The Grace of Silence Personal Response

David Koester

8-26-14

English 10

Blog post 1

     I took the time to ask my family "Is there anything interesting about our family, such as my how ancestors came to America?" Just by asking  that one simple question, I discovered something that I had no knowledge of. My ancestors who where from Japan were castle guards, the castle was overthrown and all affiliates were to be executed. The Japanese form of execution was suicide back then using a sword, this method was know as "Seppuku". This was to die in a state of honor rather than falling into the hands of their enemy. My ancestors during this time had just given birth to a new child, and the baby would be executed by the people who overtook the castle. However the mother (my ancestor) of that child escaped from the castle with the newborn and migrated into another part of Japan. Many years later my ancestors moved to Honolulu Hawaii, and that is where my Grandmother, Grandfather, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins, and some of my closest friends live currently.

     I had thought that my family's history was just bland and boring, rather than a story that sounds like a blockbuster movie. It hasn't quite struck me that if the did not escape execution, I wouldn't be here writing this or even be here at all! I feel like I can relate to what the author is saying because she had stories that she didn't know about, her race of people were oppressed just like mine. In WW2 my Great uncle was put in a internment camp for the remainder of the war. We are alike, the author and I because we both believe that "You'll find out amazing things about your family, and thereby learn essential things about yourself."