Irish Born Chinese

This article on The Rape of Nanking really moved me. Especially this line near the end…

Almost every Chinese-American family has had some kind of experience with World War II, in many cases, dead relatives.

Ok, I am an Irish-born Chinese, but this still holds true for many oversea born Chinese people.

My dad would tell us stories about what happened to our family a generation ago. We did loose family members during that period. In fact, my eldest uncle was part of a group trying to get out of China in that time, and it was frightening to hear about it, to say the least. He was 2 or 3 years old at the time. He had a scar on his foot from that time from stepping on a branch while they are trying to sneak around the Japanese occupiers. He was nearly killed as the group was afraid they were going to be found out if my uncle even whimpered. But my uncle survived, and did not even utter a sound. It’s very hard to imagine this in the times we live in. Many male relatives in my family were also soldiers (has been for many generations until my dad’s generation, it was my grandma’s wish, so we don’t loose anymore members). But that article about Nanking really brings home some reality of what went on. I am not sure if I am prepared to read the book. But as the author pointed out, so few know about it, and mistakes should not be forgotten. This is not meant to cause hatred, but to realise the truth.

This is part of history, it should not be ignored. Human history has alway being cruel, but let’s not forget. Lessons can be learnt.