there’ll be an enormous demonstration for independence. Every patriot knows about it. A wondrous event! At the same hour in every city and village across the country, a declaration of independence will be read.” Her voice held an intensity, an excitement I had never heard before. “All the churches are involved. Ministers lead the movement in towns and villages throughout Korea. Think of what it means!”
I didn’t really grasp what it meant, but her passion and the fact of everybody doing the same thing in a single moment intrigued me. Remembering my teacher’s advice to go to the root of a problem to solve it, I said, “I think I understand, but how did it happen?”
“What a good question,” she said. At that proud moment, I doubly appreciated my wise teacher and generous mother. “Our leaders were inspired by a speech given by America’s President Wilson, called Fourteen Points. Your father says that President Wilson wants to help small nations who are dominated by stronger nations. And also, America supports self-determination, our right as a people to choose to be an independent and free country.”
I kept to my sewing, questions bubbling in my throat. I didn’t clearly understand what Mother meant by self-determination, but was pleased that she spoke to me almost as if I were grown. Was the American president stronger than the Taisho Emperor? How would he help?
Mother smoothed a finished flag in her lap. “Think of it! If all the ministers are involved, many countrymen will participate. We have much to be grateful for in our patriot leaders. Some are in Europe right now trying to make other nations see how unjust the treaties were. Did you also learn about this?”
I tried to merge Teacher Yee’s lessons with this information. I recalledthat my mother had once taught me about a European trip taken by Emperor Gojong’s men, who, having failed in their mission to garner support for Korea, had all committed suicide. She’d spelled the strange-sounding place, The Hague , and I remembered how she quickly scratched the letterforms with a needle on a starched sleeve, and as quickly rubbed them away. But that Hague business had occurred long before I was born. I frowned.
“I suppose not.” She sighed.
“Do you mean the foreign treaties that gave Korea to the Japanese without asking the emperor?” At least I could prove that I’d indeed paid attention to the lessons spoken over needlework in the evening hours with my mother.
“Yes,” she said with a rewarding smile. “And not just the emperor but all the Korean people, who should determine for themselves what nation they are.”
So that’s what self-determination meant. Thinking about how hard it was to always behave properly, I wondered if people could also have personal self-determination—if they could decide for themselves what kind of person they were. In my quest to be demure, hadn’t I finally learned to cover my mouth when I laughed? I supposed if one was determined enough, it could happen. I liked the word and decided I would strive to become self-determined.
“Let’s see what you’ve done.”
I pinched the corners and displayed the three flags I’d hemmed.
“When I give these to your father to hide, I’ll point out your fine work. You’ve listened well and worked well. Remember that to speak of this and of your father’s comings and goings is to put your family in the greatest of danger. Your father could be arrested again, or worse.” She took my hand and pressed it on her pregnant stomach. “I’m counting on you to be secretive for the sake of your sibling.”
“My brother,” I said firmly. I’d informally measured the growth of my mother’s middle when we bathed together, imagining I could see the baby swimming beneath the skin. “See how he lies?” she’d say as she poured gourdfuls of heated rinse water and the soapsuds trailed in rivulets around her mounded belly. “That means he’s a boy.” But my
I didn’t really grasp what it meant, but her passion and the fact of everybody doing the same thing in a single moment intrigued me. Remembering my teacher’s advice to go to the root of a problem to solve it, I said, “I think I understand, but how did it happen?”
“What a good question,” she said. At that proud moment, I doubly appreciated my wise teacher and generous mother. “Our leaders were inspired by a speech given by America’s President Wilson, called Fourteen Points. Your father says that President Wilson wants to help small nations who are dominated by stronger nations. And also, America supports self-determination, our right as a people to choose to be an independent and free country.”
I kept to my sewing, questions bubbling in my throat. I didn’t clearly understand what Mother meant by self-determination, but was pleased that she spoke to me almost as if I were grown. Was the American president stronger than the Taisho Emperor? How would he help?
Mother smoothed a finished flag in her lap. “Think of it! If all the ministers are involved, many countrymen will participate. We have much to be grateful for in our patriot leaders. Some are in Europe right now trying to make other nations see how unjust the treaties were. Did you also learn about this?”
I tried to merge Teacher Yee’s lessons with this information. I recalledthat my mother had once taught me about a European trip taken by Emperor Gojong’s men, who, having failed in their mission to garner support for Korea, had all committed suicide. She’d spelled the strange-sounding place, The Hague , and I remembered how she quickly scratched the letterforms with a needle on a starched sleeve, and as quickly rubbed them away. But that Hague business had occurred long before I was born. I frowned.
“I suppose not.” She sighed.
“Do you mean the foreign treaties that gave Korea to the Japanese without asking the emperor?” At least I could prove that I’d indeed paid attention to the lessons spoken over needlework in the evening hours with my mother.
“Yes,” she said with a rewarding smile. “And not just the emperor but all the Korean people, who should determine for themselves what nation they are.”
So that’s what self-determination meant. Thinking about how hard it was to always behave properly, I wondered if people could also have personal self-determination—if they could decide for themselves what kind of person they were. In my quest to be demure, hadn’t I finally learned to cover my mouth when I laughed? I supposed if one was determined enough, it could happen. I liked the word and decided I would strive to become self-determined.
“Let’s see what you’ve done.”
I pinched the corners and displayed the three flags I’d hemmed.
“When I give these to your father to hide, I’ll point out your fine work. You’ve listened well and worked well. Remember that to speak of this and of your father’s comings and goings is to put your family in the greatest of danger. Your father could be arrested again, or worse.” She took my hand and pressed it on her pregnant stomach. “I’m counting on you to be secretive for the sake of your sibling.”
“My brother,” I said firmly. I’d informally measured the growth of my mother’s middle when we bathed together, imagining I could see the baby swimming beneath the skin. “See how he lies?” she’d say as she poured gourdfuls of heated rinse water and the soapsuds trailed in rivulets around her mounded belly. “That means he’s a boy.” But my
Similar Books
