Asian Outlook Fall 2007 Issue #1

ASIAN OUTLOOK Chinese Gover nment Cracking Down on Media?

Analysis of Asian American Academics.

Lear n Funny Asian Pick Up Lines. Use With Caution.

VOLUME XX ISSUE I

Missionaries Force South Korean GovGovernment To Make Difficult Deal.

Is China Choking On Its Own Growth?

Exclusive: David Lee’s Strange Tale in Korea.

EDITOR‘S

Dear Readers,

NOTE

Welcome to the first issue of Asian Outlook for the fall semester.

I cannot express how relieved I am that the issue is finally out.

For a painstaking amount of weeks, nearly everyone I know has been asking the nerve-wrecking question, “When is the first issue Asian Outlook coming out?” Truth be told, I was tormented by the pressure to meet the expectations and trembled under the !!!

FACE legacy our last editor, R U IN YO Peter Lam, left me.

Someone once told me, it is the Editor-in-Chief who molds and directs the magazine according to her vision – I disagree with this. Rather, it is the dedication of our staff that has guided this issue into what it is. Simply put, our new and incredibly talented staff and members went well beyond my expectations.

Further, our staff reminded me and reiterated the fact that Asian Outlook has an important purpose on campus; it is to educate the campus about Asian and Asian American issues that would otherwise go on unaddressed, and to provide an outlet for expressing a different outlook.

In short, our business is to be right up in your face about Asian and Asian American issues. What better way to achieve that than to publish a (colored)magazine, distribute it all over campus, stalk you on facebook, and publish a website (www.binghamtonasu.org/ao/ is still under construction).

And it seems that “being right up in your face” is also the theme of this October issue. So many things occurred over the summer, on an international level, that it became surreal. For once, instead of sweeping Asian issues under the rug, they exploded across the pages of newspapers and media broadcasts.

And so, without further adieu, I present to you our incredibly explosive October issue.

-- Yi Cheung ao.editor@gmail.com

P.S. Watch out for our performance at Asian Night, November 10th 2007.

STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF YI CHEUNG

PUBLICITY KAMING CHEUNG

EDITORIAL STAFF FANG FANG FU JARUCHA JIRADACHAREON WILL TO

LAYOUT STAFF WILSON CHEN LALI HA ELLIOT WON

CONSCIENCE EDITOR DEVEK SINGH

TREASURER JIE LIN

Editorial Policy. Asian Outlook is the art, literary, and news magazine of the Asian Student Union at the State University of New York at Binghamton. Conceived and designed to challenge and reconceptualize forms of awareness of Asians and Asian Americans, it serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, or political orientation. All matter contained within do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board.

Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and to publish materials as deemed appropriate.

Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editor prior to submission. Articles may be submitted as an email attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com, and all literary and art pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail.com.

Cover Pictures. <http://www.viciouslydemonic.com/dustinthewind/images/jeo njung08.jpg> <http://www.aesi1.com/images/air-pollution-systems.jpg> <http://www.amigosintecionales.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/north_korean_old_woman_digging_for_roots.169 122755_std.jpg> <http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/08/29/world/29afg han.600.jpg>

Thanks to all our contributors:

Victor Chan, Fan Chen, Kris Lau, Dan Dan Liu, Sunroot Liu, Alice Liou, Rekstizzy tha New King of Pop, Kari Tam Asian Outlook is currently accepting articles, art, and literary pieces for the November issue. Deadline is Nov 4th 2007.

Weekly meetings Mondays 7pm @ UU329

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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Contents 1 9

12 11 20 24 26 4 7

Volume XX Issue I

EDITOR’S NOTE

Praises for October’s issue

COVER STORIES CRACKING DOWN ON THE MEDIA

by Dan Dan Liu

Is China creating a conspiracy and censoring the truth?

ASIAN AMERICAN ACADEMICS

Are parents the secret to getting into Harvard?

by Elliot Won

PICK UP LINES IN KOREAN AND CHINESE Asianese Language Column

by Fan Chen, Lali Ha, and Elliot Won A CASE OF RELIGIOUS FERVOR

by Lali Ha

The story of 22 Korean hostages who were held by the Taliban

CHINA TRIES TO SAVE FACE FROM by Victor Chan IT’S POLLUTION PROBLEMS China’s growing economy and pollution problem

FORBIDDEN TALES FROM KOREA

by Rekstizzy tha New King A comical tale of one man’s journey into Korea of Pop

FEATURES MEET THE SUBGGROUPS OF ASIAN STUDENT UNION About the Asian Student Union and its seven subgroups

THE “CHINESE AMERICAN” IN CHINA NIGHT

by CASU eboard

A rebuttal to Tansy Woan’s critique of China Night

12

15

22

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15

17

by Yi Cheung

CHINA RECALL: TO BLAME OR NOT TO BLAME?

by Jarucha Jiradachareon

An update on China’s overpopulation problem

18 14

ONE CHILD TOO MANY

China was forced to recall its poisonous products.

COLUMNS [UN]FASHION COLUMN

by Jae Zhou

Just a few grievances [on flip flops].

PINEAPPLE ORANGE SORBET

by Kari Tam

HANA YORI DANGO AND CROSS-CULTURAL APPEAL

by Karina Rodrigues

Kari’s Vegan Recipe Corner.

22

Conscience

Vertigo is a column about Asian pop culture.

ART

29

▪DOLL PARTS

by Kaming Cheung 33 ▪SAD THOUGHTS

by Kari Tam 37 ▪UNTITLED (ASIAN STUDENT UNION ARTWORK) 38 ▪PROGRESS

by Kris Lau BACKCOVER ▪UNTITLED

by Kari Tam

by Alice Liou

POEMS

28 30 31 32

▪ESTHER

by Sunroot Liu ▪FERRIS WHEEL: A MAD REAL POEM by Rekstizzy the New King of Pop

▪T[H]REE

by Devek Singh ▪SHE WAS THERE TO WITNESS THE BLOOD ON THE CHAIR

by Kaming Cheung CREATIVE WRITING

34

▪CANON IN D

by Will To 36 ▪CREATIVE WRITING FOR CHINAMEN

by Sunroot Liu

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Meet the Subgroups Of the Asian Student Union: ASU KASU AO BUJA CASU PAL VSA TASC

Asian Student Union Korean American Student Association Asian Outlook Binghamton Japanese Student Association Chinese American Student Union Philippine American League Vietnamese Student Association Taiwanese American Student Coalition

ASIAN STUDENT UNION

Established since 1985, the Asian Student Union, ASU serves as the umbrella organization of the seven Asian-interest student groups that includes AO, BUJA, CASU, KASA, PAL, TASC, and VSA. We also work to unify the Asian subgroups in hopes to magnify the impact the Asian and Asian American community has on campus. Our primary focus is to serve our subgroups and guide them towards success. Through workshops, cultural events, general interest meetings, and other events we hope to educate the campus about our cultures and promote awareness.

EVENTS This semester, ASU will be holding the 7th annual Asian Night in collaboration with our subgroups and other groups on campus. This celebration of culture, traditions, and most importantly, unity is on November 10, 2007 in the Mandela Room. It will be a night full of unique performances and cultural food. Ticket sales will begin in the middle of October.

For more information, please visit our website at www.binghamtonasu.org or our facebook group. We hope to see you there.

KOREAN AMERCIAN STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Unity and Representation for all Korean and Korean Americans is what the Korean American Student Association is about. Through cultural workshops, shows and social events, our main goal is to educate others, as well as ourselves, about our heritage as Koreans and our identity as Korean Americans. Whether one is Christian, non-Christian, English-speaking or Korean-speaking, we strive to walk in solidarity with the knowledge that we are all Korean. As representatives of KASA and students of Binghamton University, we organize various events and workshops to accommodate the needs of all Korean Students on campus.

EVENTS Every year KASA hosts at least four events: Korean Banquet, KASA Semiformal, Korean Night and Coffeehouse/Open mic. Korean Banquet and Korean Night are cultural shows that feature traditional Korean dances/drums, our famous modern dance (MoDa) and the always entertaining skit. KASA Semiformal is our prom-like event held in the fall semester where we eat, dance, play games and have fun with our dates. And lastly, Coffeehouse is an open mic event where anyone, Korean or non-Korean, can come and display their talents. It can be reciting a poem, dancing, singing, or even stand-up comedy. Aside from the major events, KASA also has a Big sib/Lil sib program where upper classmen take the younger members underneath their wing, and act as mentors for them during their college career.

Yeah I know, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re pretty awesome.

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ASIAN OUTLOOK MAGAZINE

Asian Outlook Magazine (AO) was founded in 1988 as a cultural publication to voice the concerns of the Asian student body on campus. Our purpose is to educate our readers about the key world issues concerning Asians and Asian Americans, and to provide a forum for students, especially Asian American students, to publish and expose their work to the public. We strive to promote an understanding of Asian culture and Asian-American related issues.

Asian Outlook endeavors to publish an issue on a monthly basis, and distributes it throughout campus.

We are always seeking submissions from students; our next submission deadline is November 4th, please submit art and literary pieces to aoconscience@gmail.com, and all other pieces to ao.editor@gmail.com. Weekly meetings are Mondays 7 pm @ UU329.

EVENTS October issue and November issue.

BINGHAMTON JAPANESE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

Binghamton University Japanese Association (BUJA) was founded by Yumiko Yamamoto and Toshiko S. Furuta on October 19, 1993. BUJA was the first Japanese organization chartered under Asian Student Union (ASU). The name ‘BUJA’ is closely associated with the kanji that makes up the Japanese name of the association. The kanji (pronounced ‘Busha’) means ‘Samurai Spirit’ or ‘Samurai person’.

The purpose of BUJA is to promote Japanese culture and language to the students on this campus. Another big purpose of BUJA is to help out Japanese students who find it difficult to handle the transition of life in Japan to life in America.

BUJA is also an organization of much diversity.

Many of its members are not Japanese, but those who have a strong interest in learning more about Japan.

Therefore, along with Japanese students, BUJA works with all those have an interest in Japan and Japanese culture and language.

EVENTS Fall: Ghost House - Oct. 19th Fri PM6:30~ @UU133 Spring: Japan Night - March @ Mandela CHINESE AMERICAN STUDENT UNION EVENTS Game Night (Nov. 2nd) Lunar New Year Banquet (Feb. 2nd) China Night (April 26th)

Contact BUCASU@yahoo.com or flo.laub@yahoo.com.

Founded in 1982, CASU has served as an educational and social voice for the Chinese American community on campus. Through cultural and social events, CASU members can unite and share common interests on local, national, or international issues that are relevant to the Chinese and Chinese-American culture. We are here as a voice for a new culture that has formed throughout the years, and one that will continue to form for years to come. That culture is the Chinese-American culture. As an organization, we base our concepts on cultural and political awareness of all races and cultures, as well as unity among the Asian cultures.

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PHILIPPINE AMERICAN LEAGUE

Our purpose is to spread Filipino culture within the college community and to welcome Filipino as well as non-Filipino students to participate in our activities and get a better understanding of Filipino heritage. Our mission is to create unity and awareness among different organizations on campus through various educational, cultural, and social events. We strive to stimulate the academic, cultural, and social interests of Filipino-Americans and introduce the Philippine culture to the college community.

EVENTS Throughout the semester, PAL will be having educational workshops, a Thanksgiving potluck, an open gym event, a paintball trip, and a banquet. This year’s banquet will be on Friday, October 26th at the Old Union Hall and features a sock hop theme.

Ticket sales are on Wednesday, October 24th 12pm4pm and on Thursday, October 25th 11am-4pm at the New Union.

For any questions, send an e-mail over to binghamtonpal@yahoo.com!

TAIWANESE AMERICAN STUDENT COALISTION

The Binghamton University Taiwanese American Student Coalition (TASC) was chartered by the Student Association in November 1994. The Binghamton University Taiwanese American Student Coalition is a network of students who come together

VIETNAMESE STUDENT ASSOCIATION

VSA is the Vietnamese Student Association on campu. The purpose of VSA is to promote and celebrate the Vietnamese culture and traditional values and to serve as a forum for Vietnamese students to come together. Our organization also has interests in creating strong ties with the surrounding Vietnamese Community in and around Binghamton. Our goal is to provide an atmosphere where we can learn and educate about the Vietnamese identity and to offer an opportunity to actively address the issues and concerns of Vietnam and Vietnamese-Americans.

We are a small but fun group. We plan cultural events and perform. As a group we love to cook and make summer rolls. There are also workshops each semester that are social and academic.

EVENTS For fall semester, look forward to VSA’s potluck and Saigon Cafe.

And spring semester we will have Vietnam Night.

We will keep everyone updated and keep out an eye for our flyers.

based on a common interest in Taiwanese culture. We provide a support group, help define one’s Taiwanese American identity, and afford an opportunity to address the concerns of Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans.

The goals of TASC are to promote an environment in which the student body can get to know each other, learn about Taiwan and Taiwanese culture, and to promote events that share many aspects of the Taiwanese culture to the public.

EVENTS Events for the school year include Night Market which recreates an authentic night market from Taiwan, Asian Night with the Asian Student Union, and the TASC Banquet which have Taiwanese food and cultural performances. We look forward to seeing you at TASC’s events!

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The “Chinese-American” in China Night A rebuttal to Tansy Woan’s critique of China Night, “Where is the ‘China’ in China Night?”

A

BY CASU E-BOARD

midst the rigors of ever looming exams and limited resources, members of CASU, who are students themselves, choose to undertake immeasurable odds in order to bring China Night to the masses. It is without question that since my freshman year, I have seen this show expand, reinvent and attempt to achieve new prominence. The

defining purpose of the CASU eboard has always been to produce the best show possible with an emphasis on promoting Chinese culture. And they have done this. In the recent years there has been a gradual but evident reincorporation of many Chinese staples of art into China Night. These range from lion dances and traditional dances to Chinese pop culture and even old fashioned Chinese operas. However, we cannot ignore those who compose a large portion of this show’s audience. The CASU members, the performers, and even the audience are more than Chinese –

“The defining purpose of

the CASU e-board has always been to produce the best show possible with an emphasis on promoting Chinese culture.”

we are Chinese American. It should be known that we are privileged to be able to experience life through the eyes of two different cultures.

As our lives run their daily course through a mash-up of Chinese and American fundamentals, it is only accurate that we portray this in our performances as well.

Last year’s China Night is a fervent example of how the show has never limited the Chinese institutions that make up its foundation, but rather expanded upon it.

Despite Ms. Tansy Woan’s insistence that “…[A]ll the dances are entirely unrelated to our culture…[with] vapid, bikini- or Northfaceclad mongoloids who shook their asses to hip hop,” it should be noted that performances developed that year were done tastefully. They incorpo-

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rated traditional Chinese expositions (fan dancing, ribbon dancing, etc) with modern visions unique to the hard working students of Binghamton University. And while everyone is subjective to their own views, it should be noted that Ms. Woan was a performer herself.

And despite the fact that the correct amount of Chinese and American ideals included for each performance is really subjective to individual preference, the show achieved it with admirable success.

This success, of course, is furthered justified by the ability of these students to triumph over their limited resources. Lion dances, students singing songs from Chinese history or Chinese pop culture, and fashion shows with more traditional clothing are all desirable, and have all been aspired for by CASU, but realized to be impractical or outright impossible. The simple matter of fact is that China Night lacks the resources, in willing participants and funds. At the end of the day, the students that do volunteer are doing it for free, and out of their passion for the show. As these

individuals sit in their dorms sewing, building and practicing, we should remember they too have classes to go to, and project deadlines to meet. For anyone to slight their work in any way is preposterous!

China Night has always been about the students and it should stay that way. Hip hop routines and trendy fashion shows are physical illustrations of what the performer relates to in her modern life, and the direct extension of what it means to be Chinese in America. Even the inclusion of skits that address Chinese stereotypes are blueprints into the ills and humors of our society. Yet, the ideas expressed in Tansy Woan’s article seem to equate this with impertinence toward Chinese culture when it just isn’t the case. Without these additions, we would be denying the fact that American culture has been slowly intertwining with our Chinese culture.

And while I do express similar concerns relating to what Ms. Woan explicates as “advertisements of China Night-huge spreads of

speech.

half-naked Asian women in bikinis posing under waterfalls in the Pipe Dream,” this was simply the expressed view of individual students.

It should be noted that CASU did not in anyway suggest or approve these ads. The controversy over their “tastefulness” would be more in line during discussions of free

Still, the fact of the matter is, Ms. Woan’s ejection from the CASU e-board was never a personal matter, but due to her inability to commit to the rigorous demands that China Night requires.

Her attention to many different clubs was addressed to her prior, but CASU has always been equal opportunity in its membership, and so when she guaranteed she could meet the requirements, she was allowed to sit as China Night CoChair. However, this proved to be an ill-fitted coupling, and despite her experiences with China Night, the e-board had to make the tough decision of replacing her in order to ensure the show went on.

There is more than just “China” in China Night, there is the love and dedication of the performers and e-board and everything we believe to make us Chinese Americans.

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I

Cracking Down on the Media

By: Dan Dan Liu

n the United States, one of the fundamental rights of all U.S. citizens is the right to free speech and press.

The government protects this right for its citizens through confidentiality rights in the courts for any anonymous informants of the press; much like a doctor or lawyer must keep their clients’ information confidential as well. The freedom of speech and press is often taken for granted in the U.S. However, this fundamental right is not given to the people of all countries outside of our borders.

In China, two months prior to the quint-annual Communist Party National Congress meeting to be held in October, the Chinese government announced that it will carry out a wide- ranging crackdown on “false news reports, unauthorized publications

and bogus journalists.” This crackdown was a result of a journalist reportedly fabricating a story about a Beijing vendor who allegedly used waste cardboard stuffing as the secret ingredient for the steamed pork buns he sold in central Beijing. The television

journalist, Beijia Zi, was sentenced to a one-year prison sentence and a 1,000RMB ($139) fine.

“...demonstrating his culinary process of soaking the cardboard in caustic soda to soften it and mixing it with pork fat to increase the pork flavor.”

The vendor of the cardboard filled buns supposedly thought Zi was a wholesaler that was interested in buying stock in his buns. This report aired on the “Transparency” slot of the Life Channel on Beijing Television on July 8, 2007. The television report captured behind-thes c e n e footage of the buns vendor in his kitchen demonstrating his culinary process of soaking the cardboard in caustic soda to soften it and mixing it with pork fat to increase the pork flavor. Immediately following the report, government officials closed down the kitchen and began questioning the landlord of the building on the practices of its tenants. The vendor, who already fled, was wanted for questioning about his cooking techniques.

Just eight days later, Beijia Zi was arrested for the fabrication of the story and in one month, Zi

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“...the Communist Party is merely trying to boost its own image and reputation in time for the elections.”

was given the sentence for his crime. The conviction of Beijia Zi left Beijing residents in an uproar.

The whole episode led to questions about who fabricated what. Was the investigative report a hoax, as the TV station announced three days after the episode aired? Or was this conviction merely a means for the government to amend the reputation of the state in preparation for the upcoming election of the Communist Party congress?

Regulation of the press is not a new phenomenon in China.

Prior to the crackdown, there were already vaguely worded prohibitions in place against “spreading rumors,” the violation of which can lead to legal ramifications. Even U.S. based companies doing business in China recognize the need to conform to the Chinese custom of censoring information from the public. This is seen in internet search engine giant Google Inc. as well as Yahoo and Microsoft Corp.’s MSN.com. These companies have agreed to comply with Chinese regulators to omit web content that the government finds objectionable.

Now, the media crackdown will make the media regulations even more restricting. With this crackdown, the government is assuring that news reports are in line with the policies. The People’s Daily reported that Chinese officials would target “illegal foreign language newspapers and maga-

zines aimed at foreigners living in China… [and] newspapers and magazines that fabricate political rumors.” The Human Rights Watch reports that the deputy director of the Information Office at the State Council, Mingzhao Cai, warned that “good publicity” was the “primary task” of the country’s internet media. If these guidelines are not followed, they are subject to legal ramifications including jail time and hefty fines, as seen in the case of journalist Zi. After the much-publicized recalls of products made in China, the current media crackdown brings about speculation that the Communist Party is merely trying to boost its own image and reputation in time for the elections. Products that bear the “Made in China” label have long endured a poor reputation as synonymous with low quality. With the current mass recalls of products from China, including lead paint covered children’s toys from toy-maker giant Mattel, chemically contaminated pet foods, and the like, China’s reputation has plummeted sharply. Even after Mattel publicly apologized to China stating that most of the toy recalls were due to design flaws by Mattel, sentiment toward Chinese products is still scanty. In a statement, New York State Senator Chuck Schumer responded to the company’s apology by saying that China should also apologize for exporting “shoddy products.” If the crackdown was in

fact created to improve its own reputation, it seems that China has much more to smooth over in the public eye.

SOURCES <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/15/wor ld/asia/15cndchina.html?_r=1&hp+&oref=slogin> <http://hrw.org/english/docs/2007/08/17/c hina16700.htm> <http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2005/08/sex_ and_the_cit.php> <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/200 7-07/13/content_5434250.htm> <http://clearharmony.net/articles/200709/4 1059.html> <http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id= D8FBCF686&show_article=1> <http://www.voanews.com/mediaassets/en glish/2007_09/Audio/Mp3/LCR%20Villarreal%20MATTEL%20CHINA%20RECALL%20%202342520%20%20326P%2 0gg.Mp3>

Picture From: consumerist.com/.../2007/06/Death%20Mar k.jpg

“With the current mass recalls of products from China, including lead paint covered children’s toys from toy-maker giant Mattel, chemically contaminated pet foods...”

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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LANGUAGE COLUMN

A S IANES E

Pronunciation Clarification (Korean) eu- as in “Neutral” i- pronounced ee as in “Feet” ue- pronounced oo as in “Soot”

Pick-Up Lines in Korean and Chinese

Written by Elliot Won Translated by Lali Ha (Korean) and Fan Chen (Chinese)

Pardon me miss, I seem to have lost my phone number, could I borrow yours?

Korean:Shillae hamnida, geu choek junhwa bunhojoeng billyujueseyo, je junhwa bunhoneun kamugusuyo.

bun jina gulkah-yo?

Chinese: Ni sheeang shing yee jyan zhong ching ma? Hai shi yao woh chong nee meeyan cheeyan zai zhou yee beeyan?

You must have a ninja in your Chinese: Da rao le shiao jie, woh zhao bu dao woh de dyan pants, cuz yo ass is kickin. hwah, ker yee jie ni de ma?

Niguengdengi-ga wuihumhaePardon me have you seen my suh bahji-eh ninja suemu eetneun-gut gahtaeyo. missing Nobel Prize around Chinese: Nee de koo zi lee here? yee ding yo ger ren zher, ying Jesoeng hamnidamahn hoek- wei nee de pee goo zheng lee shi je Nobel-sahng boshinjuk hai. eetseuseyo?

Chinese: Da rao le shiao jie, nee yo kah-n dao woh de Nobel jyahng ma?

Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk by again?

Pronunciation Clarification (Chinese) Chut sahrahng mideuseyo?

American pronunciation.

Ahnimyun jega dahshi hahnExample: “yan” = yank

Can I even get a fake number?

Gotcha junhwabunho-lahdo jueshimyun ahndeyo?

Chinese: Neng zhi shao gay woh jyah de dyan hwah hao ma?

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O

http://www.princeton.edu/~gkim/sodang1.jpg

Asian American Academics

By Elliot Won

ur country’s top public schools are schools with Asian majorities (where? look in California). Asian students on average score higher in the SATs than Caucasian, African-American, and Latino students.

Most of the country’s best universities have more Asians than you can shake a stick at, but we only make up 3.6 percent of the population. When confronted with this data many questions arise, such as, are Asians smarter than other ethnic groups? What makes Asians excel better academically? As a biology major and a lover of Korean history, I will attempt to answer these questions in a scientific and logical approach.

If there was ever an ideal Confucian state it was late Choson of the 17th and 18th century. As Christianity stresses love thy neighbor as God loves you, Confucianism stresses educate thyself to perfect thyself, then thy family,

A student receives a traditional Korean whooping.

and finally thy country. Thus, Korean upper society revolved around education.

Before the 15th century when Hangul was invented, Chinese characters were the only form of writing that existed in Korea. Only about three to five percent of the population in the early Choson Dynasty (1392A.D1910A.D) could read and write Chinese. Due to the difficulty of learning Chinese characters, only men of the upper class known as the Yangban, had the resources to learn it. And learn it they must. It was the goal of every Yangban family to have at least one male pass a national standardized test called the Civil Service Exam. These exams took place in Choson’s capital, Seoul, every three years. The exams tested one’s writing skills and knowledge of Confucian texts. This was no simple task. Upper class males began their studies by the age of three or four.

They had to memorize hundreds of thousands of Chinese characters in

order to read the original Confucian texts and critical essays written on Confucianism. They did not just read them but they had to memorize everything word for word. This was the traditional Korean education. The tests were so hard to pass that it was not uncommon for men in their fifties to still be studying for the exams. It was quite common for a grandfather, father, and son to be studying for the exam at the same time.

In biology, we would label the exam as an environmental pressure. If you were able to pass the exam, money and power was assured. You would have been an automatic chick magnet or

“The tests were so hard to pass that it was not uncommon for men past their fifties to still be studying for the exams”

rather a potential mother-in-law magnet since marriages were arranged. However, men who did not pass the exams married and had kids as well. Within the

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http://photo-media.hanmail.net/200610/23/segye/20061023094310.799.0.jpg

“And she, by all of her ability, raises her kids to value one thing the most: Harvard”

IC ACT R P SAT

upper class population, the frequency of genes from men who did pass would have stayed the same. Only the upper class needed to worry about the exams.

The exams did not affect most of the population who were in the middle and lower class. These people did not need to take the exams so their environmental pressures were more basic such as famine and disease. In fact, having genes that kept individuals healthy and able to work was much more valuable for increasing one’s gene frequency.

In this simple historical model, men who were naturally smarter do not necessarily increase their gene frequency within the population. Thus, Choson culture had no effective mechanism for increasing frequencies of genes that increase intellect. If you’re still confused, a mechanism that would have increased frequencies of genes that

E increased intellect could have been the mandated castration of men who did not pass the exams. So if it is not genetics, why do Asians on average do better in schools? The answer is culture and economics.

At the turn of the 20th century, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. One institution, however, transformed South Korea from a third world country to an economic juggernaut: free public education. Just like in the Choson dynasty, it became every family’s goal to send a son or daughter to a top university. It not only adhered to Confucian ideology, but it meant a better life for the family.

Many economic experts say that South Korea’s highly educated workforce contributed heavily to its economic prosperity. However, having a highly educated society means that competi-

tion for jobs is extremely intense. As a result, most Korean students spend vast amounts of time studying to get ahead of their peers. In addition to school, most students attend private academies because they do not want to lag behind.

It is considered a national holiday when scores from the South Korean equivalent of the SATs, Su-Neung, are announced. Families show up to schools to receive their son or daughter’s grade; they are ready to celebrate, console, or scold. Names of students who get exceptional scores are listed in newspapers. Just like the Choson dynasty, due to the difficulty of the test and competition, trying your hardest never guarantees that you will do well in the exams.

There is a plan B in South Korea’s extremely competitive academic world. Like the sound of a distant rescue ship, many hear that in America if one works his or her hardest one could live a good life. With curiosity and ambition, the dispirited South Korean buys a one-way plane ticket to the United States to pursue the American dream. Through the air at 600 miles an hour, she carries with her hundreds of years of Confucian academic tradition, the memories of an agrarian world transformed by education, and strong work ethics she learned through years of studying. She works in a dry cleaner, a restaurant, or nail salon. She saves money to buy her kids the things she wished she had when she was their age.

And she, by all of her ability, raises her kids to value one thing the most: Harvard. Ok, it’s two things, Harvard and Yale. Ok, it is not those at all. It is for her children to get a good education and live a good life. Ultimately, the source of Asian American academic power is the Asian mom (with the help of the Asian dad’s whoopin stick of course)

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

13

[UN]Fashion Column

BY JAE ZHOU

Just a few grievances: Flip flops are the worst things to happen to feet since gangrene. I may be one of two people on this campus who feel so strongly against these foam pads, but I stand by my views. I have had issues with them for a few years now; with every passing year the trend only proves itself to be everlasting. They are unsightly. I see no appeal, style or function, in them. Why should your feet be so friendly with the earth? There is no need for that much foot action to be put on display, so free and gnarly. I hate seeing the toes of my neighbor wiggle during class; it makes me nervous just thinking about the dirt, grime, germs accumulating in the dark abyss where thong meets foot. The few times I’ve had to walk outside

in flip flops, I found myself struggling to keep an acceptable pace, yet still trailing behind anyone under the age of 85. Never has a shoe been as useless, unflattering, and inappropriate as the flip flop.

The transgressions don’t end at the feet. It’s a case of general sloppiness: sweatpants slung at all levels of inappropriateness, shirts faded and stretched out, with a head of unkempt hair tossed about – all casually sexy. I can just die. I’ve often wondered: is it the comfort or the look that appeals to such an overwhelming population? Imagine a professor standing in front of a class of 100 students, yawning with blank expressions, dressed as such. It is so, so inappropriate on so, so many levels.

Then there is the worst sin of all – counterfeit purses. All of these are worn with so much conviction and pride that you might almost believe the image. As if she really spent $1500 on a handbag only to be carried around and paired with gym clothes. As if the two interlocking

giant C’s can really upgrade your ensemble to a certain level of chic.

Even Chanel does not work such miracles, let alone a fake. Don’t let logo disillusionment happen to you!

It is not a matter of fashion or style, rather your accoutrement is a part of your overall demeanor and comportment. If you are less than inclined to behave like a derelict, then don’t let your attire speak louder than your actions. And, the truth is clothing speaks volumes about you.

“If a woman is badly dressed, one notices her dress, but if she is impeccably clothed, it is her that one notices.” – Coco Chanel Pictures: <http://www.idontlikeyouinthatway.com/u ploaded_images/BSflop2-771821.jpg> <http://www.quachdesigns.com/photos/sp y_q/black7.jpg> <http://mavrixonline.com/mavrixonline/bl og_jessica06.jpg> <http://jasonyee.org/site_images/polaroid_template002.gif>

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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ONE CHILD TOO MANY

“China has the

highest abortion

rate in the world

“O

BY YI CHEUNG

”

ne child is ideal, two are enough, three are too many,” declared Zhou Enlai, one of the most influential leaders in the People’s Republic of China (1949-1976). For many, these immortal words should come as no surprise since China’s onechild policy has been in effect since the late 1970s. The policy was first introduced during a movement to curb China’s overpopulation problems, and therefore encourage economic growth. Today, it is widely known that China has the biggest population in the world, totaling 1.32 billion people as of July 2007.

What has been the effect of enforcing the one-child policy?

China’s fertility rates declined; as of 2007, it has been documented that the policy has since prevented 300 million births, a number equivalent to the population of the United States. Undoubtedly, the policy has brought new meaning to the way Westerners think about “birth control,” and brought scrutiny to China’s ways.

The repercussion of breaking the one-child policy is a “social maintenance fee.” The fine ranges from 7,000 yuan (900 US dollars) to an outstanding 150,000 yuan

(20,000 US dollars). Despite the fact the fine is dependent on the income of the parents, often times the rich and famous deliberately choose to break the rules and often have more than one child. The poor, unfortunately, do not have this luxury, and they face the pressure of spawning a son, the preferred gender, on a one-shot basis.

A regrettable consequence and reality of this pressure is that a number of families use sonograms to detect and abort the pregnancies of female babies. China has the highest reported abortion rate in the world, 80 terminations per 1000 live births. Today, the ratio of males to females in China is 118:100, a cause for concern on marriage prospects.

Another horrific alternative is the abandonment of female babies in orphanages. Oftentimes, the orphanages do not have the financial capabilities to provide for the child in terms of food, clothing, education, and health. The negligence makes it nearly difficult for orphans to survive. To many human rights activists, these orphanages are nearly the same as committing infanticide. There is, however, a small silver lining for the orphans, and

that is, many Westerners have looked into adopting orphans from the Asian countries. According to the US Department of State, since 2000, the number of immigrant visas issued to orphans in China exceeds that of any other country. It is disappointing, however, to think that China does not have the ability to care for its own daughters, and must utilize the resources of another country.

Despite the adoption situation, there are many families that oppose both adoption and abortion because they go against China’s traditional sense of family, which has long been embedded into the culture since the days of Confucius. And so, several parents-to-be have tried to use the following loopholes around the one-child policy: 1) A second child can be born if he is born overseas.

2) Ethnic minorities are allowed to have more than one child.

3) In rural areas, a second child can be born if the first born is female.

This insures that a son, and not a daughter, will be able to take over the physical and financial duties of the farm as well as provide for his parents.

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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The loophole that has most recently and frequently been exploited is that families that have multiple births, such as twins and triplets, are not fined with the “social maintenance fee.” The result has several parents-to-be running to their local drugstore to purchase fertility pills without any type of prescription. For further proof that this method has become commonplace, one would only need to see that the number of twins born annually has doubled nationwide.

On the other hand, parents helped some of the officials force and readers alike should not be misabortions and sterilizations upon led that fertility pills are a fool-proof mothers, and to commit infanticide. plan to ignore the one-child policy.

These barbaric and evil acts placed This loophole is not without its seChina under the harsh scrutiny of vere health consequences. Multiple the world. births increase the children’s risk of The Bush administration has being born premature and undersince declared its aversion to weight, being vulnerable to infecChina’s one-child policy and retion, and having cerebral palsy (a fused to fund the disorder that “The result has several United Naimpairs con- parents-to-be running to their tions Fund for trol of move- local drugstore to purchase ferPopulation Acment). It is tility pills without any type of t i v i t i e s ironic that an prescription.”

(UNFPA). In an effort to ineffort to better their overall image, crease fertility has instead decreased China appealed to the environmenthe survivability of the offspring. As talists and claimed that their overall of March 2007, a Chicago-based efforts have successfully “fought hospital agreed to co-sponsor a against global warming” because medical center in Hunan for multithey have decreased both the energy ple births, in an effort to aid birth demands and emissions of heat trapdefects and increase survivability of ping gases. multiplets.

The environmental benefits Currently, even with all the and the economic benefits do not problems, there is no sign that even come close to offsetting the China will be relaxing its policies problems, from abortions to multianytime soon. In fact, in 1998, there plet birth defects that arose with the was a huge controversy that erupted policy. Overpopulation problems over when Gao Xiao Duan, former may be solved in China if they conplanned-birth official, revealed the tinue down this road, however, the atrocious acts by planned-birth offiaccumulated dissent of the citizens cials. Gao Xiao Duan admitted to and moral concerns will not do doing “so many brutal things,” and much to unite the country once it

has reached the apex of both population and economic potential. Ultimately, China needs to recognize the needs and wants of her citizens, and realize that laws tailored to control the behavior and personal choice of citizens will never be the most successful both internationally and locally.

SOURCES “Are the rich challenging family planning policy?” Accessed 28 Sept 2007. <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006 -12/28/content_770107.htm>

“First systematic study of China’s onechild policy reveals complexity, effectiveness of fertility regulation.” Accessed 28 Sept 2007. <http://today.uci.edu/news/release_detail.asp?key=1597> “Chinese witness: Beijing forces sterilizations, abortions.” Accessed 28 Sept. 2007. <http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/asiapcf/9 806/11/china.abortion/>

“China is furious as Bush halts UN ‘abortion’ funds.” Accessed 28 Sept 2007.<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ main.jhtml?xml=/news/2002/02/03/wabor 03.xml> “Immigrant Visas Issued to Orphans Coming to the U.S.” Accessed 28 Sept 2007. <http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/st ats/stats_451.html>

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

16

Kari’s Vegan Recipe Corner

Delicious Pineapple Orange Sorbet

Kari Tam is a friend to animals, and maintains a strict vegetarian diet (no fish or cheese). She will be showing you how to make delicious vegan dishes.

INGREDIENTS T hi s mo nt h I w ill b e s h o w i n g y o u h ow t o m a ke a g r e a t d e s e r t , t he s or be t.

T h i s d e s e r t i s g r e at bec au se t he d ir e ct io ns a r e e a s y t o fo l l o w, a n d t h e r e a r e n ’ t t h at m a n y in g r e di ent s ( i d e a l f o r t h e av e r a g e c ol le ge s tu de nt ) .

For the syrup: ½ cup water ½ cup of granulated sugar

For the fruity taste: 2 cups (no pulp) orange juice 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1(20 oz.) can crushed pineapple

DIRECTIONS

1) In a saucepan, bring water and sugar to a simmer over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.

2) In a food processor, puree pineapple with its juice until smooth.

Transfer to metal bowl, and stir in lemon juice, orange juice, and sugar water.

3) Now put the liquid sorbet into the freezer for at least 5 hours.

“Yum, This sorbet is really good mixed with any fruity liquor. Even if you don’t drink alcohol, this tastes wonderful with lemonade.”

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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CHINA RECALL:

TO BLAME OR NOT TO BLAME?

I

BY JARUCHA JIRADACHAROEN swiftly to the incident and have f you look at the tag on from toys to pet food.

Mattel, the largest manufac- made trips to China to reinforce the back of your shirt, it probably has the “Made turer of children’s toys in the world, their quality rules to manufacturers. in China” label. This is not surpris- have recalled almost twenty million The toy giant has acknowledged the ing since many goods that we buy toys. The recalls started when mag- need for stricter regulations and has ultimately originated from China netic toys were shown to be defec- pledged to check factories with where labor is cheap and regula- tive last year when the parts became greater diligence. Even though the increased surveillance comes with tions are lax. In the past few “Lead paint is being used a thirty million dollar price tag, months, China has been on the because it cost one third Mattel claims that safety is headlines of major newspapers less than those that are leadmore important. They want to across the country for defecregain the confidence of parents free.” tive and unsafe exports. The negwho are worried that Barbie, Elmo, ative media spotlight on the largest manufacturing country in the world loose and were ingested by chil- and Dora the Explorer would harm has led to an uproar in the United dren. Problems escalated when ve- their children. Stocks for Mattel States and other European coun- hicles that featured Sarge from the have declined since the recall but tries. The government and con- hit animated flick, Cars, were they are not the only ones under atsumers are demanding for closer found to contain dangerous levels tack.

Even though China has inspection of products that vary of lead. Mattel has responded OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

18

is the main supplier of been flooded with criti“Stocks everyday items such cism from abroad, for Mattel have declined since the reas the shoes we the government call, but they are not the only ones under wear. The U.S. econhas publicly taken attack.” omy is more dependent on steps to ensure the qualChina than people would like to ity of the products they make. They mental retardation when it is inthink. Not only would strained rehave been increasing inspections of lations with China effect U.S. comfactories and shutting down compa- gested.

Chinese officials stand be- panies, consumers would also be nies that act illegally. In addition, China has invited foreign news re- hind the “Made in China” label by forced to pay higher prices. Instead porters to visit factories in Guang- arguing that products have been of putting regulations down on dong province where the majority produced in the country for a long paper as a facade, China should of the toys are made. China also has time without any problems. They admit that it is difficult to regulate signed a pact with the U.S. to ban believe that the problem is being every company and start acting on considering the their words. Although all the blame the use of lead paint in export toys. exaggerated amount of toys that are made and shouldn’t be placed on China, the Lead paint is being used because it the amount that are recalled.

Even country does have a responsibility cost one third less than those that are lead-free. Price is an important Thomas Debrowski, executive vice to all the consumers in the world factor when Chinese factory own- president of worldwide operations who intentionally or unwillingly ers are trying to maintain profit in of Mattel, Inc. has apologized to buy “Made in China” products. Bean already competitive market. Chi- China because it turned out that the sides, aren’t the consumers the ones nese manufacturers argue that lead recalls were due to design defects helping China’s huge growth in this paint produces richer colors and is on the company’s part. His meeting past decade? easier to apply. However, this does- with Li Changjiang, the head of the n’t hold much weight considering General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarthe fact that lead paint can lead to antine, in Beijing, has led to criticism that SOURCES Mattel was trying to maintain a friendly Barboza, David. “Why Lead in Toy Paint? It’s Cheaper.” The New York business relationship Times. 11 September 2007. Accessed 24 with China. The toy September giant is being criticized 2007.<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/ for using China as a 11/business/worldbusiness/11lead.html>. scapegoat and not foBarboza, David, and Louise Story. “Matcusing on the real prob- tel Issues New Recall of Toys Made In lems at hand.

China.” The New York Times. 14 August Although U.S. 2007. Accessed 24 September 2007. politicians are trying to <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/bu pass laws to increase siness/15toys-web.html?pagewanted=1>. inspection of imports, Story, Louise. “Mattel Official Delivers it probably won’t work an Apology in China.” The New York since there isn’t Times. 22 September 2007. Accessed 27 enough money, time, September 2007. and people to carry out <http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/22/ business/worldbusiness/22toys.html>. the job. Limiting imports from China is also not very feasible considering that China OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK 19

A Case of Religious Fervor?

T

BY LALI HA

o what extend would you sacrifice your life in the name of religion? This very sensitive, yet confusing issue for many Christian Asians was brought to attention by 23 Christian missionaries from Saemmul Community Church in South Korea.

Over the recent years, South Korea, of approximately 30 percent Christian, has become second to the U.S. as the world’s largest source of overseas missionary activities. Many embrace missions to aid the deprived all around the world— circumstances that reflect what were once part of Korea after the Korean War. According to Chan-min Lee, an official at International Youth Fellowship, 770 students are sent annually on aid missions to more than 70 countries. Mr. Lee expressed that it will strengthen South Koreans’ global influence and status.

So, what was unusual about this, one might ask. Why was this particular eam of 23 even news-worthy?

How about the fact that these very people went to Afghanistan, a nation under so much international spotlight and tension, where Taliban forces and independent gangs threaten the lives of hundreds and thousands of our allies and its own people?

Their 10-day mission in Afghanistan came to a halt on July 19th, while riding a bus to Kandahar from Kabul. Two insurgents, later revealed as the Taliban, posed as passengers and threatened the bus driver to stop. One of them opened fire and forced the driver to move the bus to the side. Two additional armed men came and abducted the Korean volunteers, of which 18 were women.

On July 25th, 42-year-old pastor, Bae Hyung-kyu was found with 10 bullet shots, dead, in a desert area in the district of Qarabagh after receiving complaints from the Taliban that the Afghan government had not responded to their demands of releasing military prisoners. Amidst growing tensions between the Afghan and South Korean governments and the Taliban, another Korean was added to the fatality list, just 13 days in their captivity. The Taliban urged the world that they would shoot off everyone if demands were not met, including women (killing of women are scorned upon and illegal under Islamic Law).

The Afghan government, although aiding for a safe end, did not budge during negotiations. The American government issued a brief press in-

terview expressing concern and immediate release of the volunteers. However, the United States did not intervene and frowned upon their demand of “one Korean for one militant prisoner.”

The Taliban kept insisting on the exchange and made more death threats while the Afghan government, unyielding, argued that giving in will only increase kidnappings in the future.

Korea was stuck; caught between two forces. It wasn’t within the power of the Korean government to direct politics and to influence decisions in the Afghan government. Korea was paying for demands it could not meet with atrocious killings of its citizens, along with dangling millions of bait money to a terrorist group for the release of the missionaries. It got to a point where the President of Korea, Moo-hyun Roh had to phone Afghan President Hamid Karzai, pleading… “Please, do whatever that may be necessary to bring our innocent citizens back alive.” The South Korean government was under an international microscope, being watched of its every move, being scorned, and being criticized by world leaders. It seemed like the entire nation was captured by the terrorist group. Exactly how much blood shed and grievances does a nation have to endure to save its innocent victims?

Innocent? I guess that depends on the eyes of the beholder. Just how innocent were these 23 missionaries?

Were they just supplying the less fortunate or was that a disguise for prosely-

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

20

tizing the word of the Christian God in a Muslim nation? According to few reports, the Christian team found any chance to pray, even entering an empty mosque and singing Christian hymns.

Could anyone imagine the confusion and shock the Muslims must have felt?

If you can’t see why that was so wrong, imagine a group of 23 Muslims trespassing in the Vatican and praying there as if it belonged to them.

In addition, Ali Shah Ahmadzai, the police chief of Ghazni Province (110 miles south of Kabul), reported that the volunteers told the bus driver not to inform the police because they might bother them about passports and identification papers. Merajuddin Pattan, the provincial governor, criticized the Koreans for traveling unescorted in an area frequently attacked by the Taliban. “It was as if they thought they were traveling in Korea,” he said. Haven’t they heard of, “When in Rome…?”

Hostage situations in Afghanistan are not uncommon. In 2004, eight Korean missionaries were kidnapped in Iraq, and in that same year, another Korean was beheaded in Iraq. In 2006, 1,600 Korean Christians gathered in Afghanistan, only to be deported due to accusations of trying to convert Muslims into Christians.

This incident only reinforced the Taliban to continue their acts of violence, as they called the abduction of the South Koreans a “successful” way to punish allies of Afghanistan and the United States. Afghan Foreign Minister Rangeen Dadfar Spanta told Germany’s RBB radio that his government has made an impression that they allowed themselves to be blackmailed by the Taliban. Critics also expressed that this incident damaged Korea’s reputation and credibility by negotiating directly with the Taliban. There has also been a growing suspicion over a monetary deal, of around 2 million dollars to satiate threats made by the Taliban. Public condemnations of the hostages were brutal as well, as one man attempted to

throw eggs at the returning survivors at Inchon Airport in Seoul. Numerous Koreans grew angry at the group’s decision to proselytize despite warnings, perhaps, to feed their pride.

Saemmul Community Church denied any accusations of proselytizing, but many religious experts in Korea have disacknowledged that claim since many South Korean churches provide aid to gain converts.

For the record, I am not writ-

ing this to attack a certain religious group. I am Christian, and in doing so, would be hypocritical and pretty pointless. However, I am criticizing the policies of Korean churches in their illogical ways of proselytizing. Safeties of the missionaries were disregarded and they showed disrespect to the people they were trying to help while acting as ambassadors of Korea. Not only that, they disobeyed foreign and domestic policies by not informing the Afghan police of there whereabouts, and by acquiring visas in secrecy. How far does one have to travel, and how much danger does one have to put on oneself in order to gain recognition for spreading God’s work? Why did the church send these people to a place warned by the government? Did the team members not know? (A photograph was found circulating on the internet, which showed members of the group smiling in front of a sign advising Koreans against traveling to Afghanistan.)

As part of a deal to release the hostages, the South Korean government proposed to ban missionaries in

Afghanistan. Shockingly, in an interview with Christianity Today, Pastor Eun-jo Park of Saemmul Church said that once the restrictions are removed, he will, again, send more missionaries to Muslim nations. I hope he decides to join the trip this time, if he’s so eager to send others along another death trap.

There are tons of people starving and living in poverty in South Korea. Shouldn’t they put in as much effort in helping their neighbors as they put into traveling to Afghanistan?

Knowing the dangers of what has already happened to some Koreans in Iraq, shouldn’t they have thought twice about breaking the law?

Don’t they realize that this crisis allowed a chance for non-Christians and Christians to bash on Christianity?

All major church groups have apologized for this unfortunate incident and have promised to correct their ways of proselytizing. They have acknowledged that they sometimes do not understand and respect different religions and cultures of many nations. On August 15th, Evangelical Protestant churches joined The World Council of Churches in Toulouse, France, in efforts to ease tensions with other religious groups. Deep apologies have been made by the survivors too, in an interview with Yonhap News.

Kyung-sik Yoo, 55, said, “I can’t sleep due to concerns that we had caused so much trouble. I feel very sorry.”

Thinking about the survivors and the psychological impact this crisis has on their lives, I really do hope that the religious leaders produce some efficient solution to safeguard the lives of missionaries in the future. This does not need to be repeated ever again, and laws must be strictly enforced to prevent another international catastrophe.

Pictures: http://img.news.yahoo.co.kr/picture/2007/42/20070913/200709131417218 0242_141721_1.jpg and http://img.news.yahoo.co.kr/picture/2007/ 24/20070831/2007083110282618624_104 017_1.jpg

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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VERTIGO

Vertigo is a pop-culture column that discusses Asian music, drama, movies, and manga in the mainstream media.

Hana Yori Dango and Cross-Cultural Appeal

I

by Karina Rodrigues

f I told you that Hana Yori Dango was the best-selling shoujo manga in Japan of all time, would you believe me?

Commonly translated as 'Boys Over Flowers' in English, this Japanese comic book series written by Yoko Kamio was originally aimed at a young female audience and serialized in the bi-weekly anthology magazine Margaret from 1992 to 2003. Known as the portmanteau 'HanaDan' by its readership, the series quickly won a devoted fanbase eager to keep up with its varied cast and plucky heroine. And after more than ten years and thirty-six volumes, it finally drew to a close -though not without selling about fiftyfour million copies and winning the Shogakukan Manga Award in 1996 first.

If Hana Yori Dango was a stu-

dent, this would be like graduating as a Japanese department store without valedictorian and earning a full schol- hearing it. This year, the same applies arship to study in grad school for free. to 'Wish' and 'Flavor of Life'.

And for most manga, that You see, Arashi and Utada would be enough.

Hikaru, the respective artists behind However, Hana Yori Dango 'Wish' and 'Flavor of Life', are pop-culwas also made into an anime television ture phenomenons as well. The tie-in series, a live-action television drama, to Hana Yori Dango increases their an animated movie set in another uni- popularity, and in turn, the series' repverse, and a live-action movie by utation is strengthened by its connec2003. It was also made into another tion to them. Word of mouth and live-action drama series from Taiwan marketing pull them together. So for called Meteor Garden, which kept the anyone who listens to Arashi or Utada same general characters and plot of the Hikaru and watches Hana Yori Dango, original story, but added its own spin the music and show become inextricato interpret these same events. bly linked.

Meteor Garden was very popThe actors -- namely Matular when it first aired in 2001. In fact, sumoto Jun as lead Domyouji Tsukasa it's still rather popular. It remains as the and Oguri Shun as other lead second-highest rated Asian drama in Hanazawa Rui -- are a draw, too. the Phillipines. Its popularity influSo, what is Hana Yori Dango enced the production of two sequels to about? its name, Meteor Rain and Meteor Ostensibly, it's a story about a Garden II. The actors for the four main girl named Makino Tsukushi. Studying male characters of the series, F4, at the prestigious Eitoku University, formed a popular boy band group also she sticks out like a sore thumb beknown as JVKV. At the height of their cause she is not wealthy like most of career, their concerts regularly sold the other students. Nonetheless, she is out. determined to stay in the background In addition, another Japanese- until graduation, getting by on her inversion drama, or J-dorama, of Hana “A ‘declaration of war’ Yori Dango was created on October from the F4 is like having 2005, spanning nine forty-minute your own death warrant episodes. Right after that, a second season aired from January 2007 to signed and handed to you” March 2007.

And the Hana Yori Dango telligence and strong will instead. drama is popular -very popular.

However, defending her friend Underestimating its popularity from the leader of the F4, Domyouji would do it a disservice. To imagine Tsukasa, she finds herself harrassed the extent of its influence, picture a the next day. She finds a red tag hangseismic blast. Or a wildfire. ing in her locker -- in other words, a In the unlikely event that "declaration of war" from the F4. The someone hasn't seen Hana Yori Dango, F4, also known as the 'Flowery Four', mention the main themes for the J-do- is a group of four boys from the most rama, 'Wish' or 'Flavor of Life'. Upon rich and influential families in Japan. hearing them, if they don't blink in inYes, the F4 stands for the stant recognition and go, "Oh, yeah, I 'Flowery Four'. Stop laughing.

As a "declaration of war" from do remember hearing that song bethe F4 is like having your own death fore!", then they don't live in Japan.

Think of the song 'Seishun warrant signed and handed to you, Amigo'. Last year, you couldn't go into Tsukushi has no idea what to do at

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

22

first. But she fights back, and in the process, gradually manages to protect herself and become friends with the rest of the F4.

She also enters into a torrid romance with Domyouji.

Raise your hand if you're surprised at that.

Seriously, Hana Yori Dango is less an examination of social boundaries and hazing in elitist private schools, and more a massive soap opera where characters talk endlessly about their feelings while standing around in really pretty designer clothing. And have bad perms, if they're Matsumoto Jun. It's a very entertaining soap opera. As far as j-dorama go, it's excellent, and has the bonus of being honest and emotionally involving to boot. Its charm is in its characters; because of them, even its cheesetastic moments do not detract from the show.

Despite its cliches -- or perhaps because of them -- Hana Yori Dango is relentlessly enjoyable to watch.

Yoko Kamio, the mangaka of Hana Yori Dango, uses a pun on the Japanese saying "food before flowers."

The saying implies that practical items such as dumplings are of more use than flowers, which are practical but not essential to life. Her title, 'Hana Yori Dango', literally means "boys before flowers." Likewise, this implies that boys are like dumplings in that they may be essential to life.

May be essential to life, that is.

As the series continues, the viewer can't help but wonder with Tsukushi to see if that really is the case. And wonder if Domyouji will stop flouncing off to plan more pigtail-pulling stunts while the rest of F4 acts like stereotypical little girls.

The fame that Hana Yori Dango has gained in Japan and Southeast Asia transcends boundaries. Its popularity has pushed it onto onto a level where the plotline has been reworked several times for consumption and is recognizable in a wide variety of

media. In Taiwan and Japan, whether known as Meteor Garden or Hana Yori Dango, the basic story is known to the drama-watching population. Both in comic book form and on TV, it remains the same -- to its fans and new watchers alike, this must be its biggest draw.

“Commonly translated as

'Boys Over Flowers' in English, this Japanese comic book series written

by Yoko Kamio was originally aimed at a young female audience...from 1992 to 2003.”

“Meteor Garden was very

popular when it first aired in 2001. In fact, it's still rather popular. It remains as the second-highest rated Asian drama in the Phillipines.”

“...another Japanese-

version drama, or J-dorama, of Hana Yori Dango was created on October 2005...underestimating its popularity would do it a disservice.”

OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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China Tries to "Save Face" From Its Pollution Problem

A

By Victor Chan

s China currently remains unsurpassed in terms of economic growth; it is also carrying a devastating pollution problem. Environmental conditions are worsening every day. Black toxic smoke from coal-powered electric plants that fills the air is causing respiratory problems and has made cancer the leading death in China. Industrial waste and sewage dumped into the Yangtze River, the longest river in China, has turned it into a cesspool of poison. These environmental problems will not only drastically deteriorate public health, but will also cause polit-

problems after the establishment of

“Chinese leaders leave the public clueless and uninformed”

their infrastructure, there are several reasons to explain China's unyielding environmental contamination. China's primary energy source is coal. Coal is inexpensive due to the vast deposits in “China's pollution is numerous coal mines in China. Howaffecting its neighbors and ever, among other energy sources, coal even the U.S. West Coast” is known to be the dirtiest and most hazardous to human health. It contains ical turmoil, drive away potential busi- soot, ash, and sulfur and nitrogen oxnesses, mutilate the overall image of ides that can harm those who breathe China to the rest of the world, and ulti- it. The thick black smoke that billows mately turn strong economic growth out of the factories and power plants in China carry cancerous effects on the into a hindrance for itself.

Unlike other industrialized na- citizens in the city streets below. In adtions that have rectified their pollution dition, China's pollution is affecting its neighbors and even the U.S. West Coast. The toxic byproducts of coal that fill the atmosphere turn into acid rain, which pours on South Korea and Japan.

Aerosol particles are also responsible for particulate pollution in California.

Burning coal contaminates the water supply as well. Water reserves, compared to the United States, are scarce in China. Industrial dumps that enter rivers through factory waste outlets quickly pollute the cleanliness of fresh water. The combination of water pollution and water shortages leaves

nearly one-third of the entire population thirsty and inaccessible to safe drinking water. Not to mention, the dry lands in Northern China is subject to desertification. Severe water contamination also brings about the most immediate challenge and the threat of irreversible pollution of China's rivers.

As if the environmental damage wasn't apparent enough, strong censorship of the media and statistics imposed by Chinese leaders leave the public clueless and uninformed. Officials rendered publications and information containing the stunning effects of environment degradation on human health unknown to the general public.

Educated professionals who are qualified to show proofs of this widespread pollution are unable to voice their concern and their advice to government officials. Fearing social unrest, even the environmental agency urged the detrimental health data to be excluded from public knowledge. The intention of keeping the public oblivious to the dangers of China's pollution has proven to further worsen the problem. As the public is poorly informed about the im-

“Chinese government officials strongly emphasize economic growth and cutting costs over everything else”

portance of environmental health, they are less aware and hardly motivated to

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help bring a positive change. "'China's pollution is worse, the density of its population is greater and people do not protect themselves as well,' said Jin Yinlong, the director general of the Institute for Environmental Health and Related Product Safety in Beijing."

Thus, ignorance and the lack of responsibility have forestalled the problem while the defilement of the environment continues and accumulates.

The Chinese leadership's unwillingness to deviate from their aggressive strategies to rush economic growth in exchange for a cleaner and healthier environment for its citizens is one of the main reasons why China's pollution problem remains persistent.

Beijing had refused to incorporate better, newer and more efficient technology, such as the combined cycle turbines, for energy saving. When questioned, the reply was as follows, "'while over the long term, combined-cycle plants save money and reduce pollution,' Mr. Berrah said, 'they cost more and take longer to build.'" This clearly

Administration. 'The crazy expansion of high-polluting, high-energy industries has spawned special interests. Protected by local governments, some businesses treat natural resources that belong to all the people as their own property.'" Internal corruption must first cease before external remedies can be applied. Otherwise, the country will just rot from the core, unable to help itself and the problem will still persist.

China desperately tries to "save face" (an expression in Chinese culture that derives from Confucianism of how one's reputation is perceived by others) illustrates that the Chinese government as it takes direct blame from the United officials strongly emphasize economic States and Europe for being the biggest growth and cutting costs over every- polluter in the world. In truth, not one thing else, even at the sake of ignoring industrialized nation has achieved and the urgent concerns of pollution, public enjoyed its success today without sehealth and the welfare of its own citi- verely damaging the environment in zens. Mr. Berrah's also comments, re- their vicinity. So who was around to acflecting on the government's decision, cuse the Western nations when it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;China is being blamed for their time to mobilize industrial growth? No one. Maybe it was simply following the path the because they were the pioneers of the U.S., Europe, and Japan modern world. Just as traffic enforceonce tookâ&#x20AC;? ment officers always tend to catch and fine the last speeding car on the high"Unfortunately, in some parts of the way, China is being blamed for followgovernment, the thinking is much more ing the path the U.S., Europe, and Japan shortsighted." once took. Is it fair to judge China in Furthermore, China has had its this light? Probably not. But China's seways of achieving its goals through im- vere pollution problem is indeed very pulsiveness. China's failure to recog- realistic and happening right now. Chinize its own pollution as an impediment nese leaders must take initiative to end to its economic success will eventually corruption, educate and inform the genpunish those who chose to ignore the eral public on environmental health, problem. In the past, "China's authori- and seriously implement strategies to tarian system has repeatedly proved its improve environmental safety and reability to suppress political threats to lieve worsening public health condiCommunist Party rule." Subduing citi- tions, in hopes for a brighter, cleaner zens from overturning political regimes and more favorable impression to the are not the biggest threat to the coun- rest of the world in time for the 2008 try when compared to the immediate Olympics dangers of pollution. Nor does it alleviate the pollution problem at all. Source: Moreover, "'the main reason behind Joseph Kahn, Jim Yardley. "As China the continued deterioration of the en- Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Exvironment is a mistaken view of what tremes." New York Times. August 25, counts as a political achievement,' 2007.http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08 said Pan Yue, the deputy minister of /26/world/asia/26china.html the State Environmental Protection

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Forbidden Tales from Korea

S

By rekstizzy tha new king of pop

o I went to Korea over the summer and it might have just been the best month and a half of my life. I’m talking about good food, cheap alcohol, beautiful women, and places to eat dog. What more could you ask for? Oh, that? Yeah, I thought you would ask for that, and Korea’s got it! Subway stations that are clean enough that you can sleep on the floor. I did it when I was drunk, using my shoe as a pillow, sexy! Imagine laying your cheek on Grand Central Station’s gum covered, piss stained, crack head footprint ridden floor.

Nasty! And what do you know about super advanced technology? Say you accidentally push the wrong floor on an elevator. No problem. Just push the button again to cancel. Go ahead, make a “mistake” and push it, then push it again. Better than sex. This is just the tip of the iceberg, I could go on, but that would be boring. As you know, I’m not there with you to violently shake you should you fall asleep, I’m only a writer. So, here are some hardships I had to undergo.

As enjoyable as my trip was, there was always an ominous force that loomed over my stay. I call it ajushee culture. My first run in with ajushee culture occurred on my first night out on the town. I was drinking soju at a bar minding my own business, when a middle aged Korean man, an ajushee, stole on me, real fast. I bowed politely, and he patted me on the back and asked me where I was from. I said I’m visiting from America to improve my Korean.

He expressed his approval by throwing his head back and letting out a fantastic shriek.

He said to me, “that’s good for Koreans and that’s good for Korean Americans.” Of course I was confused as shit but I nodded anyway proclaiming that he had spoken truth. At this point, I spotted a speck of red pepper between his two front bottom teeth, just chillin’ there like the Fonz. The alcohol started to creep up on me and it became difficult to avert my eyes from the speck.

After enduring about an hour of his drunken rambling, I thank him for his company and tell him I must take my leave.

As I got up to leave, he suddenly grabbed me by my sleeve. I tried jumping back, but

his grip was that of a swan on bread. With his free hand, he pulled the speck of pepper out from between his teeth and slapped it into my palm and he vanished!

Yo, it ain’t over! The next morning, I tried to get my mind off the whole ordeal by climbing a Korean ass mountain.

The sun was beating down on me but a refreshing breeze made the weather ideal for hiking. I closed the palm, where the pepper had been, into a tight fist and began my hike up the trail. At first, I struggled, but it got easier with every step. The trees surrounding me weren’t much to look at, but the stream that ran alongside the path sparkled like Paul Wall grill. I followed the stream until I reached the base of it. A waterfall splashed down onto a shimmering pool of crystal clear… you know, that Poland spring shit. I ran out of water half an hour before and the refreshing wind had deserted me, leaving me defenseless under the summer sun. So, I ran under that waterfall and let it soak into my hair and skin. There’s nothing quite like it. I tilted my head back and drank maybe two bottles worth of real natural Poland spring water. It seemed like I could finally forget what happened the night before and enjoy the motherland until I opened my eyes. How did I not notice? Up at the top of the waterfall, there must have been at least a hundred ajushees seated on both sides of the stream, washing and cooling the sores on their blistered feet. I staggered back in horror, as my stomach pulsed with the broth of wisdom. That’s when he appeared in the center of the ajushees. The ajushee I met before stood there barefoot in the stream, doing a pelvic thrust dance welcoming me to the Land of the Morning calm.

“As I got up to leave, he suddenly grabbed me by my sleeves. I tried jumping back but his grip was that of a swan on bread.”

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con

sci

enc

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co n s ci e n c e

Esther

by Sunroot Liu

Honeymelon black milk tea with rainbow jelly Green apple blizzard Strawberry black tea, no tapioca Music to my ears, orders relayed from the

counter to the back.

This is the voice that you remember, the voice that speaks to you when the skies grow quiet again, when you try to forget why you do any good when you forget why you do anything at all Passion fruit green tea, lychee jelly lemon ice crush banana milk black tea the words that seem to stay with you a little longer than you expected words that can still make you grin the weight off your chest your steps lighter than light Almond milk black tea, tapioca mango blizzard, large apple green tea, tapioca she holds the words that make your heart light she holds the voice that makes your days beautiful you get what you order when you fall in love with the girl who works at bubble tea.

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Ferris Wheel : A Madd Real Poem

by Rekstizzy tha New King of Pop

Carnival Day, do you remember?

Cotton candy and rides “oh! look in the center” A magnificent circle like a tambourine I wiped the sweat off my hand onto my jeans “Do you want to ride?” said the seductive girl “yes.. no, wait... dare me” Biggest boner in all of America

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co n s ci e n c e

T[h]ree by Devek Singh What’s love without fighting What’s death without crying This morning I woke up mourning When I was a kid, one time, I lotioned my face thick and Told mom I was a clown Not the color of her wedding gown Grandfather left without a sound Went home in the long winters Now I shiver often & easily, Really And excuse this poem for being abrupt But tongue’s only sharp when it needs to cut Down Cane plantations, I scrape jelly from coconuts I eat chicken curry and have nightmares about jumbies Still Dad has memories left in Canje I memorize kanji, now, I should learn some Hindi, probably And probably, echoes don’t just fill space, Probably didn’t say what I meant, And I wonder where time went, and I keep getting crushed by three continents And centuries of conscequence And it doesn’t even hurt That’s nonsense, Wiri wiri peppa bun one hole troo me shut True, Can’t look east and south Just raise up your head and look out To see, but don’t tek ya eye pass me.

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co n s ci e n c e

She was There to Witness the Blood on the Chair

by Kaming Cheung

Before I had the guts to tell my mama that I was her sugarpuff She was gone with my newborn brother with one last huff.

They cried and cried out their puffed up lids â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cept for me, I danced, cus I was still a kid.

My sister was only six years old, disaster crushed her little soul Daddy said it'll be alright, alright, but he still cried all night, all night.

Some foster homes, some weekend visits from daddy We'd pretend we were working on a rice paddy.

From an album we picked out a lady, And soon enough she was my father's bride-to-be Guess he was a player, tryin' to replace her Guess he felt like Sailor Moon wasn't the best mother figure.

Left the mainland, started on some new land Bonded with stepmom by picking up soda cans.

We be livin' the hard life, you haven't lived half my life Made us all sharper than a butcher knife.

But we put up a good fight and we were alright, alright.

And what do you know we're alright, we're still alright.

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‘sad thoughts’ by kari tam

co n s ci e n c e

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co n s ci e n c e

Canon in D

(first in a series)

by Will To

To be honest, I heard her before I saw her, as I was late for a concert and had already missed the first song of the performance. The orchestra was starting the second piece, Canon in D, when I finally nudged open the grand oak doors of the concert hall and tiptoed in, sliding as quietly as possible into a seat. Even from the hallway, Canon in D had sounded heavenly, probably as Pachelbel himself had intended it to sound, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the skill of the players, although many of them were my age.

Still, the beauty of Pachelbel’s piece was marred by the fact that so many of the musicians had chosen to dress very colorfully, making the orchestra look something like a giant peacock.

Luckily, this changed when I laid my eyes on her, and kept them there for the rest of the performance, ignoring all the others in their pretentiousness. I was surprised too, not the least because instead of being an old lady with girl who was not much older than me. At the time, I falling over my wide-open eyes, not quite a boy and seemed so much more mature. I also thought she was

gray hair, I saw a young, brown-haired was a lanky, awkward fifteen, the hair certainly not a man, but even then she hopelessly exquisite, the turquoise of

her silken gown reflecting the light in a million ways that the gaudy yellow and pink dresses of the others could not. She also wore her hair, curled and mahogany, down her back, held in place with two silver ornaments.

Even now, looking back on it so many years later, I am not so sure what to say or how to say it, because as I listened to her play Canon in D on that glossy violin of hers, she said all that I had to say for me, and in a much better, more pleasing way. I still see her fingers, smooth and timeless, drawing the bow across the violin ever so elegantly, ever so magically.

As I try to describe it though, I cringe now, because I can’t do her justice in words, at least not the way that Canon does, and I am angry at myself and jealous of her. I am jealous because she captured beauty and life itself in her notes, and perhaps angry at myself because nothing I do or play will come close. Compared to her small, shapely violin, my ungainly, ancient saxophone was dull and mundane, dented in five places and far older than I was. Compared to her music, my notes were blue, earthly, terrestrial, but hers— hers defied the gravity of daily life, floating with the wind and drifting with the breeze. She played, and I followed, moving above the grind and hum of this world, beyond the dirt and dust, the worries and fears, the disappointment and frustration.

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That moment rendered me mute for the remainder of my humble existence, as if it had robbed me of a piece of my soul forever and forced me to define my life in terms of before and after the performance. Perhaps it had shown me something so delicate and different that, no matter how hard I tried, I would never find it again, and, of that there would be no doubt; four years after the performance, the orchestra broke up, totally and completely, and the concert hall was demolished.

But all this was to be later; at that exact moment, however, I sat, spellbound, afraid to move, to blinkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even to breathe. I was afraid that the smallest movement would rouse me from this vision and back into my daily, grimy existence, back into the world without beauty and meaning, and certainly without girls like her, classically elegant and superbly skilled.

Before this, had I ever lived?

And what about after; how could I live after this?

Did

she exist now, and if she did, what were the chances that the two of us were in the same grand room at the same time?

A Buddhist friend of mine would have told me that I did something right in my past life, but I would have disagreed: there was no past, no future, just that moment, enduring, imperishable, that music, divinely wonderful, and that girl, ravishingly beautiful.

Afterwards, whenever I heard Canon, all I would have to do was to close my eyes to be transported back to that eternal, priceless sliver of time, when I was fifteen, and she, she in her turquoise gown, ageless and beautiful, back arched ever so slightly, her delicate fingers drawing the bow over her violin ever so precisely.

She wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t an angel, but in my opinion, she was quite close.

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Creative Writing for Chinamen I am a Chinese creative writing major.

by Sunroot Liu

My friends don’t get it. They are fobs.

They say: “Oh! Sunloot! Why you-a major in engoolish?

How you gonna get a job?

How you gonna get a big house and a pretty Asian or American wife?”

I say. I say nothing. I shrug. I think that I would write her love poems: Breathtaking prose and lyricism that elevates her soul, takes her to a place in heaven, where words do naught but touch her heart, that she might know my heart know from the start that she is a part of this art that I call my own.

The art in my soul, that I find, in my soul that I bind to my whole.

I would write her love poems, or dedicate the novel I’m writing to her.

But I have writer’s block.

I don’t mind the crap they give me.

They think Bob Marley is a member of the Beatles.

Then there’s my parents. They don’t get it.

They say: “Oh! Sunloot! Why you-a major in engoolish?

How you gonna get a job?

How you gonna get a big house and a pretty Asian-American wife?”

I shrug.

Sometimes I wonder.

But sometimes I remember why I love what I do, why I make myself a fool, disgrace ever tool, at my disposal math skills, science skills.

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co n s ci e n c e My history global and otherwise, talents of every shape and size.

To write.

To be the only asian playing cranium that can pronounce Menorah, recognize Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night Spell Rhinoceros backwards S O R E C O N I H R Rhinoceros I don’t mind it all.

I don’t.

I love what I do.

And I explain to my mom: Mom, I made my schedule two days a week so I could work on my novel.

Except I don’t say this. Because I have writer’s block.

artwork by alice liou OCTOBER 2007 | ASIAN OUTLOOK

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E B T ’ N Y O E D M I GR

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sub m and it artw ork, a AO C O ll tha poetry NS , C I E t goo photo gr d NC E@ stuf aphy gm f ail . c o to m

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