S.E. Sasaki
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • About
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Excerpt from Welcome to the Madhouse
  • Artwork
  • In the Press
  • Store
    • Welcome to the Madhouse
  • Contact
  • Untitled

Blog

Coup D'Etat

1/10/2021

1 Comment

 
Watching the events transpire in real time on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C., I sat with my mouth hanging open. I could not believe my eyes. People urged on by President Trump were attacking the Capitol Building to disrupt the acceptance of the electoral votes that would affirm Joe Biden as the next president, in accordance with how the people of the United States had voted. Not only did Trump lie to the people, telling them he had won by a landslide and his presidency was being stolen from him, but he was telling them to go down the street and use strength to overturn what was transpiring within the Capitol Building. Rioters began storming through barricades against weaponless resistance, breaking windows, overwhelming guards, and running through hallowed halls carrying Trump flags and banners, doing damage, desecrating property, and terrifying the lawmakers and staff within. It was a horrifying sight and broke my heart, but what struck me was the belief of these rioters that they were the patriots, responding to a call from their President.


What I was watching was an actual coup d’état unfolding before my very eyes. One believes these events occur in other countries, not Canada or the United States, where we uphold democracy. I was dumbfounded, shocked, disbelieving. Where were the guards? Where was the security? How could these people just run up to the front door of the US Capitol Building, virtually unopposed, and begin smashing windows with impunity?
  
It brought my mind back to the research I have been doing on my new book, provisionally titled A Good Japanese Wife, in which two different coup attempts occurred in Japan at the time of the Second World War. In the first coup attempt, an ultranationalistic group wanted to force Japan to go to war and attempted to take over the Imperial Palace and the government buildings to pressure the government. Two former prime ministers were killed and other government officials but the acting prime minister survived and the rebellion was quelled.


The second coup attempt occurred at the time of Japan’s surrender to the Allies, when rebellious Imperial Army officers refused to admit defeat and stormed the government building to try and prevent the Emperor’s taped surrender speech from being broadcast. They almost succeeded but the prime minister hid in the basement of the building with the tape and was not discovered. After the rebellious officers were captured, the speech was played to end WWII.


To see a coup d’état play out on live television before my eyes made me realize just how tenuous democracy can be, how easily people can be swayed by charismatic sociopaths and propaganda, and how important it is to guard and uphold the truth. The rioters on January 6th had been lied to by their President. They are being charged and arrested but the person who instigated the riot, the insurrection, the attempted coup, still walks free. That hardly seems fair.
1 Comment

Book Launch/Reading October 18

11/2/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
Today, I am to read from Welcome to the Madhouse in public, for the first time.

I am a nervous wreck. Too bad it did not take my appetite away - at least something good would come out of this - but no . . . Appetite, unfortunately, is just fine! :(

I do not quite know when it became necessary for writers to read in public. I always thought writers were a shy, reclusive bunch . . . like me. Why else would one need to write, after all? If one was outgoing, talkative, exuberant, and extroverted, why waste time writing by oneself in a lonely room? 

Now, however, a writer is expected to read in front of an audience. I have heard other authors say amongst themselves, 'this author is a terrible reader' or 'that author gives a good reading'. Now we not only have to perform, but other authors rate our readings, good or bad. I know which category I am going to fall into!

I used to read to my children when they were very young. I used to make up all of the voices. Try making up a different voice for every character in Harry Potter. It's not easy to do! But my children are now aged 24 and soon to be 26 years old. I am WAAAAYYY out of practice. 

I have never liked the sound of my voice. Whenever I have heard it on playback messages or speaker phone, I cringe. Do you poor people have to listen to that, every time I open my mouth? Poor You! Nasal, flat, monotone,boring. In my mind, when I am writing, I have such a funny, provocative voice in my head. Why couldn't it do the reading?

People want to hear the author do the reading. Not someone else. Why? I could hire someone with a great speaking voice! It would be a more pleasant experience! What is this phenomenon called 'Author Reading'. I went and heard Margaret Atwood read at Erin Mills one year. I love Margaret Atwood's books. I did not care for her voice. Why should I? She's a writer, not an actress! 
​

Thank goodness no one is paying to hear me read! They would want their money back! I am practicing but all I seem to do is practice the same mistakes over and over. I should have read the entire book out loud before I published it . . . or at least the first chapter!

Oh well. Please wish me luck, or is it, 'Break a leg'. Preferably before the reading at five pm. tonight so I won't have to make a fool of myself. They say doing things that frighten you, builds character. I think I'd rather eat a worm.

Here goes. Ahem. AHEM. . . bleep

1 Comment

    Blog

    S.E. Sasaki, artist and author of WELCOME TO THE MADHOUSE, available through FriesenPress.

    Archives

    January 2021
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Events

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Home
  • News & Events
  • About
  • Blog
  • Books
    • Excerpt from Welcome to the Madhouse
  • Artwork
  • In the Press
  • Store
    • Welcome to the Madhouse
  • Contact
  • Untitled