Final Reflection
13 Dec 2011 Leave a Comment
Upon registering for this class, I thought we would be conducting interviews and learning “Latino History” through oral histories. I was surprised to learn that the focus of the class was on the Vietnam War and we would be interviewing Latino Veterans. I decided to stay because I didn’t know much about the war, let alone the involvement of Latinos in the war. Usually courses don’t focus on a specific event but rather a broader spectrum of events and themes. Spending a semester discussing the Vietnam War has been a new and rewarding experience. Being able to focus on an event and realizing the complexities surrounding it made me question the instances in other classes where we “just didn’t have the time to get around discussing” important events. I think of all the groupings of individuals and what oral histories have to offer in challenging the homogeneous classifications.
Before taking this course my views on veterans mirrored my perception of war; full of uncertainty, stereotypes and misconceptions. I was not aware of the large presence of Latinos during the Vietnam War and how in their experience was very different from other Vietnam Veterans. After reading the book Vietnam Veteranos: Chicanos Recall the War by Lea Ybarra the single story that had defined Vietnam Veterans became a multitude of stories that were unique yet represented the experiences of thousands of men. With the growing hostility against Latinos during the 20th century, for many fighting for this country was an honorable thing to do. It’s important to consider the multiple and complex systems that push certain people to join the military. As was the case with the Veteran I interviewed, he was born in Mexico and was drafted to the military. After all that he had been through, emotionally and physically the disrespect he encountered upon returning from Vietnam was devastating. It was difficult to listen to his struggles during the war and how those struggles didn’t end with the war. It trickled down to his relationships with his family, friends and affected his health. It’s easy to make judgment about war veterans, assuming that they all support the war and voluntarily enlist in it. What they faced during and after Vietnam is beyond our immediate understanding. When you listen to a Vietnam veteran speak of his experience during and after Vietnam you better understand the complexities of war. You recognize the repercussions in viewing the war and veterans as one homogeneous entity.
Although the process of telling stories is part of everyday life, conducting interviews as a part of oral historical research was not as easy as in daily conversation. It required background information, readings on conducting oral histories, attentiveness and following ethical practices. We discussed in class, our roles and the dynamics as the interviewers. I was really nervous conducting the interview because of the sensitive topic and the uncertainty of how the interview would flow. I worked with a partner for my interview; we had a list of topics we wanted to cover with a few questions in case we needed them. The interview went very smoothly and lasted three hours. The interview was not structured in a way that would limit his story. We never interrupted his story and only asked him a few questions. He had received the questions before coming in to the interview and was well prepared. The interview flowed very well and resembled a casual conversation. We did however have a few concerns, we felt as though he censored out words and although we had read a substantial amount about Vietnam we sometimes did not understand some of the terminology he used. We took notes of the words we did not know and we later looked them up and listened to the recording again. Considering our position as young female undergraduates was also a large concern. Throughout the interview I wondered if his choice of stories were affected by our age and gender because many of his stories were of women and he would skip any combat stories. Although we may or may have not influenced his choice of stories but we shouldn’t dwell on what could have been said.
As part of our final project we presented a few of the stories we gathered on our class website. Although it sounds simple, taking his narrative and deciding what to include in the website and how to frame the stories was difficult. I listened to the recording several times to find connections with the stories he shared. I didn’t choose the stories that I thought were the most interesting but rather the stories that taught and challenged my perception of what the Vietnam Veteran experience was like and highlight his uniqueness. When choosing what quotes to use and how to frame those quotes I was extremely cautious so as not to derail from what the narrator intended and not take information out of context. I didn’t want an unintentional change of the story or evoke a different reaction than the one he intended. I tried to retell the story within a larger context and attempting to maintain the original qualities. In class we discussed the logistics of preparing the stories and the “balance” between context and narrative. In this case I did not provide a lot of background information so as to not overpower his story.
This class was overall an amazing experience, both inside and outside of the classroom. The use of oral histories evokes a different experience for readers that many historical documents lack. Having had the opportunity to interview a Latino Vietnam War Veteran and presenting a few of his stories was certainly an enriching experience. I will be eternally grateful to all of the people who shared their stories and with Profe who facilitated this learning process. I’m eternally grateful to Mr. Macias for sharing his story and for redefining what it means to be a Latino Vietnam War Veteran. The history of the Vietnam War is hardly understood and is filled with stereotypes and misconceptions but I am delighted to have had the opportunity to better understand the Vietnam War and the effects it continues to have on communities.
Gods Go Begging
14 Nov 2011 Leave a Comment
Alfredo Vea’s book Gods Go Begging is a remarkable story weaving similarities between the Vietnam War and a “war at home”. Vea transforms the experience of the Vietnam War through the lens of those directly and indirectly affected. Through the telling of stories of different characters, the book gradually comes together in a powerful mysterious parallel and statement of war. The connectedness to the Vietnam War is very much present in the lives of the subjects in the book. The poignant flow of the stories illuminates on experiences after war and draws similarities to current situations.
The murder of Persephone and Mai, widows of Vietnam veterans, connects the life of Jesse and Calvin a young man from Potrero Hill. Jesse is a Vietnam veteran and a defense attorney in San Francisco. Upon the introduction to the case, it is apparent that the Vietnam War has left Persephone, Mai, Jesse and the Chaplain with painful memories and doubts. The symbolism found in comparing the murders and experiences of the people living around Potrero Hill and Jesse and the chaplain’s experiences in the hill near Laos presents the reader with a deeper sense of war. Vea provides an explanation of war through examples and descriptions of humanity, desire and pain.
The hills, both Potrero Hill and the hill near Laos are the center stage of “a war” and the stories of those involved with the hills account as complex stories of injustice and inhumane actions. “And when desire is stripped of humanity, all that remains is war” (Vea, 291) this statement puts the meaning of desire into perspective both in Potrero Hill and in Vietnam. The desire to live, to serve justice, to love, can be an agent of war when stripped of humanity. One of the most powerful moments in the book is when Jesse explains to Carolina that Calvin was no soldier, “There is too much humanity in him, and it is growing stronger each day…The brutal warrior in this case has already been punished. He shares the fate of his five victims. Little Reggie Harp was a creature of desire”. (291)
In a way Jesse’s frustration is the inability to change what happened in Vietnam. In San Francisco however, as a defense attorney his duty is to provide justice. Jesse does a lot of “supposing” what would have happened become of the world had events changed. His supposing allows for him to glance at what his life could have been. His contagious supposing gives a bit of hope that as agents of change, things could possibly change for the better. As a defense attorney he is trying to save the lives of the boys on the hill. He tried to save lives, as the book details chapter through chapter life is indispensible. “I wasn’t living life before – when everythin’ around me was the enemy, when every day be war” (269), Calvin although he may not have been a soldier, was affected by war; the “war at home” that deprives people of life, both literally and figuratively. The book gives different meanings to “life” and describes what to a few the struggle to find the meaning of life has been like.
Reading Post #5
23 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
As easily concrete as history may seem, oral histories have a way of not only redefining history but grounding history with the present times. “Freedom Flyers” reshapes history during the WWII era by including the oral stories of the Tuskegee airmen. Understanding the importance of obtaining several stories is crucial in creating historical accounts. Defining a subject or an event through a single story encourages stereotypes and limits understanding experiences through various points of views. Although a story may be true, a single story is incomplete. It’s missing a broader interpretation of the event, subjecting the reader to believe a single story is the defining story. This is where misconceptions and stereotypes arise, when an event is not explained through various experiences with its complexities and contradictions. By including various oral stories like in this book “Freedom Flyers” it not only adds faces to the events but creates a dynamic story filled with distinct experiences. It becomes more memorable and easily understood by the reader.
The importance of oral histories extends from giving people a voice to redefining what a historical account can encompass. It allows for much more descriptive and detailed experiences that can interpret much more than an analytical passage. That is not to say that an analysis is not important but a combination of both can produce a well-rounded and enriching history. As is the case for many historical accounts, especially in history books, a single story often defines an entire group of people or event. In terms of practicality, it would seem impossible to include oral histories that could explain the complexities of an event but it should become an integral part of history.
Reflection On First Interview
08 Oct 2011 1 Comment
I conducted my first interview with Karina today. Our interview lasted three hours and although it seems like a long time, time passed by relatively fast for me. He came in with his son and I wondered if the son would stay for the interview as well, but his dad asked him to wait outside. We were all really nervous before the interview began. Going through the Biographical Information form, I felt really awkward jumping from one question to another. For every question the Veteran would tell a story and there was no clear way to transition from one question to another so I felt bad changing topic so quickly. I kept thinking about the book Oral Histories and the section where Yow talked about diminishing rapport. I didn’t want the veteran to think I was being rude or didn’t care and have the interview go downhill from there. I’m really glad it all went well and he didn’t seem to be bothered by the quick change in questions.
Looking back at the interview, I recognize I forgot to tell him we could take a break in between the interview, we did all three hours straight. He mentioned he had looked over the questions before hand so he knew what types of questions we were going to ask. Throughout the interview I think we only asked like 2-3 questions because he touched on many of the topics and we hardly had the chance to input our questions. I wanted to ask him how many siblings he had and those types of questions but he would continue to tell stories and it felt out of place to interrupt him and ask about his siblings when he had lapsed into a different story. I also had difficulty with the terms and names of places and the military lingo. When I was filling the biographical data form I honestly had no idea what half of the things were let alone spell them. I had to later look them up and make sure I had written them correctly.
I do think that Karina and I, being young women, affected the way and type of stories he told. He never went into detail about the fighting, only mentioned 3 or 4 cases about violence. Rather he told us many stories about the women in Vietnam. About the young teenage women who were taken advantage of by American GI’s, as he described it. He did talk about his close friends who passed away during the war and mentioned that their names were missing from the Veteran’s memorial wall. I’m sure he could have continued to share many more stories and they probably would have been different had he been interviewed by males, but I really enjoyed and learned a lot from his stories. He never broke down during the interview, and in a sense I feel he had come to terms with what had happened in the war. He did talk about his family and how the war affected his family but he seemed to prefer to tell stories rather than reflect on them. I noticed this after I asked him about his view on the war before and after the war and he answered the question through story. I definitely feel more prepared and excited for the next interview.
Recording Oral Histories Post
02 Oct 2011 Leave a Comment
The section in Chapter three where Yow discusses the kinds of words and phrases to avoid during interviews was extremely helpful. Being aware of the words you choose when interviewing and how they can greatly affect a response and determine how the interview will progress. It points out the importance in making sure questions don’t have double meanings, not using pompous speech, avoiding using questions that insinuate the narrator is ignorant. In the example provided, a change in words can connote different meanings and have an effect that was not intended. This becomes an important factor to take in when developing a guide or questions for an interview.
In Chapter four, the section on diminishing rapport was very insightful and pointed out some very important issues to consider during an interview. Most importantly it cautions interviewers to be sensitive about their responses to a story, as an inadequate response can communicate a negative attitude. When a narrator shares an emotional story and the interviewer dismisses the narrator by asking rude irrelevant questions can result in a negative perception of the interviewer and ruin the rapport. When facing difficult and uncomfortable situations it is important to consider this, because by trying to avoid responding or wanting to change the topic, one may seem insensitive and that could affect the narrator.
I think chapter six shed light on an important aspect of interviewing. How race, class, age, ethnicity and gender can greatly influence the narrator’s story. That is in terms of what is shared with the interviewer and how it is phrased. I however, do not think these factors should limit an interviewer. They are important to acknowledge and consider the effects on the data but not necessarily seen as limitations.
Chicano Veteranos Reading Post #2
26 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
Having read the final chapters of the book Vietnam Veterans I enjoyed the combination of stories and the added an analysis in the last chapters. I especially liked that Ybarra included Connie’s and Socorro’s interview in the book. Although they themselves could become part of a bigger project in which the mothers and wives are able to share their experiences with Vietnam Veterans. Their stories become a reminder that there’s a large part of the Vietnam experience that can still be explored and a part that will always be missing.
In chapter six, the section where Ybarra discusses the Chicano Vietnam veteran perspective on antiwar demonstrations was one of the most interesting sections of the chapter. Many of the topics Ybarra discusses in this chapter are visible throughout the book but are neatly summarized and further analyzed in this chapter. The way in which Veterans viewed the antiwar demonstrations, both positively and negatively and how that affected the outcome of the war was unexpected for me. I hadn’t thought about the effect of antiwar demonstrations on the war, politically or militarily. The military perspective on antiwar demonstrations, “had it not been for the demonstrations in the United States, which caused the U.S government to put limitations on how the war was fought, the United States could have won” (Ybarra 213), was an interesting point and something to consider when interviewing Veterans. It is important to acknowledge that they may express different point of views for various reasons, often contradicting points of views.
I think it is important to understand that what is read about in books is very much present in their lives today, especially medical problems. In terms of medical problems, I find it difficult to understand what Agent Orange really is and its clear effects on people. It seems fairly obvious that it does cause harm to humans yet treatment for Agent Orange is hardly discussed. These medical problems are very much a part of their lives today and it is essential to understand that the physical and psychological effects of the war are a large and important part of their experience.
Chicano Veteranos – Reading Post
19 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
After reading the four chapters of Vietnam Veteranos I realized I didn’t know much about the Vietnam War let alone the experience of Vietnam veterans. I learned many of the terms and although I am no expert in the war, I have a better sense of what it was like and not a general stereotypical view on war. I really enjoyed learning from every single story and I admire Ybarra for structuring her book in a way in which the voice of the Veteranos is present. I found that although all of their experiences were unique there was a sense of shared experiences with most of their stories.
What I found essentially important in the veterans shared stories is the factors that influenced their decisions to enlist. The majority of Chicanos in this book grew up in poor communities, mostly farmworkers. With a failing educational system many Chicanos in high school became disillusioned with their future prospects and sought the military as a positive and honorable thing to do. Recruiters have a way of presenting the military, glorifying it and making endless promises of prosperity. I can understand why many students would voluntarily enlist, to put their own life on the line to make their family proud and be able to provide for them. In many of the stories, their relationship with their family and sense of responsibility I think greatly shaped their Vietnam experience. Many of the Veterans would make important decisions based on the implications on their family. For example, going to Mexico was considered to bring shame to the family. They would contemplate their actions because of their upbringing. Family, throughout these stories, has been an essential part in their Vietnam experience, essentially shaping their attitude and in many cases one of the fundamental reasons for joining the military
It is also important to recognize that many of the Veterans continue to grapple with what happened in Vietnam. I really enjoyed reading the ways in which they have come to terms with what happened and how difficult it continues to be. It’s hard to generalize any one experience but with the amount of stories in the book, one gets a better sense of how difficult it must be for many of these Veterans. In many ways, their attitudes towards the war during the interviews are completely different than that before and during the war thus influencing the way in which their story is told. What they choose to say and not say becomes essential in understanding the way in which they have come to accept or not their experience in Vietnam. Some cannot go into detail about certain aspects of war and often it is those experiences that continue to trouble them. Every Veteran has a unique story yet they often share extremely similar experiences.
Reading Post
12 Sep 2011 Leave a Comment
From reading the first chapters of Yow’s book, I now better understand the approach qualitative and quantitative researchers take toward in-depth interviewing. The idea that qualitative methods “enable the researcher to give the subject leeway to answer as he or she chooses, to attribute meanings to the experiences under discussion, and to interject topics” (page 5) is critical to consider further discussing the relationship between the interviewer, the interviewee and the stories being told. Often interviews are conducted with expectations of obtaining the ideal story and molding questions in order to get a specific answer. However, when interviews allow for the subjects to express themselves, their stories unexpectedly reveal important aspects.
Not restricting interviews to specific questions allows for multiple stories to be told. In Ritchie’s chapter, it is mentioned that the most memorable experiences are those that are most exciting and most important to them. I found it extremely interesting that elders most often recounted stories of their earlier years as these memories helped shape their identity and that current daily life seemed more of a routine and thus not so memorable. Every story told is unique in its own way and no two stories are ever the same. The richness in obtaining oral stories is that it gives us a variety of perspectives on the “same” story.
Relying on a single story limits a group of people to a single identity that is often filled with misconceptions and stereotypes. It lacks a vivid personal account and the teachings of a group of people. Roque-Ramirez’s article about Teresita is a great example of the important role oral stories play in shaping identities and passing histories. Teresita being one of the few Transgendered Latinas uses oral histories to include her own story as well as that of other queer Latin@s. Telling her story served as a way of shaping the identity of many people, breaking away from stereotypes and having agency, to some degree, over their own history. The more stories the more complex it becomes but the closer it becomes to obtaining a better understanding.
