In "Slingshot," Tammy's relationship with Uncle Steve--- or, as Tammy calls him, "U.S."--- is conflicted, and drives the plot of the story. U.S. has served in the Vietnam War, and during that time has acquired an interest in Vietnamese culture, as shown when he interacts with Tammy and her family (42, 43). On one hand, one can interpret U.S.'s interest in Vietnam--- and Tammy's annoyance at it--- as a critique towards cultural appropriation. U.S.'s attitude towards Vietnamese culture bears similarities to when someone tries to embrace a foreign culture without fully understanding the complexities of said culture, which can come off as arrogant/annoying to people who are part of the culture (Tammy being the most vocal in this case). However, U.S. is shown to be deeply affected by the war; it isn't hard to say that his experience in Vietnam, having participated in a bloody war, made him want to learn about pre-war Vietnam as a way of atoning for his actions. U.S. is portrayed as a decent person, who only seems a little oblivious to Tammy's feelings regarding his constant visits to their restaurant; this can be a reflection of the Americans' involvement in Vietnam, in that their presence did more harm than good. Indeed, after Tammy vocally expresses her disdain for him, U.S. leaves for a while, which can symbolize America pulling out of Vietnam. However, he later tries to return Tammy's father's ashes, only to have Tammy unknowingly break the vase containing them with her slingshot, causing the ashes to scatter (51, 52). This, in turn, can be seen as an allegory of the United States trying to make amends for the war, only to be met with mistrust and violence; the overall message, it seems, is that no matter what, it will be hard to repair the broken relationship between the two countries, despite the US's well intentions.
--- Neil G.
This is a good and different perspective to look at the relationship between Tammy and Uncle Steve. At first, I saw their relationship as a reflection of U.S. politics towards Vietnamese refugees, regarding these as people who need help, but now I see that your point is also an interesting approach.
ReplyDeleteYour point about criticism towards cultural appropriation also reminds me of the story "Sister" where this issue came up when Eevie was selling the house and the lady asks her about her home country.
- Storai K.
I liked the relationship you created between the war and U.S bring her father's ashes home as a way to repent for the entire American army destroying so many lives. I also liked how you integrated U.S's understanding of Vietnamese culture as his own, even if he doesn't understand it completely, U.S is permanently changed after the war. The change could show him seeking to feel comfortable in a culture he was immersed in for so long. This relationship is epitomized by your last sentence showing that the relationship between Vietnamese refugees and American veterans will not be easily repaired.
ReplyDelete-Jeremy B.
I too found that the use of Uncle Steve as "U.S." could represent the United States literally and figuratively. His interactions with them are indeed a reflection of events that have transpired between the United States and Vietnam. In viewing his name as "us" we can then infer that implicitly between the lines Vietnam is represented as "them" and add another layer to Tammy's defiance toward cultural appropriation that is reflected in the story. It keeping these two identities as separate it brings more awareness to the ways that they have been alienated because of transgressions that have occurred between them. The relationship between Tammy and Uncle Steve makes apparent the struggle for individuality and freedom that goes on within Vietnamese communities still.
ReplyDelete-Jennifer V.
I like your take on the allusion to U.S. being like America, and Tammy being Vietnam. I agree with it, to a degree, but I found Steve's near obsession with Vietnamese culture to be drawn more from his formative years taking place abroad, and the likely chance that he felt both betrayed and removed from his own country. He would have very likely been quite young when he went to war, and many of his life "firsts" would have taken place while at war, not to mention he most likely bears guilt and shame for the terrible things he either witnessed or took part in. Upon his return, there would have been no ticker-tape parades, and he would have felt betrayed by his country, and over time, built up a longing for the country in which his formative years took place. No longer at home in America, he feels the need to reach out to Tammy and her family, both as a lifeline and as a way to alleviate some of his guilt (both of which would be aided by his retrieval of the fathers ashes).
ReplyDelete- John G.
I thoroughly enjoy your astute analysis of the dualist role of U.S. in "Slingshot." Likewise, I found Lam's use of Uncle Steve as a figurative representation of the United States. Yet, when Tammy uses violence and aggression towards Uncle Steve when he returns from Vietnam, her intuitive response to wave upon discovering her father's ashes evoked a perception, for me, that Tammy was waving to her father as a welcome to the United States or possibly as a gesture of accepting U.S. as her new home. Nevertheless, your analysis is remarkably profound.
ReplyDelete- Lauren S.
Neil you've offered a different lense to analyze the themes found in 'Slingshot', themes i had not considered. I enjoyed your interpretation of Uncle Steve and Tammys relationship and relating it to the relationship between The U.S. and Vietnam. I could see how having an open embraced country claiming to understand the sufferings of another nation to be an offensive act. Certainly there would be hostilities given the amount of harm American troops caused during the Vietnam Campaign, something that Lam argues the U.S. to be guilty of.
ReplyDelete-Jose G.
Neil, as stated by several of our other peers you definitely have helped me see this story in a different light. While reading it I never caught how Tammy called her uncle U.S. I can also see how the U.S repeatedly tried to make amends but the Vietnamese simply were not having it. Being an American I can somewhat understand the American point of view. However, I can also understand how the Vietnamese must have felt at being oppressed and mistreated by the Americans and why that would anger them, especially considering the fact that they were in their own homeland. -Scarlett S.
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ReplyDeleteI believe everyone brings up plenty of good points, however, no one had brought up the issue the Tammy is still mourning her fathers loss all the while attempting to navigate through a country she didn't want to belong to in the first place. Also, this young woman reacts like any young person would, she doesn't want a replacement to her father despite her mother wanting to move on. At the same time, Tammy feels helpless to control any situation because of her youth. She feels invisible and therefore reacts to a situation that's beyond her control. - Xavier P.
ReplyDeleteI believe everyone brings up plenty of good points, however, no one had brought up the issue the Tammy is still mourning her fathers loss all the while attempting to navigate through a country she didn't want to belong to in the first place. Also, this young woman reacts like any young person would, she doesn't want a replacement to her father despite her mother wanting to move on. At the same time, Tammy feels helpless to control any situation because of her youth. She feels invisible and therefore reacts to a situation that's beyond her control. - Xavier P.
ReplyDelete