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

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

"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

 

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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.

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

Jila Baniyaghoob: Fearless Iranian Reporter and Advocate for Women

The International Women's Media Foundation¹ will honor three female journalists who have put their lives at stake in pursuit of truth. One of the recipients of the 2009 Courage in Journalism Awards is Jila Baniyaghoob of Iran.

Jila Baniyaghoob, 38, freelance reporter and editor-in-chief of the website Kanoon Zanan Irani (Focus on Iranian Women), Iran. Baniyaghoob works in one of the most restrictive environments for both journalists and women in the world. Still, she has fearlessly reported on government and social oppression, particularly as they affect women. She has been fired from several jobs because she refuses to censor the subject matter of her reporting and several of her media outlets have been closed by the government. She has travelled throughout the Middle East, writing accounts of the lives of women and refugees during times of conflict. The topics of her reporting make her a target of the Iranian government. She has been beaten, arrested and imprisoned numerous times.²

Iryna Khalip (Belarus) and Agnès Tallé (Cameroon) are the other two women who will be receiving similar awards, while Amira Hass (Israel) will get the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Presenting the awards are Christiane Amanpour (CNN), David Gregory (Meet the Press), Irshad Manji (NYU), and David Westin (ABC News).  The ceremonies will be held at The Waldorf-Astoria in NYC on Tuesday, October 20th.

¹iwmf.org
²iranian.com

Mao and Deng: Now and Then

“So on this 60th anniversary, we should join in the celebration of the Deng revolution and not be distracted by the portrait of Mao hanging in Tiananmen Square”, concludes Ezra Vogel in her op-ed today in The New York Times.¹  Mr. Vogel argues that while Mao Zedong should be credited for laying the base for his successors’ accomplishments, “The true revolution belongs to Deng Xiaoping.”

Mr. Vogel views the leader’s major achievements in further opening the country’s door to foreign trade and investment, triggering massive infrastructure and industrial development and thereby raising millions of his countrymen from poverty.  Still, he does not ignore the many challenges China faces now since Deng’s assumption into power: “corruption, crackdowns on dissidents, environmental degradation, unequal educational opportunities and a failing rural health system”.

Should Deng Xiaoping then be held in higher stature in commemorating China’s revolution now and in future?  Absolutely!  Will Deng replace Mao as the iconic symbol of China’s turning point in its history?  I doubt it.

¹Ezra F. Vogel, “... But Deng Is the Leader to Celebrate”, The New York Times, Oct. 4, 2009

Not A Good Sign for Ensign: Ethics at Issue

Senator John Ensign (R-Nevada) made headlines last summer following the disclosure of his affair with a campaign aide, Cynthia Hampton.  His public apology—and, later, his criticisms of the President’s health care program—more or less quelled the scandal, even as the revelation caused the senator’s job as head of the Republican Senate Policy Committee and cut short any plans for the White House.  

Now, new allegations have surfaced involving Doug Hampton, a former campaign aide and the husband of his former mistress.¹  Eric Lichtblau and Eric Litpo of The New York Times report today on the two-term lawmaker’s purported involvement in lobbying activities that may have violated an ethics law that bars senior aides like Mr. Hampton from lobbying the Senate for a year after leaving their posts.  Senator Ensign denies any misdoing, but in his defense he can no longer characterize it as simply personal.  So far, there are no official calls to investigate into the senator's conduct.

(See related post, “First Chinese American Woman in Congress”)

¹Eric Lichtblau and Eric Litpo, ”Senator’s Aid After Affair Raises Flags Over Ethics”, The New York Times, Oct. 2, 2009

John Liu Wins Democratic Primary for NYC Controller

City Councilman John Liu (D-Queens) won the Democratic primary for Controller in yesterday's runoff, winning over Councilman David Yassky (D-Brooklyn) by a margin of 56% to 44%.  If Liu beats Republican Joe Mendola in the November 3 general election, Liu will become the first Asian-American to win citywide office in New York.¹

(See related post, "Historic NYC Primaries for Asian Americans")

¹ Erin Einhorn, Celeste Katz and Adam Lisberg, "John Liu & Bill de Blasio win runoff elections for city controller & public advocate - respectively", Daily News, Sept. 30 2009

Study Hard, Play by the Rules, and Speak Up.

Valerie Whitney, business writer for the News Journal, could not have better recapped her report on the theme of the last Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA)¹ meeting with the invocation expressed by guest speaker Councilman Josh Wagner (Volusia, Florida): “You need to speak up guys.”²

The councilman encouraged the estimated 100 hotel owners in attendance to participate more actively in public hearings on such issues as property taxes.  (AAHOA is scheduled to participate in two upcoming townhall meetings in Fort Myers, Sept. 23, and Tampa, Sept.24.)  The other speakers also summoned all to redefine its relationship with their local government and tourism development councils. 

Noting that already the majority of Best Western franchisees are Indian American-owned, the Florida regional director of the organization, Kirit Patidar, also urged members to play a more active role in the political process beginning with public issues that have a direct impact on their business.

But it was Bharat Patel of Econo Lodges of America Franchise Association Inc. in Sarasota, who echoing such a plea, delved into why Indian Americans who have become major players in the industry are holding themselves back.

All of us in this room have four things in common. Our parents told us to study hard, get a good education and play by the rules. They also told us not to get involved with politics. But the last eight years has taught us that the American Dream is slipping away.

There is comfort for some, including our more senior Asian Americans, in keeping with traditional tenets, but those are not enough to sustain us and succeed in the broader American landscape.  It is a difficult balancing act for some, but a necessary one, which our forefathers facing more severe circumstances in our history have more heavily invested in.  Speak up!

¹www.aahoa.com
²Valerie Whitney, “Association director: Asian hoteliers must be more visible”, Daytona Beach News Journal, September 19, 2009

Historic NYC Primaries for Asian Americans

The primary elections held last Tuesday brought Asian Americans in the forefront of New York City politics.  If victorious in the upcoming general elections, there would be milestones in the city’s history.¹

First of all, there’s John Liu who is running for city comptroller; he would be the first Asian American to hold a citywide office if wins the runoff and the general elections.  Then, there are the Asian American candidates winning the Democratic primaries for city council.  If they win the general elections, the city would have the first Korean American council member (Kevin Kim), the first Asian American to represent Chinatown (Margaret Chin), and there would be an additional Asian American council member (with Yen Chou also winning).

It’s about time!  Back in 1989 minority groups became the majority of the city’s population, only nine members of the council were African Americans or Hispanics—and no Asian Americans!  Following last Tuesday’s primaries, Hispanics, African and Asian Americans may very well consist a majority of the new city council, reflecting more closely the real face of the city’s diverse and vibrant population.<sup>2

1</sup>Shazia Khan, “Asian-Americans Win Historic City Primaries”, NY1, Sept. 17, 2009
²Sam Robert, “In Council, Minorities on Edge of Majority”, New York Times, September 18, 2009

President Carter: You tell the sad truth.

"I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man," Carter told NBC News' Brian Williams. "I live in the South, and I've seen the South come a long way, and I've seen the rest of the country that share the South's attitude toward minority groups at that time, particularly African Americans. And that racism inclination still exists. And I think it's bubbled up to the surface because of the belief of many white people, not just in the South but around the country, that African-Americans are not qualified to lead this great country. It's an abominable circumstance, and it grieves me and concerns me very deeply."¹

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

1salon.com

The Real Gun-Slinging Death Squads: “Engkwentro”

The Filipino film “Engkwentro” (Clash) which portrays the life within a real-life vigilante group supposedly backed by a politically powerful figure is named as Best Debut Film in the Orizzonti competition of the 66th Venice Film Festival that has just ended.¹ The film by 22-year director Pepe Diokno has also won the Luigi de Laurentiis Award for a debut film. Here’s a video clip from the producer’s website.²

This year’s Venice Film Festival is dominated by political themes, according to Reuters, reporting also today that video artist Shirin Neshat from Iran is best director Silver Lion for "Women Without Men". The film is about the experience of four women in Iran's 1953 coup, which draws clear parallels to recent protests that have caught the headlines.³

¹Ricky Lo, “RP film wins in Venice”, The Philippine Star
²EngkwentroMovieMultiply.com
³Mike Collett-White and Silvia Aloisi, “Political passions run high at Venice film festival”, Reuters India

For They Are Uninsured: Blessed are the poor?

The Census Bureau's annual report on income, poverty and health insurance may actually be bleaker than it looks.  That’s according to a Washington Post report which argues that, since the current data was collected in spring before millions more have lost their jobs, the situation may be worse now than what was just reported.¹

• The nation's poverty rate rose to 13.2% in 2008, up from 12.5% in 2007 (the first significant increase since 2004 and the highest level in 11 years)
• Median household income shrank to $50,303 in 2008, down from $52,163 in 2007 (the first drop in four years)
• The number of people without health insurance rose to 46.3 million in 2008, from 45.7 million in 2007 (continuing an eight-year decline)

However, even this Spring snapshot would seem dire enough for Latinos and Asian Americans, who showed the biggest increases in poverty rates, the biggest decreases in median household income, and biggest increases in the uninsured rate or the number of the uninsured.²

• Poverty rates rose at higher rates among Hispanics (23.2% in 2008, up from 21.5% in 2007) and Asian Americans (11.8 % in 2008, up from 10.2% in 2007); in contrast it rose at a lower rate among non-Hispanic whites (8.6 % in 2008, up from 8.2 %in 2007) and remained statistically unchanged for African Americans (24.7 percent).
• Real median income in 2008 declined 5.6% (to $37,913) among Hispanics and 4.4% ($65,637) to among Asians; in contrast, it declined 2.6% among non-Hispanic whites (to $55,530) and 2.8% among African Americans (to $34,218)
• The percentage of uninsured Hispanics decreased to 30.7% in 2008, from 32.1% in 2007. The uninsured rate for Asian Americans in 2008 rose to 17.6%, up from 16.8% in 2007.  In comparison, the uninsured rate and number of uninsured for non-Hispanic whites increased in 2008 to 10.8% and 21.3 million, from 10.4% and 20.5 million in 2007, while the uninsured rate and number of uninsured for African Americans in 2008 were not statistically different from 2007, at 19.1 percent and 7.3 million.  (Note the difference in U.S. Census reporting here for the percentage of the uninsured versus the uninsured rate.)

The challenges we face are very daunting indeed, but according to Congressman Mike Honda (California’s 15th Congressional District) in his article today, what we need is  political courage.³

The task is not small and demands strategies on all fronts, including a more diverse workforce, strengthened ethnic institutions, and improved evaluation and accountability measures. But we must do it quickly; the health of our nation and our economy depends on it. America deserves a health care system that enables everyone to live a healthier and happier life.

For those who would rather challenge the government's efforts to reach a pragmatic solution toward this task, it may be just too overwhelming for them to fathom.  For while what is the right thing to do is to face this challenge head-on, the opposition has taken the more politically expedient approach of wanton opposition.  Is it too steep a bar to reach?  Is it easier to brandish any language one can grasp ("death panel"), allude to any scapegoat one can route ("illegal immigrants"), rouse the irrational fears of the uninformed ("socialism"), or just shout as loudly as one can ("liar") to quiet any lucid conversation that needs to transpire.

¹ Carol Morello and Dan Keating, ”Millions More Thrust Into Poverty”, Washington Post
² “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008”, U.S. Census Bureau
³ Rep. Mike Honda, "‘Political Courage’ Needed for Health Care Reform", Nichi Bei Times

NYC & Boston Elections: An opportunity to make a difference

Several local elections are just a few weeks away, including:

• New York City Primary Elections - Tuesday, September 15, 2009
• Boston, MA Preliminary Elections - Tuesday September 22, 2009

If you live or work in New York City or Boston area, here's an opportunity for you to make a difference in helping Asian Americans freely exercise their right to vote. The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and over a dozen other Asian American organizations co-sponsoring this effort will provide volunteer training sessions in preparation for these upcoming primaries (and the general elections on November 3, 2009).

Below are the dates and locations for the Volunteer Training Sessions in New York City. (Lunch/dinner will be provided.)

• Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (Shearman & Sterling LLP, 599 Lexington Avenue at 53rd St.)
• Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 6:30 to 8:00 PM (White & Case LLP, 1155 Avenue of the Americas, bet. 44th and 45th Strs.)
• Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP, 767 Fifth Avenue at 59th St.)

The objective of this effort is to monitor the elections and conduct non-partisan voter surveys at polling sites in Asian American neighborhoods across New York City and Boston, Massachusetts. Volunteers will administer a multilingual voter survey in 3-hour shifts and document voting problems on Election Day. Polls are open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM in New York and 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM in Boston.

To sign up as a volunteer and for a training schedule, go to www.aaldef.net.  For more information, contact:

Glenn D. Magpantay, Bryan Lee, or Julia Yang
Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
99 Hudson Street, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013
800-966-5946
[email protected]

Don't miss out on this opportunity to make a difference!

Two Asian Americans in List of World’s Most Powerful Women

Indira Nooyi, chief executive at PepsiCo, ranks third in Forbes Magazine’s 2009 list of the world’s most powerful women.  Only one other Asian American makes it to the top 100; Andrea Jung, Avon’s chief executive, ranks 25th.¹

Indira Nooyi
Though 2008 revenues grew 10% from the year before and snack sales are holding, Nooyi has been struggling to revamp falling profits in PepsiCo's core beverage business. Focusing on innovation instead of acquisition, the company is debuting new product lines, targeted marketing and repackaging efforts in 2009. A re-launch of the energy drink Propel will advance Nooyi's plan to offer more healthful products to serve consumer demand. The group also launched a "Refresh Everything" campaign, featuring Pepsi Natural, made with all-natural ingredients, and Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback, inspired by designs of the 1960s and '70s. —Jenna Goudreau

Andrea Jung
Despite the down economy, Jung's leadership led Avon to report over $10 million in revenues for 2009. In the past year, Jung and Avon have partnered with actor Patrick Dempsey to create and promote a men's fragrance called "Patrick Dempsey Unscripted." Avon donated more than $5 million for earthquake victims in the Sichuan Province in China. Last spring, Avon donated $1.5 million to establish the Avon Global Center for Women and Justice at Cornell Law School to help combat violence against women. Jung, a Princeton grad, speaks fluent Chinese. —Chelsea Platt

The list includes ten other women from other Asian countries:

Rank
 5 – Ho Ching, Chief executive, Temasek (Singapore)
13 – Sonia Gandhi, President, Indian National Congress Party (India)
20 – Chanda Kochhar, Chief executive, ICICI Bank (India)
44 – Gloria Arroyo, President (Philippines)
72 – Sri Indrawati, Coordinating Minister for the Economy & Minister of Finance (Indonesia)
79 – Hasina Wajed, Prime minister (Bangladesh)
80 – Hyun Jeong-eun, Chairman, Hyundai Group (South Korea)
86 – Deb Henretta, Group president, Asia, Procter & Gamble (Singapore)
92 – Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Chairman, Biocon (India)
93 – Eva Cheng, Executive vice president, Amway Greater China & Southeast Asia (Hong Kong)

The Forbes list includes women with household names in their respective areas or industries.  The ranking is based on the extent of press coverage one gets and the overall significance of each in relation to the organization they are managing.  Hence it's more about influence rather than popularity.

¹“The World's 100 Most Powerful Women”, Edited by Mary Ellen Egan and Chana R. Schoenberge, Forbes.com

Senator Edward Kennedy: Rest in peace!

The beloved senator strongly supported the Hart-Cellar Act of 1965, which sought to give people from all nations an equal footing for U.S. immigration, replacing an old system that gave preferential treatment to Europeans.¹

¹Center for Immigration Studies

Scholarly Report. Historical Survey. Discouraging Exclusion of Asian Americans.

A Washington Post article today speculates how President Obama’s future federal bench appointments would add to its diversity, alluding to a new report from Brookings Institution’s Russell Wheeler, "The Changing Face of the Federal Judiciary."¹  It is discouraging that Asian Americans were systematically excluded in this purportedly scholarly study.

“Asian American judges have been so rare on the federal bench that Wheeler did not account for them in his historical survey.”

Revisiting a previous post from this blog, there are incongruous statistics related to their under-representation of Asian Americans in the federal courts.²

“However, of the 810 Article III judges actively serving on the federal bench, only seven, or less than 1 percent, are Asian American (data as of April 2008), while Asian Americans make up 3.6 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census conducted in 2000.

“This under-representation might come from a lack of Asian Americans in the legal profession. But the Asian American Bar Association (AABA) reports that approximately 5.3 percent of all attorneys in our nation’s largest law firms and 6.3 percent of all law students are Asian American.”³

¹  “Who’s Sitting on the Federal Bench” by Robert Barnes in the The Washington Post
²  “Seven:  The number of federal judges who are Asian American”

See other related posts:
“President Obama Nominates Asian American Federal Court Judges”
“Federal Judge Takasugi:  Rest in peace!”
“American Justice Under Strain”

Raja Krishnamoorthi: A Would-Be First For Illinois

The former state Deputy Treasurer Raja Krishnamoorthi formally announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for comptroller last Sunday. If elected, Krishnamoorthi will become the first Asian American to hold office in the state of Illinois.¹

The U.S. Census estimates over half a million in the state identify themselves as Asian American, which representing only four percent of the total state population.² That raises the significance of Krishnamoorthi candidacy by itself. The 36-year old lawyer is a strong supporter of President Barack Obama; he worked for Obama’s U.S. Senate run back in 2004. Krishnamoorthi is running a campaign aimed at a cleaner and more transparent government, ethics reform, and an overhaul of state cemetery regulations.³

¹ Chicago Tribune
² U.S.Census
³ Raja Krishnamoorthi’s website

Chicago Breaking News offers this video report on Krishnamoorthi’s formal candidacy.

 

Immigration Reform: The Call To Act Now

The last presidential elections drew an historic turnout not seen in 40 years.  New census data reveals that, compared to 2004, the 2008 elections also saw a significant increase in the number of Hispanic, Asian and African Americans exercising their right to vote.  The rate of increase in turnout among Asian American voters is over 20%, next only to Latinos.  Releasing this data, the Immigration Policy Center also points out that politicians who ignore this “demographic wake-up call” will pay a price at the polls.

Immigration reform is an important issue for Latinos and Asians, given that the majority of these groups are immigrants or children of immigrants.  The call for Latinos and Asians to manifest their clout in this issue need not wait ‘til the next elections.

• The Reform Immigration For America campaign is a coalition of various advocacy groups that is leading the call to action now.  Visit their site to send a fax your congress leader or to enlist your organization in the coalition: www.reformimmigrationforamerica.org

Many Asian and Pacific Islander communities have already joined the ranks in their support of this.  In fact, this week marks the first-ever National Asian American Week of Action for comprehensive immigration reform.  In a national display of unity and coordination, activists across the nation will hold press events, and attend town hall meetings with U.S. lawmakers to push for a comprehensive immigration reform.

• The Asian Pacific Americans for Progress is one of many championing this cause with a list of activities that extend through fall.  Today is National Text-in day.  Visit their site to learn more: http://www.apaforprogress.org/aapis-call-immigration-reform

President Kim Dae-jung: Rest in peace!

The former president of South Korea, Kim Dae-jung, died today at the age of 85, the Associated Press reports.

A champion of human rights and a pro-democracy leader, he survived years of imprisonment and exile under the rule of two military juntas.  After a couple of futile attempts to serve as the nation’s top leader, Kim Dea-jung was elected president at age 72.  As president, he earned the Nobel Peace Prize following a summit with North Korea.  It opened the door for reconciliation and resulted in emotional reunions for many families separated by war between the two governments.  It also earned him the Nobel Peace Prize, the first and only for a South Korean.

Senator Wins American's Release: Is Suu Kyi next?

Senator Webb won the release John Yettaw, the American who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment because of his attempt to meet with Myanmar’s political prisoner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  The senator also met with the country’s junta leader Senior General Than Shwe to request for Suu Kyi’s release.

Senator Webb Travels To Myanmar

The New York Times today reports that Virginia Senator Jim Webb is due in Myanmar this weekend to discuss with junta leaders the situation with pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  Aung San Suu Kyi has recently been tried and sentenced anew resulting in the extension of her house arrest that now spans several years, essentially because of her opposition to the current government.  (See related post, “Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Sentenced”.)

Senator Jim Webb is traveling independently, but State officials view it as an opportunity to opening communication lines between the two countries.  As chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, Mr. Webb is driven to re-engage with Southeast Asia at all levels.  Given his fine credentials, he is well qualified to lead this endeavor.  We join the global community‘s outcry against Aung San Suu Kyi’s unjust incarceration, and hope Mr. Webb’s efforts will lead to her release.

AAPI's White House Briefing: What’s next?

Last Thursday’s White House briefing sought to engage Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders into public service.  Bringing over eighty interns from various organizations in Washington D.C., the Office of Public Engagement brought speakers to talk about “the importance of engagement and empowerment”.  Representatives from the Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizens League, National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, Indian American Leadership Council, DC Mayor’s Office on Asian Pacific Islander Affairs, among others, were present.

It was an opportunity for the White House to reach out to Asian Americans to have a seat in the table and to point out that more Asian Americans have been appointed to office than previous administrations.  In turn, Brad Baldia, representing the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NACAP), hailed the meeting as “just the beginning of an ongoing dialogue” and an “unprecedented opportunity to have their voices heard and address important concerns”.

We salute this fine gesture from the administration and the strong presence of the AAPI coalition.  There are pressing issues where our voice needs to be heard.  In the ongoing health care debate, sensible talk that seeks pragmatic solutions should rise above all the distractive noise and the destructive political rambling.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s Sentence: Shameful!

After 13 years under political detention, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to an additional 18 months for violating conditions of her house arrest.  Amnesty International calls for nothing but the immediate and unconditional release of the pro-democracy leader of Myanmar.

‘Amnesty International's Secretary General Irene Khan described the verdict as ‘shameful’, adding that ‘her arrest and trial and now this guilty verdict are nothing more than legal and political theatre.’

A worldwide movement against human rights abuse, Amnesty International calls us to action by writing to Dr Surin Pitsuwan, Secretary General of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), and calling on them to secure the release of Myanmar's prisoners of conscience.

Asian American Judges Nominated to Federal Court

Three Asian Americans have recently been nominated for appointment as federal judges in California’s Central and Northern U.S. District Courts.  The White House press release gives us a brief background of each, indicating why they merited the confidence of President Obama in nominating them for appointment.

Judge Jacqueline H. Nguyen: Nominee for the Central District of California
Judge Jacqueline Nguyen is currently a Superior Court Judge for the County of Los Angeles, a position to which she was appointed in August 2002. Judge Nguyen received her undergraduate degree from Occidental College in 1987 and her law degree from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1991. From 1991 to 1995, Nguyen worked in private practice where she specialized in civil litigation. From 1995 until August 2002, Nguyen was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California. During her tenure in that office, she served as Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section. Judge Nguyen is being nominated to the United States District Court for the Central District of California and was rated well-qualified by the ABA.

Judge Edward Milton Chen: Nominee for the Northern District of California
Judge Edward Chen currently serves as a U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, a position he has held since 2001. Judge Chen received his undergraduate degree from the University of California – Berkeley in 1975 and his law degree from Boalt Hall School of Law in 1979. Immediately following law school, he served judicial clerkships for U.S. District Judge Charles B. Renfrew for the Northern District of California and U.S. Circuit Judge James R. Browning of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. From 1982 until 1985, he worked as an associate at the San Francisco firm of Coblentz, Cahen, McCabe & Breyer. Between 1985 and taking the bench in 2001, Judge Chen worked as a staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union, Northern California Chapter, where he was primarily engaged in civil litigation. Judge Chen is being nominated for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Dolly Gee: Nominee for the Central District of California
Dolly Gee is a managing partner in the Los Angeles law firm Schwartz, Steinsapir, Dohrmann & Sommers LLP, where she practices labor and employment litigation. She received her BA from UCLA in 1981 and her JD from UCLA Law School in 1984. After graduating from law school, she clerked for Judge Milton Schwartz on the District Court for the Eastern District of California. She has worked as a Regional Coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters supervising delegate elections, and has been an arbitrator for the Kaiser Permanente Independent Arbitration System since 2000. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian Pacific American Legal Center of Southern California and a past President of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association. She is being nominated to the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

See related posts: Judge Takasugi: Pioneering, Seven: The number of federal judges who are Asian American

Judge Takasugi: Pioneering

The New York Times' Bruce Weber remembers today Judge Robert Takasugi who passed away last Tuesday.  The late judge was not only a pioneer Asian American in the federal court.  In his late years, he was also a stalwart defender of individual rights.

'“When weighed against a fundamental constitutional right which defines our very existence,” he wrote, “the argument for national security should not serve as an excuse for obliterating the Constitution.”'

As a side note, Bruce Weber corrects the notion that Judge Takasugi was the first Japanese American judge appointed to a federal court.  It was actually Shiro Kashiwa who was earlier named to the United States Court of Claims, Mr. Weber points out.  Notwithstanding, Judge Takasugi is a true role model for the Asian-American community.

Read Bruce Weber's entire article at:  www.nytimes.com

Federal Judge Takasugi: Rest in peace!

The Daily Breeze reports:  “U.S. federal Judge Robert M. Takasugi, a one-time internment camp inmate who became the first Japanese American to be appointed to the federal bench, has died. He was 78.”  Rest in peace!

See related post, “Seven:  The number of federal judges who are Asian American”

Cory! Cory! Cory!

Thrust into the political arena following her husband’s assassination, Corazon Aquino, with her message of hope and her sincerity and the landmark People Power movement, catapulted into the Philippine presidency ending 20 years of the Marcos “national nightmare”. Rest in peace!



Seth Mydans of The New York Times writes about the significance of the peaceful uprising that brought Mrs. Aquino to power and why her survival in her presidency at such a tenuous time was a solid accomplishment by itself.

Seven: The number of federal judges who are Asian American

Contributing his commentary for the Northwest Asian Weekly, Rommel Deleon Clemente calls for more Asian Americans to serve as judges in the federal court and points to incongruous statistics related to their under-representation.

“However, of the 810 Article III judges actively serving on the federal bench, only seven, or less than 1 percent, are Asian American (data as of April 2008), while Asian Americans make up 3.6 percent of the U.S. population, according to the U.S. Census conducted in 2000.”

“This under-representation might come from a lack of Asian Americans in the legal profession. But the Asian American Bar Association (AABA) reports that approximately 5.3 percent of all attorneys in our nation’s largest law firms and 6.3 percent of all law students are Asian American.”

(See related post "First Chinese American in Congress")

Hate Crimes Law Update: People first!

The Washington Post reported last Thursday the broadening of federal hate crime laws to include those motivated by “gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability”.  Before the expansion of the law, hate crimes cover only those motivated by race, color, national origin, or religion.  (See related post:  “Calling All Hate Crime Victims”)

The vote passed with a wide margin (63-28) overcoming efforts from Republicans to block the legislation.  Asian American groups support the new law, including the Asian American Justice Center who rallied for its passage.  Senators Akaka and Inouye of Hawaii voted yea.  Nevada Senator John Ensign voted nay.  (See related post:  “First Chinese American Woman in Congress”)

John Ensign, a veterinarian, pursues his animal advocacy as a U.S. Senator, particularly on federal legislature for the protection of animals against mistreatment.  Animals first, people second, Senator?

The Dearth of Asian Americans Voters: Are you registered?

In his Op-Ed article in the New York Times yesterday, columnist Charles Blow assesses the Republican Party’s dilemma on how to steer its course in response to the rapidly changing face of the electoral landscape.  “While some bemoan the dearth of minorities in the party, others seem bent on ensuring it”, wrote Mr. Blow.  Charles Blow cites data that the non-White electorate continues to grow rapidly and that they tend to register as Democrats.

Since 1996, regardless of party affiliation, the non-White vote has expanded sharply, driven mainly by Hispanics whose share of registered voters has increased by 5-% points at each of the three following presidential elections.  The share of registered African American voters has also grown though not as rapidly but the percentage of Asian Americans remains unchanged in the same period.

Perhaps this now-anemic GOP should revive one of Bob Dole’s slogans back in 1996 that their umbrella is wide enough for everyone—but this time, really, really mean it.  Good luck to them because, as Charles Blow reveals, they have a long, long way to go!

Talking about anemic, how come the share of Asian Americans in the pie has not risen?  The next presidential election is years away and, who knows, the face of both parties may still change until then, but don’t let that stop you from registering now.  I doubt that the Republicans will steal the Democrat’s franchise on minorities anytime soon.  I’m hopeful though that there will be an up-tick in the percentage of registered Asian American voters when they report this again by 2012.

First Chinese American Woman in Congress: Are we still in the sixties?

Judy Chu joins Congress today following her wide lead victory in a special election.  Representing the 32nd District of California, Miss Chu replaces Hilda Solis who is now U.S. Labor Secretary.  The 59-year old San Gabriel Valley Democrat takes on this new role after a long career in politics spanning 24 years.  (See details in today's LA Times.)

This is encouraging news signaling how Asian Americans have continued to come out of the shadows to front and center in today's electoral landscape.  Yet it is also shocking that such a milestone did not come any sooner, considering Rep. Chu was barely a year old when an Asian American (Dalip Singh Saund of California) was first elected to Congress in 1956.  More than half a decade ago, Asian American visibility is still coming out the fringes.

It was in the 60’s and 70’s that a series of firsts trickled into our historical records.  In 1962, Hiram Fong of Hawaii became the first Asian American senator elected into Congress.  Two years later, Patsy Takemoto Mink also from Hawaii became the first Asian American woman to serve in Congress.  I just wish similar firsts could have happened shortly thereafter.

Judy Chu now joins the roster of Asian Americans currently serving in the U.S. Congress:

Senate

• Sen. Daniel Inouye of Hawaii (Dem), 1963–
• Sen. Daniel Akaka of Hawaii (Dem), 1990–
• Sen. John Ensign of Nevada (Rep), 2001–

House of Representatives

• Rep. Robert C. Scott of Virginia (Dem), 1993–
• Rep. David Wu of Oregon (Dem), 1998–
• Rep. Mike Honda of California (Dem), 2001–
• Rep. Doris Matsui of California (Dem), 2005–
• Rep. Mazie Hirono of Hawaii (Dem), 2007–
• Rep. Steve Austria of Ohio (Dem), 2009–
• Rep. Joseph" Cao of Louisiana (Rep), 2009–
• Rep. Judy Chu of California (Dem), 2009–

On Blue Bayou

President Obama announces this morning the nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin as Surgeon General.  Describing her qualifications and background, the president alludes to a little known town in Alabama where the doctor left her mark.  “None has been more pertinent to today's challenges or closer to Regina's heart than the rural health clinic that she has built and rebuilt in Bayou La Batre.”

The president expounds, “Bayou La Batre is a rural town of about 2,500 people. It's a shrimping town, where a lot of folks work for themselves, scrape by, and can't usually afford health insurance.”  He added how interesting the town’s demography is “because you've got whites, blacks and Asians in this community. There are a lot of Laotians and Cambodians who have moved there and are a part of this shrimping town.”

Apart from the devastating damage Hurricane Katrina has brought to this area and how inspiring leaders like Dr. Regina Benjamin continues to contribute to its recovery, Bayou La Batre is also significant landmark for early Asian Americans.  In her book, “Survivors”, Sucheng Chan shares how Asian workers were brought in to this town to supplant the prevailing core of workers then, African Americans.  Divide and conquer!  “Owners and managers like employees from Indochina because they are concerned about the relative ease of controlling various groups of workers.” 

Likewise, Miss Chen describes the move as part of a campaign to bolster the industry’s suffering image in the wake of increased health consciousness in the late 70’s.  Perhaps, lack of compliance to FDA regulations was more prevalent then than they are now.  The plant owners have capitalized on this new awareness by conveying the message that “their plants were utterly clean even if they employed Indochinese workers.”

Dr. Regina Benjamin’s hope to be “America's family physician” will hopefully be realized if confirmed as Surgeon General.  We all will need to follow through her assurance that “no one, [she repeats] no one falls through the cracks” in this administration’s goal of providing health care to all.  We owe such supportive vigilance to the people of Bayou La Batre, given their history as a racial cauldron once subjected to such unapologetically unjust agitation.

American Justice Under Strain

In her New York Times article today, Julia Preston confirms what many already know, that U.S. immigration judges are overwhelmed by unrealistic goals, beset by mounting caseloads and the shortage of time and resources.  These findings are based on a new study published by a Georgetown University law journal.

In a related story, Miss Preston reports a White House program that extends federal immigration enforcement to state and local police with specific focus on the “capture of illegal immigrants who committed serious crimes”.  She cites resistance from immigrant advocates who argue that it will raise fear that a wider net will include immigrants with no criminal records.

These two developments underscore the same nagging issues that face our health care system, namely the focus on curing the symptoms rather on prevention.  Of course, we do not need more criminals in our already overcrowded prisons, the dark alleys of fugitives or, for that matter, the fathomless limbo of immigrant detention.  But, consider the wide spectrum of state-by-state action—or inaction—to this yet unclear process, the ill consequences of which can be as far-reaching and perhaps as uncontainable as is already the entire immigration system morass.

Addressing the challenges faced by the immigration judges should be of greater priority, ensuring that legitimate processes are not impaired by bureaucratic inadequacies or reactive expedience.  These challenges are as clear-cut as what the sensible and practical remedies should be.  Recognizing that a legal route is fair and just and workable is a prominent deterrent to going around the system or the fence.  In the meantime, let’s figure out a more pragmatic blueprint to ridding our streets of “serious” criminals, other than unleashing a potential witch-hunt.