In the beginning of the chapter titled, "Strangers" Henry thinks about his father's belief that "the hardest choices in life aren't between what's right and what's wrong but between what's right and what's best."
Think about the decisions that these characters have made in the story so far. Henry, his father, his mother, Keiko, Mr. Okabe, and Mrs. Beatty have all had to make choices between what is right and what is best.
Decide on three choices made by any of the above characters, and write about whether you believe the choices were made because it was right, or because it was for the best.
Reading: "Moving" and "Stranger", pages 197-207 Due Wednesday, March 13
Blog post: due Thursday, March 14
I’m going to do mine about Mrs. Beatty. I believe that Mrs. Beatty’s decision to let henry to come to camp harmony to serve food and see Keiko was the right decision to make. I also believe that because Mrs. Beatty knows that henry loves Keiko and she knows what it is like to be separated from someone who you love, Mrs. Beatty’s husband who is in jail, and she didn’t want henry to be separated from keiko because then he would feel sad.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that Mrs. Beatty’s decision to not give Chaz any lunch was the right thing to do. if one kid is bullying another kid adults should either break up a fight or help the one who is being picked on.
Finally, i also believe that Mrs. Beatty’s decision to help henry smuggle his present to Keiko into the camp was the right decision. The best decision for Mrs. Beatty would be to say no, the right decision would be to help henry get his present to Keiko.
A large portion of this story is based on the importance of choices. I feel as though each chapter displayed in it's own way what people have to decide between. Having already completed the book,I think it shows more obviously as the story goes on. However, there are plenty examples that have already been displayed.
ReplyDeleteOne of the choices that really was clear to me was one that became shadowed by love. When Keiko was removed from her home, Henry could have let her go, forgot about her, and carried on with his life. However, Henry chose to fight both his father and his expectations to visit her in her temporary home. I found it inspiring, proving that his innocent love for her was strong enough to conquer anything, whether that be his own parental authority or the intentions in his country.
Another example from the story is also very hard to find, though I feel as if, once visible it is impossible to see past. It is an early on decision that Keiko makes, her decision to be American at heart. Once again, Keiko could have been clouded by the hatred displayed by her peers. But, Keiko decides to look past this and be strong toward the county that she believes in.
This example is the most shocking and sickening to me, disturbing over everything else in this novel. When Henry's father disowns his and ignores his presence, I cried right there and then, sickened, discussed, and most of all, surprised. I could never imagine a parent treating their child so bad. Henry's father chose to ignore what was right, and made possibly the worst decision I've ever seen.
rdRoxy4
I think the decision Mrs. Beatty made to hide the presents that Henry had for Keiko was the right choice but not the best because the people at the camp wouldn't allow it and she could have gotten in big trouble but it was right because it didn't hurt anybody and it helped Keiko. I think Henry's Dad's decision to disown him was wrong because He didn't know what his son was going through with Keiko. And I think the decision Henry's Mom made to sneak him Keiko's letters was the right choice because he deserves to read letters addressed to him even If his Dad doesn't like who it's from.
ReplyDeletelfguns7
I think that Mrs. Beatty's decision to sneak in the presents Henry brought for Keiko was the right decision. It was risky, but it was good because to Henry, the presents were very important to get to Keiko. I think Henry's dad's decision to kick Henry out of the family was wrong because he might not like the Japanese, but if he was in Henry's position where he really likes this Japanese girl, Mr. Lee would understand. I think that Mr. Okabe's decision to leave to Camp Harmony instead of staying, was the right decision. Even though it would have been really nice to stay and not have to live with millions of other people, it was right to just leave because if they got caught they would be in so much trouble and it would be very risky.
ReplyDeletecichocothunder25
I chose to do mine on Henry. He did a hard decision when he left his family, but like I sai in the last blog, the right decision is always the hardest. But when you make the right decision, it matters more in the long run. And really, you've got to look at the big picture, because that's what really matters. A few other decisions he made that seem like the right ones to me were when he took in Keiko's family heirlooms and when he offered to give some "I am Chinese" buttons to the Okabes. His father had closed his heart and mind to the Japanese, and I really think this clouded his judgement about what was the best thing to do.
ReplyDeletemjaphrodite20
A lot of the characters have had to make decisions in this book. One of the choices that sticks out for me was when Henry decided to go visit Keiko in Idaho with Sheldon. I think the decision was best for Henry because then he wouldn't regret not going. I don't think it was the right decision with his father at home sick but it really proved how much Henry cared for Keiko.
ReplyDeleteA choice that Henry's mom made was giving the letters to Henry and it was the right choice. I would say it wasn't the best choice giving them to him behind his dad's back.
One more choice that was thoughtful was when Sheldon gave the Oscar Holden record to Henry to give to Keiko. I didn't think it was the best choice because Sheldon could have enjoyed it himself but it was a very good choice.
lcpink30
I think the decision Henry made about saying a final goodbye to Keiko in Camp Harmony was the right decision. I believe this because even though it was a dangerous trip he showed her how muh he really cared about her. I think Henry's visit made Camp Harmony less miserable for Keiko because ever week she had something to look forward to. I also think that Henry's decision to keep Keiko's pictures was the right decison. I believe this because Henry realized that the pictures Keiko's family had, told about their cultural life and were precious to them. This led to his parents finding the pictures and then his father telling him "If you walk out that door you are no longer part of this family." Henry had told Keiko he would keep the pictures for her so he did walk out the door to get them. His father did exactly what he said he would and did not speak to Henry. I think that Henry made the right decision but in my opinion the hardest one in the entire book.
ReplyDelete-ampettyfer
One large choice that Henry made was to go with Sheldon to Idaho to see Keiko again. I'm not sure if this choice could fit in either "best" or "right" because if it were the very best choice then it wouldn't hurt anyone, but if it were the right choice it wouldn't go agaisnt what Henry's father wanted. This choice may have been the best choice for Henry, but definitaly wasn't the best choice in his father's veiw. Henry may have thought that it was the right choice to leave for a couple of days and go to see Keiko, but it went against his father's wishes, which makes me doubt that this could be the "right" choice, especially when his father was in such weak state.
ReplyDeleteAnother big choice that a character made was Mr. Lee's choice to shun his son. I think that he probably thought that it was the right choice to ignore Henry, because Henry had completely disobeyed him. I'm sure that Henry and his mother didn't think it was the right, or best, chice though.
One last choice that I thought about was the choice that Henry's mother made to go along with her husband and practically disown Henry.I think that it wasn't the right choice for her to make but it had to be the best choice. She knew that she had to obey her husband, but you could tell that she was torn between helping Henry and doing as she was told. I find it very surprising that a mother and father could just not even acknowledge their own son, over somthing so small as he being friends with a Japanse girl. It just shows how serious and upset Mr. Lee was about the war between China, America and the Japanese.
~C.H.Lafandala
Most of this story is based on decisions, although most of these decisions are never really thought through. Like Henry, knowing that his father is against Japanese he still decides to hide the photos for Keiko not realizing that if he ever got caught by the police they could be sent to jail. The right choice was for Henry to not take the photos from Keiko because he would be not respecting his father. But the best decision was to take the photos from Keiko because if he didn't she might not have any memories and that may ruin their friendship.
ReplyDeleteAnother choice that was not well thought out was when Henry's father found the photos, he had them laying all over, then right in front of Henry he ripped them and threw them out the window. What if someone was down there like a cop? Just seeing photos flying down. The right decision would of been to get rid of them, but the best decision would be to sit down Henry and talk about it, by starting with the simple things like why do you have these? Or who did them from? But instead he blew up in Henry's face and told him he was no longer apart of his family.
There were many mistakes or bad decisons made in this book but I think the worst decision made was when the store clerk at the store would not let Keiko buy the record because she was Japanese. Although her husband was fighting you have no right to do that, she is a human being no different then anyone else. Just because she may look different, have a different skin color, or have a different heritage doesn't mean anything. The clerk didn't make a right or best decision to me, I think she just made a wrong and rude decision on her part.
Keiko and Henry may be considered different but they live in America now and they are considered true Americans. At first Henry wore the pin I am Chinese but when Keiko believed she was a true American that rubbed off on Henry, he started to believe in himself and that he is an American whether he looked different or not.
When Henrys dad had the stroke Henry felt like it was his fault, all the stress he put on his father from the pictures and his friend Keiko being Japanese. It truly broke my heart when Henry's father said that his son was a stranger to him, just thinking if my mom or dad didn't except me for me, or who I am would really bother me. I wouldn't change though, if they truly love me the would accept me. I have two qoutes that make me feel like it would suit how this story is now. One is "Love me without fear. Trust me without doubts. Love me without restrictions. Want me without demand, accept me how I am." Referring to his father not loving him, or accepting him for himself. And the other qoute is, "Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of somebody else." That quote is reffering to Henry and Keiko being themselves and considerring themselves American and not just acting like they are Chinese and trying to fit in.
But the thing that will never change is that Henry is Henry, and Keiko is Keiko.
msgemini11
My first person is Henry's father, I think the decision he made by throwing Kieko’s family photos out the window was the right decision and not the best because those were precious photos that couldn’t be replaced and the best decision would have been to just tell Henry to put them away and say that he never wanted to see them again.
ReplyDeleteMy second choice is also on Henry’s father, the fact that he disowned his son was just sickening to me, that in my opinion is a bad choice, I mean all he did was help his friend out and he just goes and disowns him. Then even after he disowns him he doesn’t even want to talk to him or look at.
My last opinion is on Mrs. Beatty, when she hides the present for Henry to give to Kieko, I think that is the best decision because nobody I really affected by the way she handles it.
jkricosauve
The first one that I chose was Mrs. Beatty. I beileve that it was right to bring along Henry to help serve the food. I think that it was right because he already serves lunch at his school (Rainer). I do beileve that this is the best decision because she knows that Keiko works with Henry at lunch and he likes her, so he could also see her at Camp Harmony.
ReplyDeleteThe next character I chose was henry. I beileve that the best decision for Henry was to hide Keiko's family memories. I beileve it was the right choice because Keiko is going away and she wants someone to hold he family photographs so Henry did the right thing and held them for her. I did not think it was the best choice because somebody was going to find out where these photos are and Henry could be in a huge heap of trouble.
The final character that I selected was Henry's father. I beileve that when he found the photos it was right to punish Henry. The reason being is because he is Chinese and was born into the war when Japan bombed China. I do not think it was the best choice to "execute" Henry from the family. I feel as if Henry's father could have disiplined him anothe rcruel way.
tsace12
In the novel so far I think many decisions were made that were thought to be best or thought to be right but were actually wrong. In my opinion Henry's father was totally out of line when he "dis-owned" his own son. Henry's father may have thought it was the best choice because they could have got put in jail if the police found the pictures but all he had to do was throw them away no need for dis-owning your son.
ReplyDeleteAnother decision that was made was Mrs. Beatty offering to take Henry to Camp with her to see Keiko. Mrs. Beatty was trying to act as if she was only taking him because he was a good kitchen helper but she was really taking him because she thought it was the right choice.
Lastly Henry's mother made the decision to go along with his father and dis-own Henry. I think she really loves Henry and only did this to please his father. She knew this was the wrong choice that she made but did not want to displease Henry's father.
ahnighthawk!
I think that the choice that Mrs. Beatty made to let Henry come to Camp Harmony was the best decision for Henry but it was not the right decision to let him go without making sure he had permission from his parents.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the fact that Keiko gave her family photos to Henry was the right decision for the safety of her family and Henry's. On the other hand it was the best decision for her and her family by preserving their photos instead of burning them.
Another choice that was made was Henry's father disowning Henry. I think that that decision was neither the best choice or the right choice. A father should never disown his son or treat him like that. Even if he has some things the you do not agree with. Also, he is going through a lot in this specific time of his life.
LK Bertha98