Immigration and Planting Roots. Quote from Ha Jin's 'A Free Life'

Ha Jin has been one of my favorite writers, ever since I read his 'Waiting' back in 2000, when we were living in Singapore. I have read all his novels since then and own most of them (which is to say, not many...of the 6 that he has written).

 

He has the talent to hold the attention of the reader. I find that when I begin any one of his novels, I simply can't put it down. I can't function normally and become a couch potato, with my nose buried in his novel, procrastinating all my chores - be it doing the laundry (that never ending job!) or worse, playing hooky with my sons' summer classes.

 

I am not too fond of his poetry. His prose is certainly eloquent, perhaps more so because he weaves in Chinese idioms for illustration - especially in 'Waiting' and 'The Bridegroom and Other Stories'.

'A Free Life' begins well and seems consciously fictional. It moves into a semi-autobiographical documentary in the latter half, recording the humdrum details of the Wu's life in Georgia, and Nan's epiphanies about himself and his purpose. Still, a good read. Perhaps not brilliant fiction, but certainly an honest depiction of the lives of immigrants in America.

 

What draws me to Ha Jin is his undebatable, firm bottomline - haha, not what you're thinking - but his conviction to write honestly, and to live authentically. That's rare and kinda sweet.

 

Many a time, I've thought about Ha Jin as a kindred soul...or as one of his characters hears himself described - "A lone wolf." and "A real individual." These words are actually thrown as insults at the character, but he heartily claims them without defending or apologizing for his beliefs. Like them, I give a damn for the opinions of the herd too.

 

To be honest, this is pretty much the definition of most lovers of Literature, and very true of most writers. They live authentically and unapologetically. Not for them the glory of mass adulation arising from some superficiality or political games - even at the social level. This often results in them being misunderstood because they think ahead of their times. Well, they push change. Good for them.

Here is the passage from Ha Jin's recent book ('A Free Life', 2007) that struck a chord in me...The issue he ponders is not the challenge of being an immigrant but the question of switching one's loyalty to the adopted country. The US passport is a sublime vista hankered after by many immigrants who sell their souls without a second thought, for material gains. The question here is whether or not they will be true to their adopted country, and the authenticity of their oath.

 

Ha Jin puts it very well:

 

"Nan hadn't applied for the citizenship with a light heart...His home and livelihood were here. The previous spring, he had read an article by Yong Chu, the old poet teaching Chinese at a college in Rhode Island...In his article "Why I Don't Want to Be an American Citizen", Mr. Chu wrote candidly that he was unsure which side he would take if the United States went to war with China. The citizenship would require him to be willing to bear arms to defend the U.S. Constitution and fight any foreign enemy...Chu stated that his heart wouldn't allow him to side against his motherland and that he wanted to live honestly, so he wouldn't get naturalized. Now Nan wasn't certain which side he'd take if a war broke out between China and the United States. This uncertainty tormented him, but he also knew that once he swore his allegiance at the oath ceremony, he'd have to abide by his word. To him, a promise should weigh more than a country."

 

Now here's the part that I love haha -

 

"He thought of a pair of metaphors, comparing China to his mother and the United States to the woman he loved. He was sure that someone else had used this trite analogy before; nonetheless, it helped him sort out his emotions. As a grown man he couldn't live with his mother and must choose to join the woman of his heart. Certainly he wouldn't taunt or beat his mother if there was a fight between the old lady and his beloved. All he could do was help them understand each other even though they might never see eye to eye."

 

Ha Jin is like an old friend who pops up to remind me of my life's path. Here is a poem he ends 'A Free Life' with...It's called 'Another Country', and captures the creative process (mostly of writing and philosophy, I believe...but could also be applied to creating any kind of art...):

 

Another Country

 

You must go to a country without borders,

where you can build your home

out of garlands of words,

where broad leaves shade familiar faces

that no longer change in wind and rain.

There's no morning or evening,

no cries of joy or pain;

every canyon is drenched in the light of serenity.

 

You must go there, quietly.

Leave behind what you still cherish.

Once you enter that domain,

a path of flowers will open before your feet.

 

I might just go away to the Iowa Writer's Workshop and consider how I might harness my emotions and thoughts that fall about like drunken men...