Aloha from Hawaii Susan, I was a professional counselor for 14 years and I've learned that many people in our society have some sort of emotional or mental problems. But not to the extent where they would kill themselves. When Iris was in Hawaii, I asked her if she feared for her life in that the Japanese might try to kill her. She told me that she thinks about that all the time. And that she is very fearful of the Japanese. When you read her book you learn what the Japanese are capable of doing. And they will do anything to "Save Face". Carlos

susan can you meet for a drink today in silver spring, bethesda, rockville, or DC?

Michael - you missed the showing in Maryland. It was shown twice in one day and that was it. Carlos - I did not go and see it but I had friends that did, and they thought it was well done.

I promised to give a book report on "Finding Iris Chang" written by college friend Paula Kamen. I have mixed feelings about the book - I am not sure Iris would have wanted herself this exposed, but I found there was much to learn about mental illness, Asians, bi-polar disease, and other stuff. She seemed like one of those geniuses that burned the candle at both ends.

Even though I thought Kamen was a bit whiney, when she compared her self to Iris (they went to college together), I thought she did her research well, and shows how Iris hid her illness until it was too late.
 
Asian Americans and Asians have that mind set to suppress and not talk about problems. In fact, it was pointed out in the book, suicide is almost considered an honorable way to deal with your problems in Asia. Asian-Americans at least, recognize this as a problem. Iris did have schizophrenia - bi-polar disease. She was apparently was one of those very intense, quirky individuals anyway. She had numerous fertility treatments. What came out in the book was that she did not give birth to her son, but it was a surrogate who carried the child. After all the fertility treatments, and getting her son, she went on a grueling exhausting 65 day book tour. Her husband (who was interviewed for the book) said he noticed a change after she got back from the tour. What ever causes people's brains to push people over to becoming physically ill, happened to her, perhaps a snowball effect of fertility treatments and exhaustion. When she was diagnosed as bi-polar, she apparently plotted taking her own life for weeks. She thought the US government was after her, and her husband thought that Bush getting elected in 2004 fueled her paranoia. I guess the biggest shame is to lose someone with such knowledge and passion.

In one of the weird coincidences of life, her husband married a Chinese woman named Iris about a year later.

Susan, I live in Maryland too. I'll see the movie.

has any one seen the video on youtube of the limo driver shooting kennedy? check this out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WCc_y5k0n8

I appreciate your reply, thank you for your comments.

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Sorry, Thomas, my take on her death, which with 25 cents won't buy a cup of coffee, is right next to Craig's, sir. I am sure there was motive, opportunity and means to 'assassinate' (sp?) her if 'they' wanted to but the accounts I've read, and I haven't read everything or really researched it, point to suicide. I suppose we will never know for sure, will we? (ala kennedy)...
Anyway, I still keep this QuickTopic topic in my view because of the beauty (I first saw Iris in a taped interview a few months after she died on PBS and was fascinated by her intelligence, subject matter and, I admit, her beauty, as some others should own up to...) and her death was shocking and somewhat mysterious. Thank you, administrator, for allowing this topic to go on. There are still, sometimes, some interesting comments that come in, aren't there?

And sheep are lead mindlessly to slaughter, open your eyes and your mind.

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Conspiracy theories are a dime a dozen. This troubled woman took her own life as the police and coroners report concluded.

hello - I've only recently learned about the death of Iris and heard about the premiere of her movie. It was through facebook where I learned about the movie, then I progressively learned about her life and death.
I must say I am deeply saddened and shocked at the fact that Iris commited suicide. Personally, I haven't slept well a couple nights just reflecting on Iris's research, her message and how everyone must have reacted.

Many of you have different opinions on why she might have killed herself. One of you even called her a pyscho for leaving her toddler. To be honest, I wondered the same, but yet I also understand there are people who hold different values and priorities. I'm sure she was a loving mother, yet a part of her must have thought at the time it was best to leave her son. In her mind, this was probably a way of protecting her family. Iris was ill, so this could have led her to uncountable reasons to justify her decision.

Through what I have learned about Iris, I am convinced she had lived for her work, research and wanted to make a statement in society, but in the end, this heroine is still human with emotions and everyday problems.

I have mood swings and do things that I regret the next day. In Iris's case, this went to another level. There are so many aspects of her death that I still want to know about. Please keep contributing ideas. I'm tuned in!

Thanks Susan, but I'm in Hawaii and Maryland is a
little to far to travel to see a movie. But I think
you should go. Sometimes the truth of what is can be
difficult to hear. I hope they mention about the
Japanese connection. Everyday here in Hawaii I'm
confronted with the corruption of the Japanese. And
also, when they come to Hawaii they treat caucasion
people like dogs. And they only do this because they
outnumber us. If it was the other way around, they
would act like innocent kittens. Enjoy the snow,
Carlos
--- QT - Susan
<qtopic-28-a8RsjNiknPd6y@quicktopic.com> wrote:

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      ________________________________________________________________ ___________________ Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page.
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
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Sorry - yes History Television. Actually there is a sceening this Saturday in the Maryland suburbs, where I live. Honestly, I don't think I can bear to sit through it because I am a chicken. I have seen some of those films of burying people alive and I am still haunted by those clips. Some of my friends are going. Here's the information:
DECEMBER 8, SATURDAY

“Iris Chang” documentary film show

Where: Potomac Community Center , 11315 Falls Road, Potomac , MD 20854

1st Screening: 5 p.m.-6:30 pm ; 2nd Show time: 7 p.m- 8:30 pm

Admission: Open to the public and donations accepted. FREE for students and accompanied teachers and those by invitations only.

"Iris Chang" is a feature length docudrama of a courageous young American writer who delved into one of the darkest chapters of human history and uncovered the truth about the terrible events in Nanjing , China during the winter of 1937-38.

If the movie about Iris Chang doesn't touch on the fact that she was possibly murdered by the Japanese, then what good is it about making this movie??? Irish Chang would be with us today if it wasn't for the Japanese.

I was absolutely ecstatic when I read that a movie had been made about Iris. Unfortunately, the movie airs on History Television, not the History Channel. Living in Texas, unfortunately, I do not receive that channel. Should it come out on DVD or anything of the like please inform me. I think it is high time they made a movie about Mrs. Chang. I have witnessed first-hand in my high school the collapse of literature and the death of books. A sad fact of reality is, a book can hardly change the world anymore. For the sake of recording the epic tale of Homer's "Iliad," Greek scholars adapted the Greek alphabet, a cornerstone of Western Civilisation. Nowadays, unfortunately, many find books lacking in luster. Perhaps movies will take up the torch of influence...

World premier of the movie Iris Chang Rape of Nanking is on December 13 8PM on the History Channel.

http://www.irischangthemovie.com/home.html

I am almost done with Paula Kamen's book. I'll give a short take on it when I am finished.