How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
But worse than my irritation, there's this horrible feeling whenever I turn on the radio, or see a headline with the word "Japs" screaming at us. So long as they designate the enemy by that term and not us, it doesn't matter. But over here, they say "Once a Jap always a Jap", and that means us. We're the enemy. And what about you over there? Have they arrested you because you're a Canadian? If only you'd been able to get out before all this started. Oh, if there were some way of getting news. (14.44)
This scene shows you just how flexible identity is depending on who's defining it. In Canada, Naomi's mother would be considered too Japanese to be Canadian. But since he's in Japan, Aunt Emily is worried that she will be considered too Canadian to be Japanese.
Quote #8
Mark says Nomi thinks she's the same as the neighbours, but Stephen knows the difference. Came crying home the other day because some kid on the block broke his violin. Children can be such savages. (14.45)
Stephen's experience with identity is very different from Naomi's. How does it affect his personality as he grows up?
Quote #9
Where do any of us come from in this cold country? Oh, Canada, whether it is admitted or not, we come from you we come from you. [...] We come from the country that plucks its people out like weeds and flings them into the roadside. [...] We come from Canada, this land that is like every land, filled with the wise, the fearful, the compassionate, the corrupt. (34.52)
Despite everything that has happened to Naomi and her family, she still has not renounced Canada. Wow, that's some serious patriotism.