Rainbow Death by Hubert Wilson --> Elearning

Task 1
The author of this poem, "Rainbow Death", was Hubert Wilson. He served as a Ssgt USAF from 1968 to 1972.

Information about Hubert Wilson

He was a Vietnam War veteran who served in the USAF Security Service. Along with a dozen or so intelligence school graduates, he prepped for about 14 months at Kelly AFB in San Antonio, Texas, before anticipating being sent to Vietnam or elsewhere in southeat Asia in 1970. About half ended up in Da Nang (an Agent Orange hotspot) in the 6924th Security Squadron. The rest of them were assigned to Shemya Island, Alaska, with the 6984th Security Squadron, and what eventually was a more contaminated environment than Da Nang.
Hubert's health problems started approximately 15 years ago with unexplained headaches and limb pains. Four years ago his central nervous system radically deteriorated with Parkinsonian type tremors, severe headaches, progressive limb pains, etc. No physician has ever diagnosed the specific illness. No physician has ever rendered any medical assistance. The symptoms were probably due to the heavily contaminated drinking water at Shemya during Hubert's year there as an intelligence analyst. Organo-phosphate toxins may not run their toxic course until 20 to 30 years after initial exposure. Since his brain still functions moderately well, and he has mobility issues, he turned to writing just like his late father and late singer(and writer)Johnny Cash.

Reason for writing this poem

This short poem speaks of a modern day ingredient of warfare that has caused appalling death and suffering, not only to its intended victims, the Vietnamese people, but also the service personnel that used or even just came into contact with “Agent Orange”. It was reported by Wikipedia, “Agent Orange is the code name for a herbicide and defoliant—contaminated with TCDD—used by the U.S. military in its Herbicidal Warfare program during the Vietnam War. According to Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to Agent Orange, resulting in 400,000 deaths and disabilities and 500,000 children born with birth defects.

From 1962 to 1971, Agent Orange was by far the most widely used of the so-called "Rainbow Herbicides" employed in the herbicidal warfare program. During the production of Agent Orange, dioxins were produced as a contaminant, which have caused numerous health problems for the millions of people who have been exposed to them. Agents Blue and White were part of the same program but did not contain dioxins.” This poem would remind us that wars aren’t over when the wars are over.

Task 2
Rainbow Death

America did not foresee
Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!
Expecting others to pay a high price.
Now thinking twice?
Toll on the innocent and unborn.

Omnipotent and disregarding who will mourn.
Reflective about all the illness, birth defects and prematurely dead.
All the deceit continues to spread.
Nefariously America led astray -
Generations untold WILL pay -
Execrable effects of agent orange spray! By Hubert Wilson

1. Point of View
Point - Dramatic tone of the speaker
Evidence - "Green, pink, purple and other colors death potpourri!" and "Generations untold WILL pay"
Elaboration - "...other colors death potpourri" suggests that the writer feels that the presence of all the different agent colors will simply lead to more deaths, thus the "death potpourri". Also, "Generations untold will pay" explains future generations that are unrelated to the current war affairs will be "untold" but instead, they would have to pay for what had been done in the past.

Point - "Pro-life attitude" of the writer
Evidence - "Toll on the innocent and unborn."
Elaboration - The writer feels that war itself actually punishes more than what it should. Apart from just soldiers whose lifes are sacrificed in war, the innocent people and unborn foetus were killed in war. This expresses how the writer emphathises with such innocent beings, thus the pro-life attitude.

2. Situation and Setting
Point - Emotional conflict of the writer
Evidence - "Toll on the innocent and unborn."
Elaboration - As the writer talks about the negative impacts of war, he relates to the depression of the people who are innocently killed in the midst of war. As such, emotional conflicts is conveyed through harsh words like "toll".

Point - Setting of the cruelty of war
Evidence - "Expecting others to pay a high price"
Elaboration - The third line of the poem states of the people to have to pay a high price for war. "High price" would suggest that the presence of war would most probably require sacrifices and even deaths.

3. Language/Diction
Point - Death in war is large-scale
Evidence - "potpourri"
Elaboration - The word "potpourri" suggests the meaning of combination or a mixture of subjects. In this case, "potpourri" would mean the combination of many deaths due to war.

Point - Sacrificial of lives in war
Evidence - "toll"
Elaboration - The "toll" used in this context refers to the death of the people involved. Also, it depicts the negative expressions of the people involved in war. War is like a "toll" that would cease to bring sufferings to everyone.

4. Personal Response
From this poem, what I feel is very similar to the poet. War is unjustified, harsh, and it causes deaths. In a war, many lives apart from those rightfully involved are sacrificed too. This includes mothers, children and even foetuses. One bomb in a village can kill every innocent being living there, and death is fatal and instant. This certainly isn't justifiable. What did these people do wrong? When were they related to war? Thus, I share the same sentiments as the poet in this poem of "Rainbow Death"

My 1st Foreign Exchange Program with Hutchins High School,Tasmania,Australia.

February 2010

I signed up for the Foreign Exchange Program without any hesitation after reading the SMB.I would be hosting OZ peers on 4/4-17/4 with a weekend stay with my family on 9/4-11/4.Subsequently I will be going to Hutchins High School to have a 2 weeks attachment on 28/11-11/12. As everything is so unpredictable, I am anticipating it with my enthusiasm and eagerness.

1^st April 2010 Thursday

We, 4boys, met up for the last meeting with Mr Tieu before our 5 OZ peers arrive which will be on Sunday late night flight at 11pm by QF31.

5^th April 2010 Monday

Michael Fletcher is my Oz peer. He is 14 years old. He is extremely tall (188cm) with pair of beautiful blue eyes. He is also a tennis player and we are going to play tennis during his home stay at The Bayshore. After knowing him well enough during the class lessons, he is actually quite a good person, who is kind, passionate about learning in our school and much more stuff, unlike other people who say that Australians are lazy and laidback. On the whole, the first day had been quite successful. We also played some Icebreakers game with the SCGS girls along with the Hwa Chong hosts and Australian Exchange Students. After that, he also went to Kallang Squash court with me to support our HCI squash team.

6^th April 2010 Tuesday

Michael went through today’s lessons with our class. At 1.30pm, Michael showed an exhausted yet enthusiastic spirit to participate in afternoon’s Amazing Race with the 37^th HCI councils. We travelled from HCI –Pasir Ris Downtown East –National Museum-Esplanade to end our dinner there. Not only did we show them our comprehensive public transport system but also showcased our hustling and bustling upcoming IR around Esplanade skyline.

7^th April 2010 Wednesday

I was busy with my 2 Projects competition presentation that I had to give amiss to their YOG learning centre and Orchard Road excusions.

8^th April 2010 Thursday

Busy with Squash competition but I managed to accompany them to Night Safari from 7-10pm.I had a good time with Michael, etc although I had been to there several times. Everyone of us was looking forward to the Home stay on Friday to Sunday. Aunty Iris and mum organized BBQ at our inviting poolside on Saturday night for our guests as well as HCI hosts.

9^th April 2010 Friday

I was too overwhelmed with the home stay that I lost my hand phone in the Science Lab. Just hope that someone would be kind enough to return be back on Monday. As planned, I brought Michael to my Squash training then we went o view the Primary School Gym Competition in the HCI. Then mum fetched us home at around 5pm. After chatting with him for sometimes, I realized that he enjoyed sea breeze so I suggested to him that we should go to Eastcoast Park to cycle at sunset. Unfortunately upon reaching my apartment-The Bayshore, it was raining cats and dogs. It seemed that I had to have some indoor sport with Michael. As Michael is sporty in nature, I suggested to him that we should play a game of Golf –putting in Lilliput, Eastcoast then would join my parents for Japanese cuisine in Sushi Tei. A whole day program had driven us to exhaustion that we turned in around midnight. My parents were pretty impressed with this 14 years old teenager as he was so well-mannered and sociable and knowledgeable. Michael gave me some souvenirs from Hutchins School and Tasmania.

10^th April 2010 Saturday

Leon and I brought our guests to Sentosa after our family breakfast. Mum was pleased with Michael as he is such an easy going and adventurous guest. To our surprise, Michael ate Roti Prata and loved curry. Lots of communication was carried out as Michael is such a sociable person. He shared with us his family background and introduced to us his hometown in South Africa as well as Tasmania. It made me really looking forward to my Australia trip in year end. We spent few hours in Sentosa as well as Vivo city for some shopping.

Aunty Iris is very much a great cook that she prepared for us beef kebabs, chicken satay, her famous mushroom rice etc. Michael couldn’t wait any longer that he changed and soaked himself in the inviting swimming pools. We also spent some times in playing pool with other HCI and Hutchins peers.

This night marked a highnote for the homestay. Thanks to Aunty Iris and Mum’s contribution as well as Mr Tieu and Mr Berdnt’s presence.

11^th April 2010 Sunday

Usual brunch and venue at Fei Fei noodles’ kopitiam, Michael didn’t seem to enjoy Hong Kong style of porridge but he finished up his hot and spicy wanton noodle with 2cans of sprite. He tasted chicken rice too and our local Kaya/Butter toast. We were surprised with his tolerance level in spicy food. After lunch, we joined the group to Suntec city to join the Singapore Flyer and Duck tour. The fair was S$49 per person. I found it interesting and amusing as it was my first time to go on this ride. Thanks to Hutchins peers, I would never think of touring around in my homeland. Mum brought durians for Michael to taste. Michael disliked our tropical fruit-durian. He drank coca cola to get rid of the strong stinky smell. Michael’s mum called up to chat with mum. Besides sending her gratitude towards her son’s home stay, she invited my parents to go over to Tasmania to have home stay with Fletcher’s family. If so, it would really be an Exchange Program for Michael’s and my family.

Leon and Harrison joined us for a swim and pool game at my estate till dinner time. My uncle who is also a PR in Melbourne invited my family as well as Michael for an Italian dinner. As it was Michael’s favourite food, mum asked him to order for us. He was chatty and sociable, my dad and uncle were impressed with his knowledge and exposure. Needless to mention, mum and aunty were pleased with his mannerism. I wondered when I could speak like him. After dinner, Michael packed all his clothes and we sent him back to HCI hostel at 9pm.

12^th April 2010 Monday n 13^th April 2010 Tuesday

The group set off to Desaru for a 2d1n trip. Just hope that they will have a safe trip. Forgetful Michael left his camera at my place that mum had to send it back to him this morning after alighting me at HCI at 7am.

14^th April 2010 Wednesday

Leon and I met up the Hutchins guests immediately after our lessons around 2pm. We boarded up a mini bus with Ms Lee and Ms Sara to URA Singapore City Garden and Chinatown Heritage Museum and Chinatown for shopping. All the details in URA I have presented in my History Aces. I should say it was beneficial for me as a Singaporean. At Chinatown, I bought my family 6 pairs of chopsticks. Just don’t know why I love to buy chopsticks for my family. To me it symbolizes UNITY. I treated the peers with our local desserts during dinner time. I bought them ice kacang and Chingteng and treated Mr Berdnt with peanuts dumplings. They were adventurous enough to try out all local desserts. .

15^th April 2010 Thursday

Ford Motor Factory and Kranji War Memorial visit recalled my memory of WW2 and Japanese Occupation. It was beneficial and I might do a write out for my IH aces.

16^th April 2010 Friday

They joined us for the earlier part of lesson and then proceeded to Singapore Science Centre and Omni theatre while I had my LA-JI –CHONG Chinese debate. We met up and went to Marina Barrage and back to HCI for farewell dinner. At night, our farewell dinner was at SIM lounge and I presented my farewell gifts to Michael as well as Mr Berdnt. SCGS gals came over to bid farewell too.

17^th April 2010 Saturday

I had my HSK Chinese test then joined them at Funan Centre shopping. Their flight was at 7.50pm. We ended the day with a farewell note and looked forward to our Exchange Program in Tasmania in November, 2010.

My reflection of this program-

My first semester in year2 obviously is more interesting and full of activities. Not only am I involved in Council Leadership Training but also in MUN as well as Foreign Exchange Program. The reason why I chose to participate in this exchange program is because I want to broaden my social horizons and improve my language skill as well as giving myself a chance to understand the cultural difference and also expose myself to Australian's educational experience. I am looking forward to November's Tasmania trip to meet up Michael again.

27^th April 2010 Tuesday

What a surprise, Michael’s mum called up my mum to thank for our hospitality and invited mum and dad over for a home stay with them when I am with Hutchins boarding school. Michael said hi to me and asked me about our progress in school. Nice people with nice families.