly. It is so cruel to them. In spite of his disappointment, I think Hom Hing stayed calm and strong. He exclaimed that he had no fear of trouble. This shows his strong desire to stay with Lae Choo and his son. To me, the quote “I was a Chinese merchant and my son was my son” shows that he was very proud to be a Chinese merchant and he was very proud of his son. It is a pity that the officers were not moved by Hom Hing’s words and insisted to take away his son, according to the law.