The Cats Of Mirikitani - DVD Documentary

In Ethnic Lit we saw a documentary of Mirikitani's life. Even though he was born in Sacramento, California he was still racially profiled for being of Japanese decent and was put into a camp with the rest of the Japanese; "where they belonged" the Government suggested. He believes this was the Governments biggest mistake. Mirikitani worked really hard in this camp but never leaving the passion he had for his art. During the war time they took everything from him his family, friends and his American passport. Which through out the documentary when Linda referred the American Passport he said "he doesn't want" and "it's garbage". This made me think and understand by Mirkitani saying this was there a bigger meaning? Us Americans when we do have our American passport are we actually "Free" ? Mirkitani say's he only wants his Japanese passport because all is welcomed everywhere..Why is it that America the "Land of the Free" it is the contrary ? Why is it Not ALL are welcomed here if this is suppose to be what our Star Spangled Banner sings loudly about and "cut citizenship"? "... Home of the Brave and Land of the Free! " Why is it that people depict the unknown or unfamiliar as not "Brave" even though they where the one's that fought for us when they were drafted to the war. How can be right from them to fight for our protection when they are not allowed to even live here? These question bewilder me as I continue watching this documentary.

 "No War... No Kill People ... World Peace" this is what Mirikitani chants that for one day people will open there eyes and see. After being ripped away from his family and having his home land where he grew up as a child being destroyed  in the Hiroshima Bombing. Killing over 260,000 that's including his mother family totally being whipped out. Making him think he was all alone in this world; last seeing his his at the camp. "Stupid American Government", Mirikatini states during the Pearl harbor when he was put in the "Enemies Camp". He states "Japanese people not a demon, ... America don't know nothing". "No atomic bomb during kid time", Mirikitani declares Hiroshima was a beautiful city before America destroyed it. Why are they foreseen as the enemy when they are the one's who lost .. their home, their family, their children...
           Mirikitani did not want to go to war and join the Navy Army. He say's "I'm not afraid to Die but I'm not a Solider.. I am a Artist", a "Grand Master Artist" as he calls himself. Mirikitani and his documentary hits home for many reasons politically for some people. Which I agree he does in my political opinion but Mirikitani also hits home for me in additional reasons. If one was to see Mirikitani one would quickly assume the worst and have thoughts that if someone is homeless its because of some type of substance abuse or simply uneducated. Mirikitani is a homeless man, but for reasons that I have mentioned above but because he was a victim of being "lost in the system" like many others out there. Mirikitani had received his citizenship back many years ago but they failed to get in contact with him. I believe Mirikitani wouldn't have been homeless if the system was better. He struggled many nights to keep warm and never begged for food, shelter or clothing. But earned as 
 much as he can for his art and the rest from the amazing people whom hand the kindest hearts, like Linda to help him which he in return only ask's to take a picture of his art. Mirikitani has a unique drawing capability which indeed fit the name "Grand Master Artist", being born as a natural artist and drawing since the age of five. Mirikitani draws in a sort of birds eye view which seems to tell a story. And that's exactly his purpose in his drawing is to "tell a story".

A story that we truly need to learn from and  I think we learned a piece of it on 911. I personally for the first and hopefully for the last time experienced and witnessed this horrific event and how it effected others. This is the first time and realized I was living in a world and century that the word "War" was still possible. During the Mirikitani documentary this brought back realistic moments that me, my family and the people around me were going thought at this time. I was only 14 years old on the train to school like any other day when the train comes to a stretching halt. I was naive enough to this it was nothing wrong and probably somebody pulled the emergency breaks as a prank, not actually knowing what happening. I finally was able to arrive at school with familiar faces changing after hurtles of people talking, whispers and the sneaking of cell phone calls in between the lockers. First period which was home room, as we walk in our teacher tried to get herself together to teach but something was holding her from talking. She then finally burst into tears; something I never thought teachers would do in front of her students; this is when I realized something was terribly wrong. I suddenly hear the principle on the microphone but instead of the normal announcements he called out a list of students including my name. I hurry down the halls ways to find my mother out from her job early from the airport. Her face like my teachers and every other adults in the building, she finally tells me the horrific news. And the feeling old cold sweats in my feet. Outside the people were in panic picking up there children, rushing home and the sky wasn't blue no more but gray. "America Under Attack" on every single channel people running across the bridge seeing if I see my sister in the fog of the people. Hoping she had left and was almost home from working 2 blocks down from the trade center. I never thought this was possible, I then realized dying at a young age WAS and IS possible. Wondering why is my home being under attack ? Why are we going to be destroyed ? We are innocent. When I went back to school some of Afghanistan decent were cheering and jumping around and some were beat up badly and picked on more than ever. I have never witnessed hate crime before, as a Puerto Rican living in a racially black community, somehow we still was able to get a long. Like some during this time of the tragedy, color, race didn't matter in order for survival they helped each other out of the rubble's from the falling building and helping to walk towards a path they can see and out of the dark clouds. This is when I clicked with Mirikitani and what he wants, to open our eyes and tell our story.