iamasiam

Arisen!

Enjoying a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon at a Pan-Asian Chelsea joint, I couldn’t help but notice a boisterous group enjoying their pre-dinner cocktails at a table nearby.  The 30-something male trio relishes their time together with jubilant chatter and unhinged laughter.  From their conversation, Gladys Kravitz could intermittently decipher a word or two in English.  For the most part they’re speaking Bahasa.  They’re Indonesian. They’re gay.  They’re out.  And they’re now emphatically (flamboyantly) having a “Sex in the City” moment, with ne’er a care in the world.

Now, I can’t help but recall this Indonesian flick I’ve seen recently, “Arisan”. ^[1] Its main character is also in his thirties, but he is a closeted gay man just in the process of being pried out of his comfortable but lonely closet.  Dorothy is not in Chelsea anymore.  While Jakarta happens to be the capital of the biggest Muslim country in the world, luckily you’re not in Uganda either. ^[2]  Still, Indonesia is enough of a setting to have your heels clicking 24/7 if you were the main character in this movie. 

“Arisan” is said to have broken barriers, the first Indonesian film to breach the taboo topic of homosexuality.  While touted as a “feel-good” movie, it still feels like it is decades old compared to my restaurant scene in Chelsea.  It’s heartbreaking to witness the portrayal of reality.  Personal struggles for social acceptance of one’s identity are still such a big deal on the other side of the world.  Nevertheless, it is comforting to know that the story is not one of tragedy, as would be the case if it were a film based on David Kato’s own struggles. ^[2]

^[1] The New York Times Movie Review, Feb. 8, 2011
^[2] Bishop Pierre Whalon, “Christian Morality and the Murder of David Kato”, The Huffington Post, Feb. 7, 2011

The Year of the Bunny

Do you celebrate Chinese New Year?  Actually, it’s not really just the Chinese who celebrate it.  To many other Asian groups, the turn of the lunar calendar is a very important time for family gatherings, much like Thanksgiving is to the rest of us.

When do you celebrate it?  Typically, the revelries last for ten days.  And, much like how the Gothic Church has its own timetable for Christmas, Thailand has its own.

How do you celebrate it and with whom?  I’m not talking about going to Chinatown to see the lion dancers shake their booties to bring good fortune from door to door.  Do you know that while firecrackers are banned in NYC, just across the border in Connecticut, retailers sell them?

Feeling sorry for all the Chinese restaurant workers who couldn’t take the time off?   Yes, they must feel like Bob Cratchit on Christmas Eve.  Though you don’t particularly observe this holiday yourself, you still feel drawn to order dumplings, lo mien, and chicken and broccoli at this time.  Tsing Tsao beer sounds especially appealing.  Why, it’s just like Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, or Halloween’s Day—even if your not Mexican, Irish, or dead!  Any excuse for debauchery, you’re down with it!

I admit that this year, I’m feeling very fortunate.  I’ve received more invitations for a Chinese New Year party—or, for some, a Chinese New Year theme party—than in previous years.  Looking at the roster of guests invited, I’m not surprised that many are not even Chinese—or Asian, for that matter.  In fact, it could have been a Cinco de Mayo, St. Patrick’s Day, or Halloween’s Day party, I would think.  Salud!  Slainte!  Long live!

So how do I partake of this ten-day window of opportunity for uncommon revelry?  I’m playing pinochle, one day with family and the next with friends.  I hope to shoot the moon at both occasions.  They say round objects are particularly auspicious at this time, so I’ll try doing a Mexican spin on meatballs, in tomatillo sauce with rice and beans on the side.  Or maybe, I'll order Chinese take-out (again).  But this time, I promise to be more gracious tipping my delivery boy.  To him and to my family and friends, I’ll then raise my Smithwick’s and cry:  Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Dual Identity. Singular Divide.

In America, do religious differences matter less today than in the past?  Yes, writes Mike Oppenheimer in his Beliefs column today ^[1], citing at least the Latino community’s widening acceptance of people with dual religious identities.  Case in point is Florida’s senator-elect Marc Rubio.  While self-described as a practicing Catholic, in his campaign, Mr. Rubio has regularly attended evangelical services at Christ Fellowship, which is affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention.
 
It may be true that some religious institutions impose less stringent restrictions with regards their followers dabbling into practices of other faiths.  A Buddhist friend of mine attests that it is not a “sin” for her go to Christian Sunday “worship” as she does.  However, Mr. Oppenheimer points out that Protestants and Catholics have important elements in their creeds that are simply at odds with each other, such as the authority of the pope and the meaning of Holy Communion.

Critics say Marc Rubio was simply courting to both Catholic and Protestant voters in the last elections.  I disagree with his politics but, as it seems, Mr. Rubio has found a very good niche.  He has targeted a growing number of Hispanics who may view religious identity to be less important a criterion in casting their ballot.

Does this mean Americans are finally putting to heart the oft-misunderstood concept of separation of church and state? ^[2] Maybe not!  One aspiring presidential candidate does not even know that such an amendment exists.  Many in fact believe the religious beliefs of some are quite at odds with the American way of life.  And, there are those out there who would swear--to God, perhaps--that President Obama is a Muslim? ^[3]

^[1] Mike Oppenheimer, “Marc Rubio: Catholic or Protestant”, The New York Times, Nov. 27, 2010
^[2] religioustolerance.org
^[3] brookings.com

Enlightened

High expectations!  What else can you expect from a novel that won the Man Asia Literary Prize of 2008^[1] even before the book was published?  This ambitious project casts such a wide net of multiple plot lines and character perspectives that span several generations.  Michael Dirda^[2] of The Washington Post describes Miguel Syjuco’s novel, Ilustrado, as an example of “literary bricolage”.

…Bringing together Filipino jokes, transcripts from "The Burley Raconteur" blog, real history and people, made-up footnotes and the narrator's increasingly nightmarish dreams and experiences, some heightened by snorts of cocaine.^[3]

It is in fact such an assemblage of parts, which makes the novel unique and successful in its reach.  Mr. Dirda points out that the prize for such literary awards typically go to “earnest, high-minded, politically correct and rather dull books”.  Without a doubt, Ilustrado is atypical.

Its craftiness may sometimes prove distractive--style over substance?  That may be true for outsiders including Filipino Americans not quite enlightened enough by the complex weave of style and substance that has long pervaded the multi-layered Philippine society—a product of “three centuries in a Catholic convent and fifty years in Hollywood”.^[4] If you’re not privileged with that distinct advantage of a split personality, you won’t likely get this joke.

“Three male students loiter around Shoe Mart Megamall”, one note said.  “One is from the exclusive Ateneo de Manila University.  One from the rival De La Salle University.  The third, name Erning Isip, is from the populist AMA Computer College.  The three students spot a very pretty light-skinned girl.  Each of the boys takes a turn at trying to woo her.  The Atenista says: “Why, hello there.  Perhaps I should text my driver to bring my BMW around to chauffeur us to the Polo Club so we can get some gindara?”  The Lasallista says: “Wow, you’re so talagang pretty, as in totally ganda gorgeous.  Are you hungry at all?  Let’s ride my CRV and I’ll make libre fried chicken skin and Cuba libers at Dencio’s bar and grill.”  Erning Isip, the AMA Computer College student, timidly approaches the girl.  Scratching the back of his head, he says:  “Miss, please miss, give me autograph?”^[3]

Through such intricacies, Mr. Syjuco successfully brings out the substance of his work that is equally, if not more, complex.

That’s the problem, we’ve written one book, and it’s been re-bound again and again.  So many re-presentations of the war, the struggle of the haves and have-nots, People Power Revolutions on Edsa, whatever.  All those Pinoy writers industriously criticizing.  All those critics tirelessly writing.  About unsuccessful 1970 rebellions, 1990s domestic dramas.  Or the Filipino-Americans, eagerly roosting in pigeonholes, writing about the cultural losses that come with being raised in a foreign country, or being not only brown, but a woman, and a lesbian, or half-blind, or lower-middle-class, or whatever.  Oh my, what a crime against humanity that the world doesn’t read Filipino writing!^[3]

I’ll just have to read Ilustrado again.  Or, whatever! 

^[1] Man Asia Literary Prize
^[2] Michael Dirda, “Book review: 'Ilustrado' by Miguel Syjuco”, The Washington Post, May 6, 2010
^[3] Miguel Syjuco, “Ilustrado”, Farrar, Straus and Giroux: 2010
^[4] Stanley Karnow, “In Our Image”, Ballantine Books: 1989

I Am [Blank]

Peter Nathaniel Malae takes us on a rough airboat ride across the thick multi-cultural marsh of a novel, “What We Are”. ^[1]  Malae eventually emerges using his effectively rhythmic rants to waddle readers through a maze of cultural convergences and conflicts.  His palate of characters include his Jamaican muse-cum-sex-partner, Latino immigration activists, his Polynesian real estate con-artist uncle, Filipino cock-fighting aficionados, his more heavily assimilated half sister, among others.  Discomforts grace each encounter but perhaps the greatest discomfort is that which bellows from within.

Being a half-breed must be part my problem.  When I applied to college out of high school, I didn’t know what to fill in under the category of race.  Long distance from American Samoa, my father said over the phone, “Mark Polynesian,” but I couldn’t.  Neither could I mark white.  I just left the damned thing blank.  And that’s exactly how I felt about it: blank.  Still do, actually, don’t care either way.  By now I know that every culture in the world is equally beautiful, equally ugly.

Malae could have aptly titled his work, “Who I Am”.  That would have been apt.  His sights overshoot:  “What We Are”.  Imagine walking down the grocery’s cereal aisle—boxes upon boxes, flavors upon flavors, brands upon brands.  There’s something for everyone.  Yet, one can leave empty-handed.   

***

Never judge a book by its cover, they say.  This reader first perceived the image in the cover as a heavily tattooed Samoan man’s face.  Upon closer inspection, these astigmatic lenses reveal that the tattooed images were in fact flags of different nations.

^[1] Peter Nathaniel Malae, “What We Are”, Grove Press, NY: 2010, page 4

"A Bold Statement of Truth"

With the passing of the 9th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, cooler heads may have prevailed amidst the heated rhetoric surrounding this convergence of faith and politics.  Does an imam not have a right to build a mosque near the grounds of the fallen towers?   Does a pastor not have a right to burn Qur’ans to express his views about religion with regards to the attacks?  A blitz of press coverage fed on a nail-biting countdown leading to, fortunately, a less explosive outcome.  The imam took a more open stance negotiating the construction of his mosque.  The pastor held off on the Qur’an burning.

In the days leading up to these events, leafing through the finals chapters of a novel, I could not help but draw some albeit remote parallels.  Most disturbing was the dialogue of one of the fictional characters, a hard-line Christian televangelist promoting a right-wing politician running for office.  The character could not hide his slanted view that Islam has a direct role in terrorism, even as he tried finagling his way around his limited role in promoting his senatorial pick.  (Alert:  This is very twisted!) ^[1]

"We are surrounded by enemies of the state, my friends, and at their mercy when they explode bombs among us without warning.  Those bombs are political statements in the mind of a terrorist, but the evil behind them is religious in nature, being as it were inspired by a certain religion that is not our own."

"We know something bad is smelling up the planet but we dare not speak its name because to do so will create riots and revenge attacks and outrage that will spill innocent blood.  Because evil does not like to hear itself spoken of with disdain.  Evil is offended by that.  Evil, the practitioners of that other religion would have us believe, is sensitive, and will have its finer feelings offended by a bold statement of truth!"

And yet, reading “Callisto”, I could not help but think about the recent spate of events.  There obviously are those who believe Islam had a direct tie with the 9/11 attacks.  This would include the would-be Quran-burning pastor and perhaps some of the protestors of the mosque near Ground Zero.  So is there or is there not a cause-and-effect relationship here?  Is it because they were Muslims that the attackers dove into the towers?  Does the holy book contain terrorist propaganda that would deserve it to be burned en masse?  Perhaps, we should all read the book to make such a judgment.  (I know, for the Bible-taught, it was tough enough getting through Genesis.)

While the Quran itself is supposedly legit only if written in Arabic, it has been translated in many languages worldwide, English included.  Who’s going to enlighten us then?  Perhaps, the news media should. That should serve well to neutralize the bad press they received in firing up such a frenzy to begin with.  (Imagine FOX5 News’ 24/7 covering this.)  How about featuring a verse-a-day of Qur’an in your daily broadcasts or publications?  You can include commentaries from two perspectives, one imam and one pastor.  Certainly, that would make the “bold statement of truth” more accessible to all of us – doubters, believers, haters – even if just to forestall the next possible conflagration on this matter. 

Then there are public open spaces such as parks and plazas – and museums!  (Talk about accessible!)  Holland Cotter ^[2] of the New York Times is on the same track with me on this one. Reviewing Sandow Bark’s work, ”American Qur’an” ^[3], he writes:

For information value alone, and entirely apart from recent threats of book burnings, it would make sense for our museums to offer Koran-related exhibitions.

(See related article, "When Bells Toll, When Minarets Rise")

[1] Torsten Krol, “Callisto”, Harper Collins
[2] Holland Cotter, “Sandow Birk: American Qur’an”, The New York Times, 9/17/10
[3] Sandow Birk:  American Qur'an

 

Asian American International Film Festival 2010

AAIFF'10 starts today with film exhibitions scheduled at various venues in NYC. Check out http://www.aaiff.org/2010 for tickets and more information.

The AAIFF's vision: More than an expression of collective identity, the festival is anchored by the distinct contributions of its members. It is a platform for filmmakers of all backgrounds to develop the constructs of Asian cinema and cultivate the next generation of talent.

BP’s All-Out Gulf Disaster. An All-Out Response?

Gulf Coast area residents and small business owners are scratching their heads over BP’s announcement today that it has put on hold current efforts to plug the hellhole.  More analysis is needed, the oil giant says. ^[1] However, to many, the final analysis is that the damage has been done and that ALL-OUT efforts are needed to stop and clean up the spill and, moreover, provide relief to the many people whose livelihoods are aversely impacted.

The BP disaster affects everyone, including the Asian American community.  As such, it is encouraging to know that the major AAPI groups have banded together to analyze the breadth and depth of the damage, particularly amongst Asian Americans who make their living in the Gulf.  Beyond the oil slick, plumes of “misinformation, confusion, and mistrust” cloud efforts for relief.  Let’s hope the ensuing joint efforts of these organizations are just as well ALL-OUT.

Giant monsters! Pink film stars! Genital weaponry!

Let's go!

The Language of Self-Discovery

It publishers have dubbed Wang Gang’s “English” as a “transcendent novel about the power of language to launch a journey of self-discovery”.  This journey is set during the Cultural Revolution, a sad period in China’s history.  One might expect the author’s work to be laden with grief and bereft of humor.  Not the case!

Mr. Gang exploits the childish innocence and curiosity of his main character, a young schoolboy studying the English language, to describe the mode of the times.  In this exchange between the main character (narrating), his schoolmate (Garbage Li) and the school principal, Mr. Gang injects humor when the boys are called into the principal’s office to be punished for their misdeed.  This humor just naturally flows over and envelopes the mood of the discussion that follows.  It broaches on what perhaps may be the author’s main point--a sad one, albeit—in this smart, endearing and--at times--lighthearted novel.

Garbage Li fixed his eyes on the ground. I was looking up at the ceiling.  I heard the principal say, “It’s you.  Were you two fighting?”

“Mr. Principal, he hit me first,” Garbage Li declared.

“Shut up!  I am not asking you!” the principal barked.  Garbage Li lowered his head.  The principal then turned to me.  “What did he say to you?”

“He said, ‘You’re an asshole.’”

The principal was infuriated, as if he were the object of the remark. “Li Jian-ming, did you say that?”

“Mr. Principal, I didn’t say you’re an asshole.  I said he’s an asshole.”

The principal pounded on the desk and boomed, “You are not allowed to say that to anyone, period!”

Garbage Li and I were silent. The principal paused for a moment.  “You!  Go back to your classroom now and write a self-criticism statement.  It has be thorough and soul-searching!”

Garbage Li walked to the door.  Hen then stopped and turned around.  “Mr. Principal, what is a soul?” he asked.

The principal was about to say something.  “Soul…,” he began, then changed his tack.  “Don’t worry about what it is, just go and write your self-criticism.

Garbage Li finally left, feeling wronged.

What is a soul?  What is soul-searching?  I wondered, too.

Discovering one’s self, you’ll need the words to describe it.

[1] Wang Gang, “English”, Viking, 2009

China's Soul Searching (In English)

It is the sixth in a series of school stabbings in China.  A Time reporter aptly explores the underlying reasons for such attacks, including the Chinese citizen’s lack of access to mental health care and the legal system’s deficiency in providing ample recourse to injustice. ^[1] One could not help but argue that much soul searching is needed even if only to cushion the emotional blow such violence has impacted on its victims and their relatives.

#

In Wang Gang’s powerful novel, “English”, set in the dark days of the Cultural Revolution, the story revolves around preteens in their process of self-discovery while learning a new language in school.  In one of such revelations, one of the children called into the school principal’s office questions the punishment just wrought upon. ^[2]

“Go back to your classroom now and write a self-criticism statement.  It has to be thorough and soul-searching!”

“Mr. Principal, what is a soul?”

“Don’t worry about what it is, just go and write your self-criticism.”

#

A close relative, obviously religious, forwarded me one of those chain letters which argues that, “even from a purely secular viewpoint”, in countries where there is “genuine humbling & seeking of God through prayer”, general prosperity follows.  I argued that China is now one of the strongest economies in the world.  What is their religious base, I asked? <sup>[3]

[1]</sup> Austin Ramzy, “China's Soul Searching as School Knifings Continue”, Time, May 12, 2010
^[2] Wang Gang, “English”, Viking, 2009
^[3] See related article, “God Vs. Gov”

Happy (Immigrant) Mother's Day

I love you, Mom!

If The Shoe Style Fits...Deport!?

Republican Congressman Brian Bilbray says the Arizona police can tell whether you are undocumented or not by the shoes that you wear.

Can you?  http://www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org/shoes/

Let's Start Deporting Americans?

"If you have parents that are here illegally, and they have a child, the parents that are here illegally are going to have to be sent home, so do you leave that child here without them? No. You probably send the child home with them even though the child is an American citizen." - East County Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine)

Mayday

Yesterday, Arizona!  Tomorrow, your state!  Today, let’s push Congress to pass immigration reform legislation.  Join the nationwide protest this Saturday, May 1st.  Find a march near you at: http://reformimmigrationforamerica.org/blog/march-index/.

Top Asian American advocacy groups are in support of this march.  The Japanese American Citizen’s League (JACL) urges immediate legislative action to prevent the injustices suffered by Japanese Americans during World War II from ever happening again.^[1]

Every day that Congress and the Obama Administration do not pass comprehensive immigration reform, millions of families and communities suffer as the nation's economy and security have the opportunity to be improved. Last week, a new Arizona law would allow law enforcement to target anyone who may be perceived as an undocumented immigrant. This will result in the worst case of racial profiling since World War II. This shows the importance of reforming immigration law fairly and urgently. Those who are against this law and against unfair treatment of immigrants in the immigration system are called to take action.

^[1]Japanese American Citizens League

The Fear of Immigrants

An analysis of recent survey data links economic growth with the influx of immigrant workers.^[1]

The data belie a common perception in the nation’s hard-fought debate over immigration — articulated by lawmakers, pundits and advocates on all sides of the issue — that the surge in immigration in the last two decades has overwhelmed the United States with low-wage foreign laborers.

Phoenix tops the list of the fastest growing metro areas. Its economic growth of over a hundred fold in the past few years coincides with its 13% rise in immigrant share of the labor force.^[2] And, yes, it's in the same state of Arizona, which most recently enacted a law on immigration that seems to defy the logic behind this data.

True, some residents have a more rationale view of immigration in support of the new law, saying they have nothing against immigration if done legally.  Others simply outrightly decry the presence of immigrants to begin with, a feeling that may have weighed more heavily in pushing the bill for approval—sadly enough.^[3]

This law might kick some of these immigrants out,” said Mr. Lowis, 76, a retiree who has lived here for more than 30 years and does not like all the change. “They vandalize the golf course, throwing flags in the ponds. Burglaries. There are too many immigrants. I get tired of seeing all these people standing on the corner.

This has become emblematic of the more recent debates on national issues.  One side calls us to reason; another side says, “No, I don’t like it, and just because I don’t.”

^[1]Julia Preston, “Work Force Fueled by Highly Skilled Immigrants”, The New York Times, April 15, 2010
^[2]Immigrants and Growth, The New York Times, April 15, 2010
^[3]Randal C. Archibold, “Growing Split in Arizona Over Immigration”, The New York Times, April 25, 2010

Imelda's Never Ending Story

Imelda says that her true ambition is "to serve without end, and to love without end", to which her son Bong-Bong explains, "My mother, y'know, she may be in her eighties, but she doesn't realize that." Let's just hope the voters do!

Are You Diversity Challenged?

Take a quick test below!  If you’re dating or have a close friend outside your race, you’re exempt from this test.  If you’re Mother Theresa volunteering for some community or church project where needy minorities look up to you with appreciation, even admiration—and disbelief—that’s no free pass.  If you live in a city like Mud Creek, Kentucky, where you can count people of color with your fingers, there’s no need to continue, nor count; you’re out!  If you’re Jesse Helms or Louis Farrakhan,…well, never mind!

First, take a look at the last three dinner parties you’ve hosted at home.  If you’ve never hosted one at all or, worse, if you’ve never had anyone over before, click here: Social Anxiety Disorder. Holiday celebrations and sit-down dinners carry more weight, so count those as two events each.  Office parties are less important; count those as only half an event each.  Add up the points.

Example:
Sit-down dinner party = 2 points
Super Bowl buffet = 1 point
Office Christmas party = 0.5 point
Total = 3.5 points

Next, try to recall approximately how many guests you had in those three dinner parties.  Break that out into four major groups:  How many Caucasians?  African Americans? Asians or Pacific Islanders?  How many are Hispanic?  (I know it’s easier if it’s the same group of people in all three parties.  But wait a minute, no cheating here!  We’re not counting only family members here, in case that’s all you’ve got.)  Following US Census protocol^[1], you may classify one person in more than just one group, e.g., Wyclef Jean, African American and Hispanic.

Example:
Total = 7
Caucasian = 4
African American = 2
Asian or Pacific Islander = 1
Hispanic = 1

Now, think about what each of their ethnic roots might be by country.  (Only Native Americans get to pick USA, ok?)  And, don’t get too involved with the schmuck who always goes about complicating your life with his German, Italian AND Irish lineage.  Just pick one randomly please.  (By the way, remind the schmuck he forgot Africa in his list, and dare him to confirm that with a simple genealogy test.^[2] Now, count all the countries you come up with.

Example:
Total = 7
Ireland = 3
Italy=1
Thailand = 1
Puerto Rico = 2

The last exercise really doesn’t count.  It’s just interesting to know, isn’t it?

Now, we’re down to the wire here.  (Said very quickly as in those advertisement statement of liabilities and limitations:) For your total score, multiply your dinner party points by the number of major racial groups you’ve classified your total guests into.

Example
3.5 points x 4 groups = 14 (total score)

If your total score is less than 3, you are Diversity Challenged.  Get a life!  You’re an adult now; move out of your parents' already!  Go learn something!

If your total score is from 3 to 9, you are Diversity Ripe (or Ripening), almost there for the picking or already picked, savored, appreciated—and maybe—even discriminated upon.

If your total score is 10 or higher, you are Diversity Savvy.  But of course, you didn’t need this unscientific test to know that, did you?  Hillary, if that’s you—quick, what’s the capital of Tuvalu?^[3]

^[1] US Census
^[2] familytreedna.com
^[3] geography.about.com

Happy (Mixed) Valentine’s Day

Asked what the country may look like with the increasing acceptance of mixed-race marriages, Henry Louis Gates Jr. responded: ^[1]

I’m looking forward to the time when we all look like Polynesians.

***

Indeed Americans have become more open in embracing interracial marriages of late.  A recent Pew Research Center survey says that, in fact, more than one in five American adults have a close relative who is married to someone of another race. Moreover, most in the younger set (18-to-29 year olds) accept the concept of interracial dating and marriage. ^[2]
 

***

Visiting a chef/restaurateur friend running a Valentine’s dinner special, I noticed a proud gleam in the young faces of a mixed couple as they walked in and looked at each other while waiting to be escorted to their table.  Yes, they evidently sparkled of the romance fluttering between them.  But also they shone of peace and comfort, knowing that the other couples there will not cast a judging eye on them.

But, wait, I noticed a gay couple also partaking of the celebration.  They seem to be quite relaxed and enjoying the evening as well.  Were there harsh looks from anyone?  I couldn’t tell.  (At least they’re not in Malawi.  Who knows someday, Mr. Gates, Polynesia?)

^[1] Deborah Solomon, “Questions for Henry Louis Gates Jr.: After the Beer Summit”, The New York Times Magazine, Feb. 14, 2010
^[2] Pew Research Center

Fat and Asian

Asian Americans have the lowest obesity rate (39%) across racial/ethnic groups.  A hefty 63% of the total US population is obese or overweight. ^[1] Still, additional statistics among specific Asian Americans do not auger well for me.  Filipino Americans are 70% more likely to be obese than the overall Asian American population. ^[2]

***

I recall how my mother’s face flushed with disappointment the day I began refusing extra helpings from her dinner table.  I imagine that putting together a meal worthy of praise and appreciation had become the culmination of each day.  It is lonely enough for anyone separated from one’s extended family and circle of friends.  It must have been tougher for my mom who had immigrated to this country in her senior years.  But, coming home from work that fateful evening, I held my ground; I refused a second helping.

I repeated this pattern of rejection in the days to come.  It wasn’t that I disliked the dishes that she put together.  In fact, five years after my mom passed away, I still very much miss her cooking.  I know everyone would say the same of his or her mother’s cooking—that it’s the best in the world—and really mean it.  But, I miss my mom and her daily expressions of love, including her devotion in preparing a sumptuous meal for us each night.

It was particularly difficult for me that first night because my favorite dish was on her menu.  The scent of pork adobo greeted me from the very doorstep.  Adobo?  Chunks of pork are browned in oil and garlic, then braised patiently in coconut vinegar, soy sauce, crushed pepper, and bay leaves until tender.  Sometimes, it is finished off in thickened with coconut milk and/or shrimp fry.  Fragrant jasmine rice is served directly from the steamer.  As a side dish, munggo beans are boiled ‘til soft then sautéed with shrimp, garlic, onion, tomatoes and fish sauce.  Mmm!

But sorry, mom, no second serving for me!  My work-stressed, travel-weary and over-compensating poundage needed a makeover.  I have to lose weight, the doctor said, to control my high-blood pressure like you and dad, like brother and sis, already suffer with. That doesn’t mean that I can’t get enough of your gracious servings of love, just not at the dinner table.  Looking back, I really wish I could have said it better.

But, mothers know everything anyway, don’t they?

[1] statehealthfacts.org
[2] U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

The King and I

I was one of the darkest boys in elementary school so I earned the name “Chocolate”.  Children can be very mean.  But I’m fine with that, thinking about the meaner names others in my class year endured.

It didn’t help that I was born post-mature and that I, as I am told, developed dark skin pigmentation as a result of my being “overcooked” in my mother’s womb.  I never questioned the science behind such proclamations.  My older sister, already in medical school then, sounded quite authoritative.

It didn’t help that my parents loved going away on weekends to the beaches or the hot spring pools.  Sometimes, we’d be off to my grandfather’s home in the countryside where the open rice fields were readily accessible from his backyard.  I had plenty of sun.  As a backup, there was always the front-lawn that served as my playpen.

It didn’t help that my complexion drew more attention, because my closest friends in elementary school happened to be the palest of the palest, including two white boys who shared my super-hero play fantasies.  (I was Cyclops—because I thought the shades were cool.)

Now living in New York, I am fortunate enough to have—at least, knowingly—eluded being a victim of racial prejudice.  Well, not really!  There’s one instance where a cab driver called me a f***ing foreigner.  Naïve, I thought it was because, unfamiliar with the streets in Queens, I didn’t provide him ample directions, and we got lost.

My skin is brown; my Cyclops eyes are slit.  You can call me Chocolate almonds.  I’m fine with that.  Thank you, MLK!

Racism Is Un-American (And Evil Too)

It is ironic enough that our first term wartime president received the Nobel Peace Prize even as he opted to increase troop levels in Afghanistan.  In comparison, it is not as surprising that Toby Keith, a country singer known for his pro-war anthem, performed in a concert also during the Oslo festivities. ^[1]

“If President Obama has to send (more) troops into Afghanistan to fight evil, I’ll pull for our guys to win, and I won’t apologize for it,” Keith said. “I’m an American, and I do pull for our team to fight evil.”

However, it is the singer’s petulance that unsurprisingly caught the ire of more than just his anti-war critics.  Performing onstage with other musicians at an after party in Olso, Toby Keith made an unequivocally racist gesture, albeit brief.  Essentially, he pulled back his eyes to symbolize “yellow”.

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) ^[2] has taken the lead in condemning Mr. Keith’s actions and demanding that he apologizes for such racist behavior.  It’s been weeks since the incident, but no word from Toby thus far.  Still reminiscing his patriotic, anti-evil moment in Oslo?

This type of attitude underlies a pervasive stereotype of Asian Americans, where physical differences imply a foreignness that hinders an acceptance of being considered as true "Americans."

As an American country singer at an international venue, Mr. Keith was representing our American ideals and values.  He embarrassed himself and offended the Asian American community by his crude behavior. ^[2]

After 9-11, there was an upsurge in the public display of patriotism.  No surprise, I was caught in it too.  I thought about getting one of those American flags on bumper stickers—very popular at the time.  What stopped me?  For one thing, I felt I didn’t have to prove myself, especially to those who thought I was a foreigner regardless.  And, yes, there was this bastard who cut into my lane, drove past the red light, and almost side-swept an unsuspecting pedestrian; the evil-doer had his patriotic spirit emblazoned all over his potential murder vehicle.

^[1] The Associated Press, “Toby Keith in Oslo stands by ‘Peace’ winner president”, Boston Herald, Dec. 11, 2009
^[2] JACL.org

God versus Gov

According to a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion & Public Life^[1], seventy percent of the people in the world live in countries where there are heavy religious restrictions or hostilities.

Such restrictions or hostilities come from:

• The country’s governments via direct actions, policies and laws;
• Private individuals, organizations and social groups; or
• Both

Of the twenty-five most populous countries in the world, the following Asian countries land in different groups in terms of the weight and source of such religious restrictions and hostilities.

• India, Pakistan, and Indonesia have both very high or high government restrictions and very high social hostilities.
• China and Vietnam have very high or high government restrictions but low or moderate social hostilities.
• The Philippines enjoys low government restrictions but suffers from high social hostilities.
• Myanmar has very high government restrictions and high social hostilities.
• Thailand has both moderate government restrictions and social hostilities.
• Japan has the least restrictions or hostilities from both government and private sources.

According to the study, the brunt of restrictions falls on religious minorities.  Here’s an overview of the religious majorities and minorities in each of those countries.^[2]

Peace on earth, good will toward men!

^[1] pewresearch.org
^[2] cia.gov

When Bells Toll. When Minarets Rise.

There’s the case of a referendum held in Switzerland recently banning the construction of new minarets in mosques from where Koranic chants are recited to call Muslims to prayer.  It passed by a decisive margin of six to four. This development raised ire among many worldwide, some calling for a similar ban on church bells.  An American columnist argues that the Swiss have no ill intent; they just want Islamic extremism nipped in the bud. ^[1]

As grotesquely unfair as a referendum to ban minarets may have been to hundreds of thousands of ordinary, well-integrated Muslims, I have no doubt that the Swiss voted in favor primarily because they don't have much Islamic extremism—and they don't want any.

Then there’s the Brooklyn man who barely a month ago also made—interestingly, only local—headlines following his protests on church bells ringing.  All he could do however was to put up signs in his front yard to demand that the parish turn down the recorded bell sounds that occur every hour of the day.  In this case, it is already law. ^[2]

Bells and organs at places of worship are exempt from the city's noise code - even electronic bells like the ones at St. Thomas….

Meanwhile, there’s this Malaysian writer boasting of her country’s religious diversity—though predominantly Muslim.  Citing verses from the Koran, she goes in length about the need for religious tolerance.  From her article though, I gather there is no law in her country against the construction of religious icons, nor ordinances limiting noise disturbance. ^[3]

Down where I live is a Hindu temple and across the road is a mosque, and there is always something going on, but I manage to sleep. You try staying in Bali, the temples are always chiming. I once frightened myself silly wondering why the Balinese temple next door kept having prayers at night, but you know what? The moral of the story is this: you learn to adjust. Or put a pillow over your head and go back to sleep.

^[1] Anne Applebaum, “In Switzerland, towers of fear”, The Washington Post, Dec. 8, 2009
^[2] Mike McLaughlin, “Marine Park man hangs signs in front yard to protest tolling of church bells at St. Thomas Aquinas”, NY Daily News, Nov. 20, 2009
^[3] Dina Zaman, “The sounds of faith”, The Malaysian Insider, Dec. 10, 2009

True 'Tripartisanship'

Their reasons for holding the ‘tripartisan’ press conference^[1] last Friday may have been very well intended.  Three senators from different parties sought to highlight legislative common ground in the health care reform debate.  However, when the subject of a public option came up, they just blew it.

Connecticut’s Democrat turned-Independent Joe Lieberman was quick to spew the F-word (filibuster) should the public option remain in the bill.  Turning into a debate between Lieberman, Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-MN), it became a silly display of the usual gridlock.  It became the antithesis of what they were trying to achieve.

What brings to mind what true 'tripartisan' might be like is recent article about three tightly knit clergymen of different faiths.^[2] Rabbi Ted Falcon, the Rev. Don Mackenzie, and Sheik Jamal Rahman are “interfaith amigos”, bound by a common desire to promote interfaith understanding.  Their collaboration works by addressing their conflicts head-on and, more importantly, by honoring the truth.

“We try to honor the truth. This is the truth for you, and this is the truth for me. It may not be reconcilable, but it is important to refuse to make the other the enemy.”

The minister said that one “untruth” for him was that “Christianity is the only way to God.” The rabbi said for him it was the notion of Jews as “the chosen people.” And the sheik said for him it was the “sword verses” in the Koran, like “kill the unbeliever.”

Politics and religion are killer topics at any dinner table.  For the holidays, I think I wouldn’t mind having over the “interfaith amigos” for dinner to discuss religion.  With regards the three untruthfully ‘tripartisan’ Senators, I don’t think we’ll get past the appetizers.  Cheers!

^[1] George Stephanopoulos, “'Tripartisan' Press Conference Becomes Public Option Debate”, ABC News, Dec. 4, 2009
^[2] Laurie Goodstein, “Three Clergymen, Three Faiths, One Friendship”, The New York Times, Nov. 23, 2009

Hapa, Meet Korasian. Korasian, Hapa.

It is refreshing to know that Americans of mixed racial background are celebrating their identity more than ever before. ^[1] Still, one does not have to look too far back in time to see how ignorance and hate still fan stubborn resistance towards interracial relationships.

Just a month ago, a Louisiana justice of the peace has refused to officiate an interracial marriage.  The judge rejects that he is a racist and says he is merely concerned that the couple would produce a biracial offspring.  His belief is that their children would suffer by not being accepted by either side of the family. ^[2]

Regardless of the various pockets in today’s society that still believe it is unconscionable for races to mix, we have come a long way.  Think about the response you would have elicited last Thanksgiving if the dinner guest you may have brought home with you were of a different skin color.  Would it have carried the same punch as when Sidney Poitier walked in on that scene in “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner” half a century ago? ^[3] In contrast, broad ethnic violence continues to split countries and families around the world.

In these times of mounting deficits, it is good to know that the spirit of racial tolerance and appreciation can be a valuable American export.  Yet, we still have much to learn from other societies who are just now experiencing the growing pains of dealing with interracial relationships and the soul searching as a result of the new generation of Korasians.  For example, South Korea is currently experiencing a baby boom from mixed marriages. In the last three years, their government has opened 119 multicultural family support centers across the land to offer help in education and vocational training to address the stigma associated with it. ^[4] In the spirit of free trade, can we have one of those centers installed in Louisiana, please?

^[1] See related post, “Hapa”
^[2] Associated Press, “Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License By Louisiana Justice Of The Peace”, The Huffington Post, Oct. 15, 2009
^[3] http://www.imdb.com
^[4] Martin Fackler, “Baby Boom of Mixed Children Tests South Korea”, The New York Times, Nov. 28, 2009

Top Destinations for Overseas Education

A total of 262,416 students have studied overseas in the most recent academic term (2008-2009), according to a recent study by the Institute of International Education. ^[1]

China makes it fifth in the list of the most popular destinations, dominated by European countries.  These five countries account for 46% of total students enrolled overseas in the 2008/2009 academic term:

• United Kingdom, 12.7%
• Italy, 11.7%
• Spain, 9.6%
• France, 6.6%
• China, 5%

Overall, enrollment overseas has increased by 8.5%. Three Asian countries have among the highest rates of increases as destination for an overseas education:  India, China, and Japan. In these three countries, it would cost only about half, at most, of what one would spend in a local college or university.  For example, college education in India would be about two-fifths the average U.S. local cost.  (Note:  These calculations are based on most recent estimates of average tertiary educationexpenditures per student ^[2] and GDP per capita^[3] in each country.

^[1] Institute of International Education
^[2] Nationmaster.com
^[3] Central Intelligence Agency

International Students in the USA: Asia Dominates (but at a Steeper Price)

A total of 671,616 international students studied in the U.S.A. in the most recent academic term (2008-2009), according to a recent study by the Institute of International Education.^[1]

• India tops the list of countries from which international students originate.  China ranks second in the list.  India and China, combined, account for thirty percent of the total population of international students.
• South Korea ranks third in the list.
• Half of the total international student population in this country comes from only five countries.  Four of those five countries are in Asia, with only Japan ranking lower, fifth in the list below Canada.

In fact, Asian countries dominate the top 25 places of origin of international students.

With the dramatic increases in the cost of education, will this trend continue?  Consider the recent fee hikes that elicited recent student protests in one of our country’s most prestigious universities.^[2]

That would bring the basic UC education fees to about $10,300, plus about another $1,000 for campus-based charges, for a total that would be about triple the UC cost a decade ago. Room, board and books can add another $16,000.

Never mind the laptop!  Twenty-seven grand and change seems like a steep sum to me.  How can the typical American family whose average household income is $50,740^[3] afford to bring their sons and daughters to college nowadays?  And, how much more of a challenge is it for foreign students coming from the above-mentioned countries?

Using GDP per capita as a benchmark for comparison, while the US figure rests at $46,900, consider that of those five countries. ^[4]

• India, $2,900
• China, $6,000
• South Korea, $27,600
• Canada, $39,100
• Japan, $34,000

^[1] Institute of International Education
^[2] Amina Khan, “UCLA students end a day of protest over fee hikes”, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 19, 2009
^[3] U.S. Census Bureau
^[4] Central Intelligence Agency

What’s your Global IQ? Sarah Palin’s?

Take the test: http://pewglobal.org/quiz/iq/ ^[1]

Op-Ed columnist Richard Cohen suggests Sarah Palin may not fare well in this. ^[2]

Could those who fault Barack Obama for being callow and inexperienced imagine Palin meeting with the Chinese or, for that matter, conducting a protracted policy review about Afghanistan? As for Pakistan, South Korea, North Korea, the Middle East and, of course, the perplexing Georgian-Abkhazian conflict -- I don't think she is quite up to it all, some of those nations not being close to Alaska.

Chris Matthews asks author Matthew Continetti, a Sarah Palin supporter, whether she is smarter than him. ^[3]

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

So, looking at your Global IQ scores, do you think you're as smart as Ms. Palin?

^[1] Pew Research Center
^[2] Richard Cohen, “Time for Some Palintology”, The Washington Post, Nov. 17, 2009
^[3] Hardball with Chris Matthews

2009 Elections Recap: AAPI Wins and Losses by State

Based on a list released by The Asian and Pacific Islander Vote ^[1], the winning Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) candidates for school boards and city councils come from 6 states.  The losses come from 4 states.

• California dominates the winning roster with a total of 27 candidates emerging victorious.  New York follows with 3 winners.  Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota and Virginia have one winner each.

• Among candidates losing, 18 are from California, 2 from New York and 1 each from Massachusetts and Virginia.

See related post, "2009 Elections Recap:  AAPI Wins and Losses"

^[1] APIAVote.org

JACL Meets with Paramount Chief

Following the public outcry against the negative Asian American stereotype portrayed in the movie “The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard”, Paramount Pictures President and CEO, Adam Goodman, met with key community leaders to discuss next steps.  Among those who attended the meeting were the following: ^[1]

• Floyd Mori, National Executive Director, The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). 
• Craig Ishii, Regional Director of the Pacific Southwest District, The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
• Bill Imada, CEO of the IW Group (formerly Imada Wong Communications Group)
• Guy Aoki, co-founder of MAANA (Media Action Network for Asian Americans)

Kudos to JACL's leadership for its strong, decisive actions in pursuing this!  It was Mr. Mori who first reached out to Paramount via a formal letter of condemnation of the “The Goods”.  The letter precipitated Mr. Goodman’s eventual apology and his invitation for this meeting.  The outcome of the meeting was largely positive. Paramount Pictures:

• Acknowledged the concerns of the Asian American community regarding racially demeaning films like “The Goods”
• Expressed further cooperation and even pursuing becoming a model in portraying diversity
• Committed to continued dialogue via ongoing meetings with community leaders to monitor and evaluate Paramount's performance in such regards

With formalities aside, the next steps of monitoring and evaluating Paramount’s performance seem toughest to tread.  Open dialog never hurts.  Also, our community leaders can potentially charge their members to participate in an early warning or rating system of sorts for each film release that portrays Asian Americans.  However, the weight of the burden rests on Paramount Pictures and how sincere they are in those commitments they uttered.  The film company can start by aggressively educating its employees and partners on matters of diversity, and implanting within its ranks a sense of social responsibility that is sometimes put in the wayside by the lure of the quick buck.

^[1] jacl.org

2009 Elections Recap: AAPI Wins and Losses

The Asian and Pacific Islander Vote ^[1] releases today a list summarizing how the 56 Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) candidates fared in the November 3 elections.

Overall, 61% of AAPI candidates in the ballot have emerged victorious, winning an average of 31% of the total ballots cast in each race.

The biggest winners are four Democrats who won by no less than fifty percent of the total votes in their respective races.  Three of them have also broken records.

• Margaret Chin (D-NY), New York City Council, First District.  Margaret is the first Chinese American to win in the Manhattan Chinatown district, winning 86% of total votes.
• John Liu (D-NY), New York City Comptroller.  John Liu becomes the first Asian American to serve as a top New York City official.  He has won by 76% of total votes.
• Vallay Moua Varro (D-MN), Saint Paul School Board.  Vallay Moua Varro has captured 59% of the total vote.
• Mark Keam (D-VA), Virginia House of Delegates.  Mark Keam is the first Asian American to serve in the Virginia government, winning 51% of total votes.

The biggest losers are three California Republicans winning no more than nine percent of the total ballots in each race.

• Lucy Huang (R-CA), Diamond City Council (9% of the total vote)
• Indravadan Patel (R-CA), Blythe City Council ( 9% of the total vote)
• Henry Huang (R-CA), Baldwin Park City Council ( 8% of the total vote)

^[1]APIAVote.org

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: Thailand

Top Billionaires
Three billionaires make it to the Forbes 2009 list of the richest people in the world.  Their collective net worth of $7.1 billion, equivalent to 1.3% of Thailand’s GDP last year. ^[1][2]

• Chaleo Yoovidhya is the co-creator of Red Bull and founder of Thai energy drink producer T.C. Pharmaceuticals.  With a net worth of $3.7 billion, Chaleo Yoovidhya is the country’s wealthiest. 

• Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi has a net worth of $2.1 billion.  The son of a Bangkok street vendor of fried mussel pancakes, he is a self-made tycoon growing his fortune in inexpensive beer and whiskey.

• Dhanin Chearavanont heads one of world's largest producers of animal feed and livestock with operations in Asia.  He is the third richest in the country with a net worth of $1.3 billion.

The Hungry

An estimated 11.2 million are currently living in hunger in Thailand.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in Thailand remains unchanged at 17% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ^[2][3]

According to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Thailand ranks 22nd with a score of less than 8.2 in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).  The IFPRI ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst. ^[4]

^[1]forbes.com
^[2]cia.gov
^[3]fao.org
^[4]ifpri.com

I Dream Of India: Then and Now

In his recent New York Times column ^[1], Akash Kapur describes how India’s image has changed over the years with positive shifts in stereotypes following newfound material prosperity. Replacing the “three C’s: caste, cows and curry” are “technology, outsourcing, billionaires, Bollywood”.

He cites examples culled from sources of but limited casual contact with Indians.  A taxi driver, working as a shuttle-bus driver in last summer’s U.S. Open, is astonished that his Indian passengers are taking expensive box seats.  A newspaper vendor notices the young Indian sisters next door do not wear the “red dot” on their foreheads and that they walk with an “American swagger”.

That is, perhaps, why such perceptions brush only the surface.  As the third largest Asian American ethnic group and with close to 2 million Indian Americans living across this country ^[2], the odds are that more personal interactions with Indians would merit a strong influence in shaping stereotypes other than what is skin-deep.

A writer for various other publications such The Atlantic, The Economist, Granta, The New York Times Book Review, The New Yorker, among others, Mr. Kapur himself acknowledges that the clichés belie the more complex layers of what is India today.  “I know there’s a lot more to the country than smart and rich technology workers who are stealing American jobs and buying box seats in the U.S. Open”, he writes.

I trust also that Akash Kapur whose father is Indian and whose mother is American has himself received more substantive feedback from more personal sources other than the occasional taxi driver and newspaper vendor.  Living in America for twelve years before his decision to move back to India six years ago puts him in an auspicious position to capture such complexities from various perspectives of those he touched and who touched him.  I am anxious to read such revelations in his future works, perhaps in his upcoming non-fiction slated for publication next year.

In an earlier column for Granta Magazine ^[3], he alludes to the “genuine openness and friendliness” of Americans that he first misconstrued as superficial.  He also reveals that it was “a feeling of estrangement, and of cultural and ideological isolation” that has also driven him to move back to the home that he missed.  He seems severely impacted by “the ‘war on terror’ and the war in Iraq – and more broadly, the war on civil liberties “.  He writes, “It had taken me many years to feel American; by the time I left, I was once again an outsider.”

Indeed, it would also be interesting to understand his own perceptions of India--and, yes, American--from both the eyes of the American and the outsider.  I’m guessing his view have shifted just as well from when he first received “crude reactions” as a child to when he now wields the fearless maturity to share his reflections in his well-polished craft.  I’m hoping his optic cuts more deeply through the stereotypes and clichés.

^[1]Akash Kapur, “Letter from India: Exchanging One Cliché for Another”, The New York Times, Nov. 5, 2009
^[2]U.S. Census 2000
^[3]Akash Kapur, “Learning to Love America, Again”, Granta Magazine, Nov. 3, 2008

China's Top 10 Online Games (and the War of Worldly Crafts)

The MMLC Group, an intellectual-property consulting firm in Beijing, ranks the top ten games competing in the online gaming market in China, as follows: ^[1]

RANK	GAME	DEVELOPER	COUNTRY
1	DNF	Neople/Nexon	South Korea
2	kaixin online	TQ Digital Entertainment	China
3	asktao	G-Gits Networks	China
4	moyu	TQ Digital Entertainment	China
5	World of Warcraft	Blizzard Entertainment	USA
6	Westward Journey Online II	NetEase	China
7	Jade Dynasty	Perfect World Co., Ltd.	China
8	tialongbabu	Changyou.com Limited	China
9	ZhengTu	Giant Interactive Group, Inc.	China
10	CrossFire	Smile Gate	South Korea

Chinese government agencies are also vying for control in regulating these game sites.  NetEase was recently shut-down by the Chinese General Administration of Press and Publication but the Ministry of Culture countered that the former does not have the authority to do so.  Because the annual revenue from online gaming in China is projected to hit the $6 billion mark in four years, who gains control is of great significance.  The Ministry of Culture reportedly has the current edge because of wider support form other ministerial-level offices. ^[2]

RANK	AGENCY
1	Ministry of Culture
2	Chinese General Administration of Press and Publication

^[1]mmlcgroup.com
^[2]Michael Wines, "Online Warfare Prompts an Offline Clash in China" The New York Times, Nov. 7, 2009

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: Malaysia

Top Billionaires
Malaysia has six billionaires making it to the Forbes 2009 list of the world’s richest.  Their collective net worth of $22.9 billion is equivalent to 6% of Malaysia’s GDP last year. ^[1][2]

• Ananda Krishnan has a net worth of $7 billion.  A self-made tycoon who started as an oil trader, Ananda’s fortune comes from the telecommunications business.  His holdings include Malaysia's largest cell phone service provider.

• Robert Kuok is tied in ranking with Krishnan as Malaysia’s richest. His net worth also totals $7 billion.  He heads the Kuok Group, a multinational with diversified holdings that range from shipping to real estate to media.

Ananda Krishnan and Robert Kuok have a combined net worth that’s equivalent to three-fifths of the country’s other billionaires:

• Lee Shin Cheng ($2.7 billion)
• Teh Hong Piow ($2.5 billion)
• Quek Leng Chan ($1.9 billion)
• Yeoh Tiong Lay & family ($1.8 billion)

The Hungry
An estimated 3.3 million are currently living in hunger in Malaysia.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in Malaysia remains unchanged at 13% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ^[2][3]

According to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Malaysia ranks low with a score of less than 5 in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).  The IFPRI ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst. <sup>[4]

[1]</sup>forbes.com
^[2]cia.gov
^[3]fao.org
^[4]ifpri.com

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: Indonesia

Top Billionaires
Five Indonesians are in this year’s Forbes list of world billionaires.  Their collective net worth is $7.4 billion or an average of $1.48 billion each. ^[1]

• Two brothers top the list of the richest in Indonesia. Michael Hartono & R. Budi Hartono each has a net worth of $1.7 billion.  They’ve inherited their fortune in the clove cigarette business and later expanded into banking, real estate, retail, and hotels.  They hold the major share in Bank Central Asia, the country’s second largest private bank.

• The next two richest Indonesians are both self-made tycoons who have made it in the palm oil business:  Sukanto Tanoto ($1.6 billion) & Martua Sitorus ($1.4 billion).  Both are also currently residing in Singapore.

• Peter Sondakh has a net worth of $1 billion invested in a diverse industries, e.g., telecom, retail and hotels.

 

The Hungry
An estimated 38.4 million are currently living in hunger in Indonesia.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in India remains unchanged at 16% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ^[2][3]

According to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Indonesia ranks 38th (Serious) out of 84 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).  The IFPRI ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst. <sup>[4]

[1]</sup>forbes.com
^[2]cia.gov
^[3]fao.org
^[4]ifpri.com

John Liu is NYC Comptroller

John Liu (D-Queens) is the first Asian American to win citywide office in New York.  His triumph is by a wide margin garnering 76% of the votes compared to Republican contender, Joe Mendola, who captured only 19% votes in yesterday's general elections.<sup>[1]

[1]</sup>nytimes.com

At The Polls Yesterday: Care and Attention

My participation in past elections has been largely limited to the early morning or last-minute evening dash to my precinct.  I'm one of those who tend to vote largely along party lines, partly because of my belief in the ideals of my party and also because I do have not enough information about each candidate running.

Regardless of the ridiculously overwhelming amount of campaign materials, which clog my mailbox at each election time, I end up just as ignorant about many of these candidates.  Arguably, the over-information and misinformation shoved recklessly into my mailbox daily results in cathartic effect that leads me to more so ignore candidates with the wider carbon footprint.

Also, it does not help that in local elections the size of the forum is more limited and the chatter of other districts, counties and even states often compete with each other, drowning out what may be salient to me in the airwaves.  There's also the spin-factor that adds to the clutter.  Everyone appears to be often for and seldom against something even if the issue is communicated from opposing views.  Then there's the sound byte that sometimes trumps the essence of the campaign narrative itself.

In the local elections that just passed, I have come to realize that I am fortunate enough to have access to all such inputs to begin with.  Volunteering for an organization that advocates greater access of ethnic minorities in the polls, I realize that language is still a barrier for some.  While I've come across no serious issues that may have barred one from fulfilling his or her electoral duty, it must have been tough for those who are not yet too comfortable in their English.  Translated materials and interpreters were on hand, of course, but I can just imagine how daunting it might have been, especially for those voting for the first time.

Even then I marvel at the zeal exhibited by those who've come armed only with a few words to get them started, "Do you speak Spanish?"  I admire those who cared to ask for help even in their broken English or, more confidently, in their own native language, "Who else can help me?"

I was particularly captured by the spirit of this Bengalese gentleman.  When I asked him to fill-up an exit poll questionnaire that I just handed him, he earnestly responded, "Yes, please read me your questions and write down what I answer."  Now, I assumed he either had vision problems or else was not that familiar with the alphabet, so I complied.  After my first few questions though, turning to him, I realized that he had closed his eyes presumably to focus on the questions that I read out to him.  With his eyes closed and a serious fold evident between his brows, I sensed his intent in capturing fully every question that I gave.  He evoked the same look of attention and care as he gave me his answers.  He had just come out of the polling place, and I felt his sense of pride and accomplishment having fared just as well, or even better, answering the real questions presented to him at the ballot.

I wonder if he voted every candidate in his party.  I wonder too how informed he was on the candidates and their campaign issues before he came to vote.  I wonder if he took the time to study each flier that came to his mailbox and to listen to what the candidates have to say on the airwaves.  Did he see through their spin?  Did he isolate and identify what is important to him through all the clutter?

Returning home from my volunteer duties, I proceeded to my own precinct to vote.  I took an extra minute or so to sort through all the different names listed on the voting machine.  Some names were more prominent than others.  The rest remained a blur to me, and on those, like in elections before, I based my decision based on their political affiliation.  Next time, I said to myself, I will take greater care and attention, thanks to the inspiration brought to me by that man from Bangladesh that I spoke with this morning.

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: The Phillippines

Top Billionaires
In the Philippines, two rich families make it to the Forbes list of billionaires this year.  Their collective net worth is $4.1 billion. ^[1] This may seem paltry compared to the wealth of other billionaires in the Asia Pacific region, but consider that their combined net worth is equivalent to 1.3% of the Philippines’ GDP. ^[2]

• Henry Sy & family have a net worth of $2.7 billion.  The family controls the Philippines' largest shopping mall developer, SM Prime Holdings, and has diverse holdings in various industries including banking.

• Another family headed by Lucio Tan has a net worth of $1.4 billion.  Lucio Tan & family own: the Philippines' largest cigarette maker, Fortune Tobacco; Philippine Airlines; Asia Brewery; mining operations; banks; property developments in Hong Kong.

Both Henry Sy and Lucio Tan are self-made tycoons who started from humble beginnings, both immigrants from China.  Mr. Tan is currently being prosecuted by the Philippine government, which claims that his wealth belonged to Ferdinand Marcos, the deposed president.

The Hungry
An estimated 12.7 million are currently living in hunger in the Philippines.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in India remains unchanged at 13% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ^[3]

According to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the Philippines ranks 34th (Serious) out of 84 countries in the Global Hunger Index (GHI).  The IFPRI ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst. <sup>[4]

[1]</sup>forbes.com
^[2]cia.gov
^[3]fao.org
^[4]ifpri.com

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: China

Top Billionaires
According to the Forbes list of the world’s richest, China boasts of 28 billionaires with a combined net worth of $43.8 billion, averaging $1.56 billion each.

• Topping the list in China is Liu Yongxing who ranks as the 205th richest in the world; he has a net worth of $3B.  Mr. Yongxing heads the East Hope Group, one of China's biggest feed producers, the very industry in which he first entered to build his fortunes from scratch.¹

Hong Kong is home to only 19 billionaires, which is nine short compared to its governing nation.  However, the combined worth of those 19 billionaires is one and half times higher than of their mainland counterparts—that is, $66.9 billion in total, averaging $3.52 billion each.  Three billionaires account for the major share of such wealth in Hong Kong.

• One of them accounts for 24 percent.  In fact, Li Ka-shing, whose net worth is $16.2 billion, ranks 16th of the world’s richest.  He is a self-made entrepreneur with holdings in container terminal operations, health and beauty retailer, energy and oil, and real estate development.

It’s worth noting that Taiwan has four billionaires who have a combined net worth of $10.5 billion averaging $2.1 billion each.

The Hungry
An estimated 13 million are currently living in hunger in China.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in India remains unchanged at 10% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.²)

According to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), out of 84 countries China ranks 5th in the Global Hunger Index (GHI) which ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst.³

Hong Kong and, for the matter, Taiwan are not reported separately in the FAO or IFPRI report.

¹forbes.com
²fao.org
³ifpri.com

The World Hunger Index

According to the International Food Policy Institute¹, twenty nine countries have levels of hunger that are alarming or extremely alarming.  Four of them are in countries in the Asia Pacific Region:

• Pakistan (pop. 176.2 million)
• Cambodia (pop., 13.5 million)
• Bangladesh (pop., 165.1 million)
• Timor-Leste (pop., 1.1 million)

To see the Global Hunger Index (GHI) of the country of interest to you, simply click and drag the marker to that country in the map above and refer to the scale below:

• Low:  Less than or equal to 4.9
• Moderate:  5.0 to 9.9
• Serious:  10.0 to 19.9
• Alarming:  20.0 to 29.9
• Extremely Alarming:  More than or equal to 30.0

¹ifpri.com

Top Billionaires & The Hungry in Asia: India

Top Billionaires
Twenty-four Indian citizens have made it to the world’s billionaires club this year, according to Forbes.com.  They have a collective net worth of $106.8 billion and an average net worth of $4.45 billion each.  Of the top five billionaires in Asia, three are from India, of which two of are ranked in the world’s top ten and two are estranged brothers.¹

• The seventh richest person in the world is Mukesh Ambani with a net worth $19.5B.  Mr. Ambani heads Reliance Industries, a growing petrochemicals business that he inherited from his father.

• With a net worth of $19.3B, Laksmi Mittal follows Mr. Ambani’s ranking as eight richest.  The bulk of Mr. Mittal’s fortune is stock ownership of the world's largest steel company, ArcelorMittal, also inherited from family.

• Mukesh’s younger brother, Anil Ambani, ranks 34th in the list of the world’s richest.  Anil, who has a net worth $10.1B, inherited his family’s interests in telecommunications, power and financial services following a bitter parting with his older brother.

The Hungry
An estimated 0.24 billion are currently living in hunger in India.  This assumes that the estimated level of the undernourished in India remains unchanged at 21% as last reported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.²)

Furthermore, according to a report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), out of 84 countries India ranks 65th in the Global Hunger Index (GHI), which ranks countries on a 100-point scale, with 0 being the best score (no hunger) and 100 being the worst.<sup>3

1</sup>forbes.com
²fao.org
³ifpri.com

What Drives White House Cabinet Sec. Chris Lu

As White House Cabinet Secretary, Chris Lu acts as a liaison between the White House and the cabinet.  Previously, he has been legislative director for Barack Obama in the Senate.  He has known the president since law school in Harvard.  They have remained friends since Obama first hired him as Senate staff.  He is a New Jersey-born Chinese American who has never been to China until last summer on an official White House assignment.

In her recent interview with White House Cabinet Secretary Chris Lu, The Washington Post’s Lois Romano gives us a glimpse on what it feels being one the highest-ranking Asian Americans in the White House, being off on a mission to China for the first time, and working for President Obama.¹

What it means to be one of the most senior Asian Americans in the White House
Mr. Lu acknowledges that it means a great deal to him, but he attributes his success not only to himself but also to his Chinese immigrant parents.

There is not a day that goes by that, as I park my car by the West Wing and walk into my office in the West Wing, that I don't think about my parents and how fortunate I am and how this incredible opportunity that I have is not only the result of what I've accomplished, but all that they've accomplished, as well as all that other Asian-Americans before me.

Recalling the time that it really hit him that he now works in the White House and then later brining his mother over to visit his office, Mr. Lu becomes emotional—uncharacteristically so, from his own perspective—regretting that his father did not live to see such a moment.

I think she was awed too that her son was here, and my mom and I are very close. We're not emotional people, but, you know, she said, "Your dad would have been very proud of you, if he could have seen that." And I think we kind of both teared up a little bit.

What it’s like meeting with Chinese government officials
Mr. Lu has never been to China until last summer as part of an official delegation.  Meeting with Chinese officials, he confesses that while he was speechless he felt a connection with them.  It helped that he could understand some Chinese.

I think they felt a--they felt a kinship to us. All three of us are Chinese-Americans. We all obviously represent the American government. That's obviously our first priority. But they felt a kinship. The fact that to varying degrees we all understand some Chinese, we can all say some words of Chinese I think made the conversation and made the meetings a little bit more personal.

Mr. Lu felt that, even though he is not an expert on China policy, it did matter that the administration sent over their top three Asian Americans for such a mission.

In Chinese culture, relationships are very important. And having Chinese-Americans come over as the representatives of the government I think was important.

What he thinks about his friend, his boss, our president
Chris Lu spoke of the president with fondness and respect, reflecting on the personal relationship they have molded together over the years, and highlighting not only the chief’s charismatic presence but also his ideals, which resonate strongly across various groups. 

We have a very close relationship. It's a playful relationship. I'm very comfortable making fun of him. He's very comfortable making fun of me. I guess the only difference now is I can't call him Barack anymore.

I think he really embodies a lot of the hopes of all kinds of people in this country. People who are liberal see liberal qualities of him. People who are conservative see conservative qualities of him. He's multi-racial, so he embodies the spirit of different ethnic and racial groups. He really is, in many ways, the embodiment of the American dream.

Too bad the White House website does not carry any profile for the Cabinet Secretary.  There are other online sources² describing Mr. Lu accomplishments, but they serve no more than an expanded Linked In profile, which definitely fall short of what Miss Romano has effectively captured in her interview.

What drives Chris Lu
Mr. Chris Lu’s regard for the value of relationships is apparent in his reflections of family and friends.  This extends to his appreciation of opportunities in connecting with other notwithstanding possible differences.

¹Lois Romano, “Voices of Power: Interviews with Washington's power players—An old classmate in a key role”, The Washington Post, Oct. 22, 2009
²whorunsgov.com

Alternative Count Yields 7M+ More Living in Poverty in America

An alternative estimate based on the National Academy of Sciences (NAS)¹ brings the poverty level up to 47.4M—or 18.5% of the total U.S. population, as reported yesterday at The Washington Post by Hope Yen².  That's 7.6M more than what the U.S. Census reported earlier at just 39.8M—or 13.2% of the total population. That government estimate does not include other factors such as medical care, transportation, childcare or geographical differences in the cost of living, nor does it include non-cash government aid in their income calculations.
The NAS figures are higher than the original government estimates across racial groups except for Afrian Americans where it remains flat at 24.7%.  Hope Yen’s report underscores the gravity of the situation, which hopefully should weigh in more strongly on how the federal stimulus program is being managed to impact directly on those in dire need.

¹The NAS-based tables are available at:  www.census.gov/hhes/www/povmeas/tables.html  (Select:
Alternative Poverty Estimates Based on National Academy of Sciences Recommendations, by Selected Demographic Characteristics and by Region (CE): 2008
²Hope Yen of The Associated Press, “Revised formula puts 1 in 6 Americans in poverty”, The Washington Post, Oct. 20, 2009

"The Cove": In The Tokyo Film Festival?

The Tokyo Film Festival opened Saturday with ecology as its theme.¹ Kudos to the festival organizers for making one last minute addition to the films in their roster, even though international pressure precipitated such a move! “The Cove” exposes the gruesome slaughtering of some 2,000 dolphins each year in an annual hunt conducted in a seaside town in Japan. The documentary already won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Will it win in Tokyo? Regardless, hopefully, it raises global attention to the cruelty of the killings and the rapid depletion of our ocean’s resources.

Now, will we see another season of “Whale Wars”²?

¹The Associated Press, “Tokyo Film Festival Opens With 'Green' Carpet”, The New York Times, Oct. 17, 2009
²discovery.com

With H1N1, Everyday is Global Handwashing Day

Millions of children and adults in over 80 countries are celebrating the second annual Global Handwashing Day. UNICEF Japan has launched a project promoting handwashing among children in Japan and around the world.¹ This video shows a dance choreographed by Kaiji Moriyama, a renowned dancer, as a public service supporting such efforts.  Everybody...Washi, washi, wah...

The Japanese government also launched a "cough etiquette" campaign, which encourages people to cover their mouths, use a tissue and turn away when coughing.²

¹unicef.org
²Catherine Makino, ”Japan takes hand washing to new level”, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 16, 2009

2009 U.S. Math Tests: Racial/Ethnic Gaps Persist

The Department of Education released today the results of the 2009 math test, known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress, that was given to 329,000 fourth- and eighth-grade students.¹  Sam Dillon of the New York Times characterizes the results as sluggish and disappointing.²

Scores on the most important nationwide math test increased only marginally for eighth graders and not at all for fourth graders, continuing a six-year trend of sluggish results that suggest the nation will not come close to bringing all children to proficiency by 2014, a central goal of the Bush-era federal education law, No Child Left Behind.

According to Mr. Dillon, the fact that racial and ethnic gaps still persist even since 2007 makes it especially disappointing.  Here's a summary of the results by racial/ethnic group from the NCES.

Among Fourth-Graders
White and Asian/Pacific Islander students continued to score higher on average than Black, Hispanic and American Indian/Alaska Native students in 2009.  Asian/Pacific Islander students also scored higher on average than White students.

Among Eight-Graders
In 2009, both White and Asian/Pacific Islander students scored higher on average than Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native students.  The average score for Asian/Pacific Islander students was also 8 points higher than the score for White students.

1National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
2Sam Dillon, “Sluggish Results Seen in U.S. Math Scores”, The New York Times, Oct. 14, 2009

Dear Prudence Says: Enough with Obsession with Ethnic Identity

What would your own advice be to Miss Manila Dilemna whose White parents can’t get past seeing her husband as only Filipino?

Foster: Minority Bank Exemplar?

Foster Bank¹ is one of fifteen minority banks in Illinois that are on track to success.  Seven other banks in its minority status have posted losses in the first half of this year.  In her business column today, Chicago Tribune’s Becky Yerak² seeks to unravel what has driven Foster Bank to go against such odds.  (The FDIC defines minority banks as those where the majority of the institution’s stocks are owned by "Black American, Asian American, Hispanic American, or Native American", and, additionally, where the bank’s board and the community it serves are as such.³)

According to Miss Yerak, the organization’s chief executive, Paul Byungtag Kim, attributes the bank’s positive status to the hefty portion of its loans going to commercial real estate that are owner-occupied hence less likely to become delinquent or fall into disrepair.  But, perhaps, it is also because the bank clearly embraces the diversity of the community it serves.  Miss Yerak writes:

More than 80 percent of Foster's customer base is Korean, but increasingly its main office at 5225 N. Kedzie Ave. serves Spanish-speaking and Arab customers. A branch on Devon caters to Pakistani and Indian consumers, while Russians heavily patronize its locations in Niles and Lincolnshire. Its Naperville office serves a Chinese population. To better serve its clientele, bank employees speak a dozen languages.

¹fosterbank.com
²Becky Yerak, “Foster Bank sees profits as other minority banks struggle”, Chicago Tribune, Oct. 12, 2009
³fdic.gov