Jimmy and Linda

The Cats of Mirikitani documentary was an interesting look into the life of a Japanese American who was discriminated against in his own country. It was sad to see how Jimmy wanted nothing to do with America after his exhausting experience in the internment camps, but it was beautiful to see him build a life with Linda, the videographer, as she helped him find hope in America and show him that he belongs here. Though I doubted Linda’s ability to help Jimmy find his family and obtain his U.S. documentation, she did it and I am so happy for Jimmy’s sake that she did. Linda was persistent in helping Jimmy find his social security and making him feel like an American. Her care and compassion for Jimmy was unlike any I have ever seen before. To take a stranger who lives on the street into your home can be quite intimidating, but Linda did it and welcomed Jimmy with open arms. Had it not been for Linda, Jimmy may have never found hope for the United States, continuing to call it and its politicians evil.

Jimmy was very blunt about not feeling like an American and not wanting to obtain his social security card. Often, Jimmy would talk about Japan and America going on about how kind-hearted the Japanese are compared to Americans. It shames me to agree that many people of power in the United States are evil and do not have good intentions for the entire society, only themselves and those like them. It saddened me to hear about how Jimmy was separated from his family, and I was crying when he reunited with his sister and heard her voice for the first time in over fifty years. Yet, through all of the hardships he faced, Jimmy had a positive attitude towards living and he is an inspiration. 

Could you imagine what it is like to have friends kill themselves because they do not want to go back to a country that they were once a citizen of? Or could you keep your head up high and find the simple beauties of the world after you have been beaten down so many times? I couldn’t. Jimmy was not indestructible but he was one strong man who stood his ground. Though for many years he lived a life that he did not deserve, eventually things looked up for him. Had his story ended differently I may still feel sad for him, but instead I am glad that Jimmy had Linda to help him get back on his feet.