Asian Outlook Fall 2009 Issue #2 by Asian Outlook

The Murder of Annie Le

Tragedy at Yale

A Cutting Problem Female Genital Mutilation Plus:

The Godzilla of New York / Who is Aamir Khan?

ASIAN OUTLOOK

THEBATTLEOFTHESEXES Diane Wong and the Ninja Report take a crack or two at each other.

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Table of Contents Features Female Genital Mutilation: A Cutting Problem Diane Wong Homecoming: The Return of Euna Lee and Laura Ling Calvin Prashad The Murder of Annie Le: Tragic Violence at Yale University Raises Questions of Security... Jonathan Yee Fall Anime 2009: A Lineup Sophia Lin Godzilla for New York: Hideki Matsui Jeff Hwang Bollywood 101: Who is Aamir Khan? Fiz Ramdhani Life After Binghamton: The Election of John Liu to City Comptroller Calvin Prashad Vancouver: A Winter Olympics Preview Gene Kim and Calvin Prashad p 24 The battle between the sexes continues. See what our writers have to say about the follies of Asian women versus the weaknesses of Asian men...

5 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

Editorials From Miscegenation to Multiculturalism Diane Wong Head to Head: The Problem With Asian Men Diane Wong He Said, She Said: The Problem with Asian Women Ninja Report Re-Examining US-Korea Relations Calvin Prashad 2

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In the Spotlight: What to expect at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver... p 20

Scenic Fenghuang, China. See page 34 for more details...

Thanks to all our Contributors! Jonathan Yee Ninja Report Diane Wong Gene Kim Meladel Busante Yinzi Liang Rena Lee

Staff Editors-in-Chief William To Calvin Prashad Assistant Editors Fiz Ramdhani Alyssa Alimurung Jeff Hwang Layout Editors Sophia Lin Sha Lisa Liu Olivia Cheng

Publicity Chris Lu Treasurer Ivan Yeung Secretary Jing Gao Conscience Editor Kelvin Chan Contributing Staff Diane Wong Gene Kim Jonathan Yee

Conscience

Pages 31-39

Featuring the Works of: Yinzi Liang Meladel Busante Kelvin Chan Rena Lee

Editorial Policy Asian Outlook is the art, literary, and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Binghamton University. Originally conceived and created to challenge, redefine, re-imagine and revolutionize images and perceptions associated with Asians and Asian-Americans; further, Asian Outlook serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orintation. All matter contained within these beautiful pages do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial board. Asian Outlook reserves the right to edit submissions and publish work as deemed appropriate. Prospective contributors are encouraged to discuss their work with the editors prior to submission. Articles may be submitted as an e-mail attachment to ao.editor@gmail.com, all artistic and literary pieces may be submitted to aoconscience@gmail.com. Contact Policy Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under pain of punishment. Please direct all questions, comments, and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com. Fall 2009

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Letter from the Editor... As the weeks and days, hours and minutes count down to my final departure from Binghamton, I cannot help but think about it all--starting from that sunny August day in 2005 when I moved into my dorm, and bid my family--and everything I was familiar with--an enthusiastic goodbye. Since then, I have spent four and a half years here, in this little, wind-swept town tucked away in a corner of the Appalachian foothills; since then, I have been busy experiencing all the joys, the sorrows, the triumphs, and the tragedies that come with college, with this (privileged) rite-of-passage; since then, I have discovered that, contrary to what everyone may think, college is more than simply a means to an end. During this time, I have come into contact with a small microcosm of our society, filled with fools and geniuses, with stolid, concrete businessmen and abstract, free-spirited artists, with rabid bigots and brave activists, with melancholy bureaucrats and unrestrained dreamers, with millionaires and paupers; I have met some of the best people I could have hoped to have meet, and I have met some of the worst; I have done many things that I am adamantly proud of, and I have also done things that I am undoubtedly ashamed of. At the risk of running a cliche, I suppose that I have also seen how the worst in human nature--cowardice, hate, intolerance, indifference--can draw out some of the best--courage, fortitude, unity, perseverance, and sympathy. As Mel Gibson said in Braveheart, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every man dies; but not every man truly lives.â&#x20AC;? So thank you, friends, brothers, sisters, and comrades, for helping me live. Thank you, for your unwavering support and unswerving loyalty, thank you for weathering the storm with me and fighting alongside me when no one else would, but most of all, thank you for making me a better man, and thank you for giving me something--some people--to fight for. I wish you all the best; may your hearts be filled with joy and light, not darkness and hatred. May you greet others with open arms, not closed fists. May you breathe deeply and live fully; may you live with courage and compassion, may you fear nothing, and may you fight injustice and oppression, wherever it may be, and whatever form it may take. May you reflect back on your life from the comfort and security of old age, and may you always strive to improve yourself and your world, and not settle for the dull ache of indifference and complacency.

Staff Editors-in-Chief William To Calvin Prashad Assistant Editors Fiz Ramdhani Alyssa Alimurung Jeff Hwang Layout Editors Sophia Lin Sha Lisa Liu Olivia Cheng

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Publicity Chris Lu Treasurer Ivan Yeung Secretary Jing Gao Conscience Editor Kelvin Chan Contributing Staff Diane Wong Gene Kim Jonathan Yee

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Best, Will To Asian Outlook

Contact Policy Uninvited contact with writers and contributors is forbidden under pain of punishment. Please direct all questions, comments, and complaints to ao.editor@gmail.com.

FEMALE GENITAL

MUTILATION

A CUTTING PROBLEM BY DIANE WONG

aris Dirie was five when she was mutilated. Given a piece of root from an old tree to bite on, Dirie remembers seeing between her legs a gypsy pulling out a broken razor blade, covered with dried blood on the jagged edges. The gypsy spit on the blade and wiped it on her dress. There was the sound of the blade sawing back and forth into her flesh and the unbearable pain between her legs as pieces of her skin were cut away. Then, everything went dark. The moment she opened her eyes, Dirie saw pieces of her flesh lying on the ground next to her, drenched with blood. Dirie is a victim of female genital mutilation (FGM). Currently, she is a Somalian supermodel in London, and also a United Nations activist for the banning of FGM. She is only one out of millions of women who have suffered from FGM. This article will address the reasons why FGM is practiced in different ethnic cultures, and the consequences that FGM has had on the girls and women who have undergone it. An estimated of 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide have undergone FGM, and two million girls a year are at risk-approximately 6,000 per day. In Africa alone, about 92

million girls age 10 years and above are estimated to have undergone FGM. The procedure is practiced in more than 26 African countries and among some ethnic groups in Oman, Egypt, as well as in parts of India, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

FGM is classified into four broad types: Type 1 [clitoridectomy]: partial or complete removal of the clitoris Type 2 [excision]: removal of the clitoral hood with or without removal of part or all of the clitoris Type 3 [infibulations]: narrowing of the vaginal opening through the creation of a covering seal. The seal is made by stitching the vaginal opening, leaving a small hole for urine and menstrual flow. Type 4 [other]: all other operations on the female genitalia for non-medical purposes; for example, piercing, incising, scraping, or stretching the labia and cauterization

Above: Model Waris Dirie

Type 1 and 2 account for almost 80 percent of all FGM cases while type 3 is common in countries such Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Nigeria (Amnesty International, 3). FGM is an extremely risky procedure because it puts hundreds of thousands of young girls at risk for infections, HIV, and even death. In poverty-ridden countries such as Sudan, antibiotics are not available, and it is estimated that one-third of the girls who are subjugated to FGM die or suffer from infectious diseases. Immediate complications of FGM are most commonly shock and hemorrhage.

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The long-term complications include damage to adjoining organs from the use of blunt instruments, blocked menses, increased risk of child morbidity due to obstructed labor, and HIV infection. After all of these life-threatening consequences, it is hard to believe that women who have undergone circumcision themselves advocate the same to be done to their daughters. FGM is closely related to the unequal position of women in the political, social, and economic structures of societies where it is practiced. This practice is prevalent in areas where poverty, gender-based discrimination, and unsanitary conditions predominate, and where women are placed at the bottom of the economic and social hierarchy. It is a human rights abuse because it functions as an instrument to reassert women as inferior as well as reducing women to nothing more than child bearers and objects of the male sexual fulfillment. It is important to view FGM as a small part of a whole belief system. Reasons for supporting FGM vary. The procedure is a socio-cultural ritual in many cultures because it represents a necessary rite of passage to womanhood and it preserves virginity until marriage. FGM is also sometimes practiced for aesthetic and hygienic reasons. Some ethnic groups believe that a woman’s external genitalia are ugly and dirty and the procedure promotes health and beauty. Women who are not circumcised are considered oversexed, ineligible for marriage, and are ostracized by their communities.

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Above: Estimated pecentages of the prevalence of the practice in areas of Africa

Spirituality and religion is one of the most significant reasons why cultures practice FGM. Although FGM is not a religious practice required by the Koran and the Sunnah, FGM has become important to certain fundamentalist Islamic ideologies because it is associated with female sexual purity. These Islamic ethnic groups believe that FGM cleanses the female spirit and they interpret the Koran to preach this practice as a religious obligation. In many African cultures, FGM is practiced for psychosexual reasons. It is believed to enhance the sexual pleasure for males and to control female sexual desires, thus guarding family honor. In more traditional cultures, FGM is practiced because of superstitions that affirm that the baby will die if the clitoris

touches the baby during birth, or that a man will die if the penis touches the female clitoris during sexual intercourse. From a cultural relativist point of view, FGM should just be accepted as part of an ethnic group’s culture, but how can it be accepted when the practice violates many aspects of human rights documents that many of the countries that practice FGM have all ratified? For example, Article 5 of the United Nations “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” states that “No one shall be subject to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of punishment.” (UN-UDHR, Article 5) In addition, under the United Nations “Convention on the Rights of the Child,” under Article 2, the convention states that parties “shall take all appropriate measures to ensure

that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child’s parents, or family members.” (UN-CRC, Article 2) Many young girls are forced into mutilation on the basis of the family or community’s religious beliefs, and because they are too young to speak out, they have no option but to comply. When the practice of FGM violates two of the most significant international human rights documents, we are forced to ask why. It is understood that many women willingly accept FGM because it is an important tribal ritual that brings honor and beauty to the individual. Thus, it is understandable that many ethnic groups, including women who condone FGM, are opposed to western interference in their traditional culture. However, I believe that FGM is a

brutal practice and that its costs to mental and physical health far outweigh its culturally perceived benefits. When cultural practices become potentially life-threatening, it becomes an international violation of human rights.

Sources

While many laws have been passed in order to prevent FGM, weak enforcement has rendered the legislation irrelevant and useless. Circumcisions should be a procedure performed for medical purposes only, unless the young girl or woman undergoing the procedure is old enough to understand and decide for herself. Perhaps the modern view of women’s rights can be reconciled with ethnic cultural traditions, by performing a ceremony or having a celebration of a girls passage into womanhood. This way, the cultural aspect of the practice is still evident while preserving the woman’s fundamental rights.

United Nations.“Universal Declaration of Human Rights." 10 Dec. 1948. 8 Dec. 2008 <http://www.un.org/overview/ rights.html>.

Amnesty International. 1998. Female Genital Mutilation: A Human Rights Information Pack. London: Amnesty International.

United Nations. "Convention on the Rights of the Child." United Nations Human Rights Commission on Human Rights. 20 Nov. 1989. 7 Dec. 2008 <http://www.unhchr.ch/html/ menu3/b/k2crc.htm>

Images Waris Portrait. Source: http:// www.lesnouvelles.org/Z00_media/29000/29025/warisportrait1. jpg Dirie. Source: http://img.timeinc.net/time/europe/magazine/2002/0715/dirie.jpg FGM Map. Source: http://upload. wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Fgm_map.gif

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Not Everyone is Happy to See that Laura Ling and Euna Lee Return after Earlier this year, two American journalists working for Current TV were imprisoned by North Korea on charges of espionage. Before their capture, Euna Lee and Laura Ling were filming a documentary on human trafficking of North Koreans into China. On August 4, 2009, former President Bill Clinton traveled to North Korea to secure their release from prison. Like most Americans, I was overjoyed to see Laura Ling and Euna Lee finally back on U.S. soil. Surprisingly, it appears that not everyone shares this opinion. The right wing has seen the release of

These pundits would have preferred the journalists to slave for twelve years, as if ignoring them would discourage further kidnapping of US citizens...

these journalists as a major blow to American prestige and indeed a few have suggested that Euna and Laura were better off imprisoned.

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Sean Hannity and John Bolton were the first to criticize Bill Clinton’s trip to release the journalists. Although they tried to feign sincerity by expressing relief over the women’s return, it became abundantly clear that they would have preferred Lee and Ling to stay put. Their diplomatic solution to this situa-

tion was: nothing. Even though a few months earlier John Bolton labeled the situation as unacceptable and charged that North Korea had illegally kidnapped the journalists, he now charges that negotiating their release has “weakened America” and reduced the position of the United States internationally. These pundits would have preferred the journalists to slave for twelve years with the naïve notion that ignoring them would discourage further kidnapping of U.S. citizens. Lastly, they lay out the claim that this move has strengthened Kim Jong-il and that the U.S. is helping to prop up his regime.

Of course, the conservatives would never prop up an evil dictator or terrorist group for political motives. Right, Saddam Hussein? Right, Nicaraguan Contras? It gets worse as conservative halfwit, Dick Morris, agreed that Lee and Ling needed to be taught a lesson. His opinions essentially reflect the mood of the conservative establishment and, for all intensive purposes, are probably what most conservatives are thinking. It amounts to a classic case of “blaming the victim.” Morris not only entertained the idea that Lee and Ling would never come home, but he also

Of course, the conservatives would never prop up an evil dictator or terrorist group for political motives. Right, Saddam Hussein? Right, Nicaraguan Contras? stated that they should “live with the consequences of their decision”. What part of “they were kidnapped” did he

Half a Year of North Korean Captivity...

not understand? However, it gets even worse. G. Gordon Liddy, the grandfather of neoconservatives and the man who spent 4 years in jail over Watergate decided to escalate this to a completely new level. He referred to Ling and Lee, respectively, as “Ling Ling and Wee Wee” and “chicky birds,” and then insinuated that Bill Clinton sexually assaulted them on the flight back from North Korea. He further charged that Hilary Clinton forced Bill Clinton to go to North Korea. In reality, the Obama administration asked him to make the trip after the regime requested a high profile envoy. Further, he disparaged the work that the journalists were doing. He does not even refer to Lee and Ling as journalists and claimed that they were making a “movie.” It is racism, misogyny, and irrationality rolled into one hate-filled tirade. Let me make a few things clear. •Laura Ling and Euna Lee are journalists working for a major news network and were investigating the trafficking of

women at the North Korean border. •If they indeed set foot in North Korean territory, it was not for an extended period of time. Any incursion would have been accidental and reports suggested that North Korean border guards crossed in North Korea and kidnapped them. Still also doesn’t warrant

twelve years of labor •Laura Ling and Euna Lee are women, not “girls” or “chickies”. They are professionals that are married and, in Lee’s case, a mother. They deserve the same respect afforded to Michelle Malkin or Ann Coulter •Disparaging diplomacy and negotiating with enemies are both childish and backwards. It is also disturbing for a former diplomat to disparage negotiations considering how he handled the Iraq debacle. We can afford to allow a banana republic to have its propaganda victory if it means the return of hostages. There is a thin line between pride

by Calvin Prashad and foolishness. To suggest that two women rot away so that the U.S. looks big and strong is flawed reasoning •Their names are Laura Ling, not Ling Ling, and Euna Lee, not Wee Wee. I would like to think that Liddy could comprehend how racist his comments are, but he is from the time when it was acceptable to hose down peaceful protesters with firehouses and attack dogs. It is not as if they have difficult names. These names, pulled straight from the big bag of “chingchongery,” were constructed from the mere fact that they are Asian. That is why even Laura Ling, with an English first name, suddenly became Ling Ling the Chinaman. •No one deserves 12 years in a North Korean labor camp. We should be overjoyed that Ling and

What part of “they were kidnapped” did he not understand?

Lee are back, safe with their families. Politicizing such an issue is both unnecessary and wrong. Image Sources: http://laist.com/attachments/la_zach/ laura_ling_euna_lee.jpg Associated Press

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The Murder of Annie Le: Tragic Violence at Yale University Raises Questions of Campus Security

arlier this fall, a 24 year old student at Yale University was reported missing by her housemate. A few days later, they found her body inside the walls of a school research lab. Annie Le, an Asian American doctoral student in pharmacology, came from a Vietnamese-American family. Annie’s disappearance on September 8th, 2009 was puzzling to family members and friends. She was scheduled to be married to her fiancé, Jonathan Widawsky, a graduate student at Columbia University, in just a few days on September 13th, 2009. In addition, Annie Le’s purse containing her cell phone, credit cards and money were left in her office. Annie left her office the morning of September 8th to go to the Yale Amistad research lab. Police reports looked through security camera footage that confirmed her arrival at the lab. However, there was no footage of her ever leaving the lab. This prompted a police investigation of the entire building. A few days later, on the day that was supposed to be her wedding, police found her body stuffed into a basement wall of the laboratory. An autopsy determined the cause of death as traumatic asphyxiation due to neck compression, that is, strangulation. On September 17th, police arrested Raymond Clark III for the murder of Annie Le. Authorities had obtained a warrant to take DNA samples from Clark’s fingernails and saliva just earlier. Raymond Clark III, also 24 years of age, worked as a lab technician in the same lab where Annie did research. Clark is described as a control freak that had run-ins with the law before for violence. Clark is behind bars now and the case is progressing slowly.

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Meanwhile, a comJonathan Yee munity is in shock by the events that have unfolded on their campus. The Yale community gathered at the university’s historic Battel Chapel for a memorial service in honor of Annie Le. Her friends described her as an intelligent person that was destined to succeed. They boasted about her vibrant personality and sense of humor. Originally from Placerville, California, Le graduated as valedictorian of her high school class and was named “most likely to be the next Einstein.” She went on to the University of Rochester where she majored in developmental biology with a minor in medical anthropology. That is also where she met her fiancé Jonathan Widawsky. Annie’s work did not stop at the University of Rochester as she went on to pursue her doctoral degree from Yale. She worked on a team that researched enzymes that could have help in the treatment of cancer, diabetes and muscular dystrophy.

A few days later, on the day that was supposed to be her wedding, police found her body stuffed into a basement wall of the laboratory.

In response to the tragedy that has happened on their campus, Yale has decided to look over and update their policies and procedures to prevent and stop workplace violence. Yale University employees are now required to report intimidat-

ing, threatening or violent behavior to campus authorities. Their policy also spells out and lists specific examples of prohibited behavior including threats, stalking, sexual harassment and assault. Yaleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policy also bans carrying or keeping a weapon on campus. Campus security has been under review even before this incident at Yale. The shooting at Virginia Tech is still hard to grapple with even two years after the tragedy. In Connecticut alone, there have been three major incidents of campus violence over the past year. Wesleyan student Johanna Justin-Jinich was shot and killed inside of a college bookstore earlier this year. University of Connecticut student Jasper Howard was stabbed and killed last month. Some people claim that not enough is done to protect our students. However, some school officials

In Connecticut alone, there have been three major incidents of campus violence over the past year...Wesleyan student Johanna Justin-Jinich was shot and killed...

Image Sources: http://images.townnews.com/nhregister.com/images/wAnnieLe8. jpg http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00241/Annie_Le_241840t.jpg http://nimg.sulekha.com/Others/original700/annie-le-funeral-2009-9-26-19-10-31.jpg

say that it is unrealistic to have metal detectors and armed guards at every classroom every day. Some measures campuses take to ensure safety for their students include emergency alerts sent through text messages and campus shuttles for students. Tragic incidents like these remind us that violence is a real issue and that we need to keep a watch out for members of our community. Campus safety is integral to an academic environment. Students should not need to worry about their own safety in their place of study and work. Campus security is the shared responsibility of campus officials and the members of the community. It is a good idea to travel with friends and report any incidents of threatening or violent behavior to the appropriate authorities. Students should also take advantage of campus services designed with student safety in mind. Some of Binghamtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services include Safe Ride and the RAVE emergency alert system in which students receive alerts via text message. Hopefully, we can prevent other incidents of violence before they disturb the peace on our campus.

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FALL 0 09 anime 2 by sophia lin

It is time for the Fall 2009 anime season and it is hard to keep track of what series have come out and what series are worth watching. Provided are summaries of some of the bigger titles of this season. Hopefully you will find a good series that you can enjoy.

InuYasha: Kanketsu-hen For those who have never heard of the series, InuYasha, it is about a girl named Higurashi Kagome who is pulled down a well by a demon into Feudal Japan. There she discovers that she is the reincarnation of a powerful priestess and that demons are after a powerful jewel inside her body. After a run-in with a demon, the jewel shatters and Kagome has to team up with a half-demon dog named InuYasha to recover all the jewel shards. Together, they meet a lot of new friends and enemies along the way. The previous InuYasha series covered up to volume 35 in the manga, and now this one will cover volumes 36 to 56.

Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza Queen’s Blade:

Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono This is the continuation of the series, Queen’s Blade: Rurou no Senshi, which was about young women fighting in a tournament to decide who is the strongest warrior and who will become the next queen. Rules of the tournament state: the killing of any contestant is allowed and all participants have to be older than twelve. Gyokuza wo Tsugu Mono follows the young women from Rurou no Senshi and will introduce several new ones as they all try to win the tournament to become queen. Sophia’s note: This series is full of fan service, meaning that you will be viewing a lot of breasts and nakedness.

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This is the sequel of the series, Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu. Ayase Yuuto is just an ordinary male student in a private high school, while Nogizaka Haruka is idolized in the school for both her beauty and intelligence. One day in the school library, Yuuto stumbles upon Haruka’s darkest secret: she is an otaku (extreme fan of anime and manga). He becomes the protector of her secret and the two slowly develop feelings of affection for each other. Nogizaka Haruka no Himitsu Purezza follows the budding

romance, however with another classmate breaking in between them in order to gain Yuuto’s affection.

Kobato This is the story of a simple and naïve girl named Kobato, whose goal is to go to a “certain place.” In order to do so, she must go around healing people’s hearts to fill a mysterious bottle that will grant her desire. She is accompanied by an angry stuffed animal dog who serves as her guide. The only condition is that she cannot fall in love with any person she cures.

Kimi ni Todoke This popular romance shoujo manga, now turned anime, follows Kuronuma Sawako (nicknamed Sadako, a reference to the girl in The Ring), is a girl who simply wants to get along with everyone around her, but faces many difficulties due to her scary face and demeanor. She befriends her classmate Kazehaya Shouta, who is “100% refreshing” and has a friendly personality, and thus things change. She begins to make friends and cannot thank Kazehaya for giving her this prospect, and slowly a love blossoms between the two.

Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini

Misaki Kirihara quits her position in Foreign Affairs and begins to investigate Hei, the Contractors, and the Syndicate. Hell’s Gate still exists in Tokyo, even after Hei’s efforts to stop the anti-Gate particle weapon. Contractors are safe for now but there are still some new and old Contractors who abuse their powers.

FAIRY TAIL Lucy is a 17 year-old mage aiming to become a full-fledged mage, but the only way to become one is to join a mage guild. While in a town, she meets Natsu,

a young man who gets sick from any form of transportation, and Happy, a cat with wings. Little does she know that they are members of the infamous mage guild, Fairy Tail.

Nyan Koi! Junpei Kousaka is a high school student who loathes cats and is allergic to them. As he walks home from school one day, he kicks an empty can and angers the local guardian cat deity, who in turn curses him to understand what cats say. Now Junpei has to grant 100 wishes from cats or he will become one himself.

Darker than BLACK: Ryuusei no Gemini is the sequel to Darker than BLACK – Kuro no Keiyakusha. It occurs two years after Hei and Yin escaped from the Syndicate after the events from the previous season. In Russia, Hei encounters Suou Pavlichenko, a 13 year-old girl who has been pulled into the war between Contractors and intelligence factions. Meanwhile in Japan,

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GODZILLA FOR NEW YORK

by jeff hwang

sked how he felt after playing one of the greatest games in World Series history, the soft-spoken Hideki Matsui simply said it was “unbelievable.” His team, after enduring 162 games through 181 days of the regular baseball season and fifteen games through 29 days of the postseason, the New York Yankees emerged once again as the champions of baseball. Matsui, 35, became a one-man army in New York’s clinching game against the Philadelphia Phillies on November 4, 2009. Despite missing a significant amount of at-bats due to the lack of the designated hitter position when playing on National League turf, Matsui still hit 8-for-13 (a .615 batting average), including a double, three home runs, with eight runs batted in. However, out of those eight RBIs, six of them came in the clinching game when Matsui went 3-for-4, hitting a two-run home run, a two-run single, and then a two-run double in three consecutive at-bats to cap his explosive night. The performance was tied for a record setter, matching Bobby Richardson’s feat with the 1960 New York Yankees, and allowed Matsui to claim the prestigious MVP award of the 2009 World Series. It marked the first time that a Japaneseborn player was named the MVP of the World Series. In his final contract year with the Yankees, it may be possible that Matsui’s time in New York has finally expired. The man nicknamed “Godzilla” in both Japan and the United States came a long way, though, with the sport of baseball mixed into his blood at an early age. In 1977, at the age of three, Hideki Matsui started his baseball career simply by playing catch with his father. When

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he was ten years old, the future star joined his first baseball team. Originally batting right-handed, Matsui was actually forced to bat lefty after his older brother and friends felt that they were being overpowered by the young star. Consequently, Matsui became the powerful left-handed batter that the baseball world knows of today. He quickly steamrolled through high school baseball teams and eventually claimed the nickname, “Godzilla,” as his own. The young Matsui’s ability was recognized in the Japanese professional baseball league, which led to a first round draft pick to

join the Yomiuri Giants—the Japanese team equivalent to the United States’ New York Yankees. In ten seasons as an outfielder with the Giants (1993 to 2002), Matsui’s name became a label for power hitting. Averaging more than 30 home runs per season (with a single season high of 50 in his final season in Japan) and holding a career average of .304, Matsui epitomized power as fellow countryman Ichiro Suzuki defined contact and speed. Tearing up Japanese pitchers, Matsui was awarded MVP honors three times in the

Japanese league (1996, 2000, and 2002). With virtually the entire spotlight focused on him after Ichiro departed for the Seattle Mariners in the United States, it was inevitable that the MLB would eventually set its sights on the star player. At the same time, though, Matsui already had plans to move to the United States after his final contract year with the Yomiuri Giants. In 2003, after winning the Japanese championship for the third time and claiming his third MVP award, Matsui signed a three-year deal to play left field with the New York Yankees and began his MLB career as seen today. With the loss of star players Ichiro and Matsui, Japanese baseball fans began tuning into American baseball broadcasts more than ever. It was no longer unusual for baseball fans in Japan to wake up on early mornings to catch the night games in the United States. Matsui, like Ichiro, adjusted to the American style of baseball rather quickly. Reinforcing his role as “Godzilla,” Matsui instantly achieved fame by belting a grand slam in his debut game as a Yankee. Consistently, Matsui settled into his power hitter mode in the United States, without losing a beat since crossing overseas. From 2003 to 2005, Matsui drove in over 100 runs per season. Because of the productivity, Matsui earned himself a new contract through 2009. Unfortunately, injuries plagued the aging slugger in 2006 and 2008, reducing his offensive output. With his knees shaken up and his speed reduced, Matsui was relegated to the designated hitter role for the majority of his playing time. Nonetheless, when he was healthy, Matsui still proved to be a recurrent power source. In 2007, he continued to maintain his consistency by driving in over 100 runs for the fourth time in five seasons. But even with his successes between 2003 and 2008, Matsui had yet to win a

championship with the New York Yankees. As his knees continued to fall out of shape, Matsui was finally taken out of the outfield for fulltime services as a designated hitter in 2009. Regardless, he settled into his new role and immediately set the record for the most home runs in a single season by a Yankee designated hitter, driving out a total of 28.

For a player who usually stays away from media attention, Matsui made it publicly clear that he wishes to remain in New York. Playing with the idea of a contract extension, Matsui said through his interpreter, “I hope so. I love New York. I love the fans here.”

Everything changed in that fateful year, when Matsui helped carry the Yankees over the Phillies in a 4-2 World Series, claiming his aforementioned series MVP award along with his first championship in a Yankee uniform. As if playing from a storybook, it may be time for Godzilla to bid farewell to New York, with limited options available for the shy and humble power hitter.

He can still sign another extended contract with the Yankees—provided that the organization makes the offer, he can sign with a different team, or he can retire and return to Japan as a World Series champion.

Sources http://www.mlb.com http://www.yankees.com http://www.baseball-reference.com http://www.jockbio.com/bios/matsui

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asian outlook

Aamir Khan is a critically acclaimed Indian actor, filmmaker, and producer. Khan’s background is probably not very different from most of his Bollywood colleagues’. He was born on March 14, 1965 in Mumbai, India to a conservative Muslim family that has long been a part of the Indian film industry. He made his debut in the Bollywood movie industry at the tender age of eight in Yaadon Ki Baaraat (1973), a movie directed by Nasir Hussain––a wellknown movie director at the time who is also Khan’s biological uncle. The fact that he was born into an Indian film industry family obviously contributes to his popularity, however it is not the only determinant to his indisputable success in the industry itself. I personally think that it has come to general knowledge that Bollywood is well known for its list of good-looking actors and actresses whose acting abilities can be openly disputed. It is also unquestionable that, like Hollywood, Bollywood is constructed upon family dynasties whose influences in the industry are somewhat powerful (e.g. the Kapoor family and the Bachchan family). Khan’s success, however, is mostly due to his own talent and intelligence as an actor and public figure. From Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak

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Fall 2009

(1988), which was his debut as a lead actor, to Ghajini (2008), his considerably recent Bollywood blockbuster success that grossed over Rs. 1.8 billion (around $38 million), most of Khan’s movies have been successful. Especially close

to my heart (and I am sure to the hearts of most Bollywood moviegoers out there) are Lagaan (2001) and Rang de Basanti (2006) (International title: Paint it Yellow). Lagaan tells a story of rural Indian villagers’ resistance against the increased tax (lagaan) from the British colonial rulers. Khan played the role of Bhu-

van, a young village boy who accepted the British colonialists’ challenge of cricketon the terms that the increased tax will be lifted in the villagers win. The movie, along with Khan, won many local awards including the National Film Awards, an equivalent of Hollywood’s Academy Awards. It also claimed international stardom as it was nominated as the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year in the 74th Annual Academy Awards. Moreover, the movie was proven to have significant meaning. Boria Majumdar, the General Editor of the Routledge Series and once a visiting lecturer in the University of Chicago in 2003 and the University of Toronto in 2007, wrote in his article, “Politics of Leisure in Colonial India:” “As a sport historian, working on the historical centrality of cricket in Indian socio-economic and political life, I read ‘Lagaan’ not simply as a lore of Indian resistance to British imperialism, or the victory of rural solidarity against the might of the colonial state. ‘Lagaan’, for me is a commentary, in the filmic and imaginative mode, on the evolution and development of cricket in colonial India.”

Aamir Khan did not just star in the movie; the movie was also produced under his film production company: Aamir Khan Productions. Rang de Basanti (International title: Paint it Yellow) also gained international recognition. Like Lagaan, it was nominated as the Best Foreign Language Film of the Year in the 79th Annual Academy Awards. Moreover, it was also nominated in the category of Film Not in the English Language in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts 2006, on top of getting numerous local prestigious awards. The film featured an ensemble of casts, which included Soha Ali Khan (Khoya Khoya Chand) and Kunal Kapoor (Laaga Chunari Mein Daag). Weighing in on the lists of awards and nominations that he received, Aamir Khan is also well-known of his constant involvement in both Indian politics and social issues. Unlike the Bachchan family, however, he is not directly involved with politics. Instead, he stated in Expressindia.com that “he would never enter politics like other actors, as he is very passionate about acting and movies.” From his lists of achievements to his involvement in the Indian society, I think that it is safe for us to distinguish Aamir Khan from most of his Bollywood colleagues. He does not only have the looks of a Bollywood movie star, but also the talent of a real actor, the intelligence of a director or producer, and most importantly, the consciousness

uage Ghajini Collection Drops Only 40%; Worldwide Gross Rs. 1.8 Billion http://www.businessofcinema.com/news. php?newsid=11350 World Who’s Who: Europa Biographical Reference - Boria Majumdar http://www.worldwhoswho.com/ public/views/entry. html?id=sl2170547

and heart of a fully functioning human being. For Further Reading on Aamir Khan: http://www.imdb.com/name/ nm0451148/bio Aamir Khan says No to Politics http://www.expressindia.com/latestnews/Aamir-Khan-says-no-to-politics/441684/ Politics of Leisure in Colonial India http://www.jstor.org/pss/4411061 Lagaan: Once Upon a Time in India http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0169102/ companycredits 74th Academy Awards http://old.oscars. org/74academyawards/nomswins.html British Academy of Film and Television Arts http://www.bafta.org/awards-database. html?year=2006&category=Film&awa rd=Film+not+in+the+English+Lang

Picture Sources: http://foolishblatherings.files.wordpress. com/2009/08/lagaan. jpg http://www.impawards. com/intl/india/2006/ posters/rang_de_basanti.jpg http://www.amitbhawani.com/india/ Images/G/GhajiniHindi.jpg http://aamirkhannews.files.wordpress. com/2009/06/aamirkhan11.jpg http://www.funmunch.com/celebrities/actors/aamir_khan/enlarge/aamir_ khan_1.jpg

Fall 2009

asian outlook

Binghamton Alumnus Elected To Citywide Office by Calvin Prashad

n November 4, 2009, Taiwanese-American (and Binghamton alumnus) John C. Liu became the first Asian-American elected to citywide office in New York City, beating out Republican Joe Mendoza for the position of City Comptroller. The office of the City Comptroller, obscure as it is, is a powerful one; it controls the New York City budget and is responsible for financial oversight as well as investment of pension funds. Previously, Liu had served as the City Councilman from Flushing, New York where he worked for financial transpar-

“ John Liu became the first AsianAmerican elected to city-wide office, capturing 76% of the vote in the November 4th general elections.” ency, affordable housing and equitable treatment for minority groups in New York City. He also fought discrimination and became a bit of a minor celebrity as he increasingly appeared and spoke at events outside his district with his office covered extensively in local Chinese language press. During his time at Binghamton, John Liu was the president of the Chinese American Student Union, Executive Vice President of the Student Association and helped to form the current Asian Student Union. After graduating in 1988, Liu worked for Price Waterhouse Coopers and ran for city councilman after the incumbent, Julia Harrison, derided Asians in Flushing—referring to them as “rude merchants and criminal smugglers,” among others. While he

asian outlook

Fall 2009

Above: John Liu was unsuccessful during his first attempt in 1997, he won election in 2001, and reelection in 2005. During his tenure, he served as the chair of the Transportation committee. John Liu became the first Asian-American elected to citywide office by capturing 76% of the vote in the November 4th general election. In the race for city comptroller, Liu won by a huge margin—gathering 55,000 votes more than the Republican in the race. At his new position, Liu will maintain control over the city’s finances while squaring off against the policies of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who also

won reelection to a controversial third term. Liu has constantly criticized the mayor on spending, wastefulness and incentives to large businesses. Their differences in city management as well as Liu’s penchant for using the media to

call attention to certain problems will certainly elevate the position of comptroller to the point where most New Yorkers will be aware of it. The vast majority of New Yorkers did not know who the previous comptroller was or what he did prior to this election.

“ He also fought discrimination and became a bit of a minor celebrity as he increasingly appeared and spoke at events outside his district with his office covered extensively in local Chinese language press. ”

bers to form the Black, Latino and Asian caucus (BLA) in the city council. Since then he has not only reached out to these communities, but also built a base in these neighborhoods that propelled him into the office of the City Comptroller. He also reached out to working class New Yorkers by sharing his experiences as an immigrant and helping his mother with sweatshop work. In displaying an ability to work outside his immediate neighborhood and genuine concern for the problems of ordinary New Yorkers, he won convincingly in the primary runoff over three other Democratic rivals and also in the general election. Also running for office in New York City was former Asian Outlook editor in chief, John Choe. As a student leader on campus, John Choe developed close relationships with other cultural groups and led a protest against the use of racist imagery in the dining halls. He served as John Liu’s chief of staff while he was city councilman and subsequently ran to replace him in District 20 (Flushing, Queens). Although Choe built a strong campaign with the backing of organized labor and the Democratic establishment, his relatively late entry into the race but him at a fundraising disadvantage and compromised his ability to wage a competitive campaign against five other Democratic rivals. In spite of the loss, Choe will continue to work from John Liu in the office of the Comptroller.

How did John Liu win? As the first Asian on the city council, he joined with the Black and Latino council mem-

Image Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/10/16/amd_q_ john-liu.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr. com/3342/3640371964_924780e16a.jpg

Above: John Choe photography by Kelvin Chan

Fall 2009

asian outlook

0 1 0 2 r e v

u o c Van

s c pi

m y l O

r e t n i W view e r P The Days Will Get Packed

By Gene Y. Kim

n less than 100 days, CBS will televise the 2010 Winter Olympics from its opening ceremony on Feb 12 to its conclusion on Feb 28. The games will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia just located North of Seattle. Home to NHL’s the “Canucks”, Michael J. Fox, and China’s exiled sensation Edison Chen, Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada with a population of over 2 million. It’s also largely ethnically diverse with 52 % of the city residents speaking something other than English as their native language. Certainly, Vancouver was a no brainer on why it was chosen to host the Winter Olympics since it has one of the mildest climates in Canada with an average of 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Vancouver has bad weather during the month of February as it pours all day.. Since it’s located on the West Coast, snow is rare except when sliding down on the ski slopes. So, the appropriate attire to wear during the games would be a warm jacket with a pair of gloves and a scarf. Although fewer countries participate in the Winter Olympics than the Summer Olympics, a good amount still shows up. Over 80 nations and 2500 athletes will be competing at this year’s games. Eighty-six events have been listed to appear on the schedule along with the usual: cross country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic Combined, ski jumping, and

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Fall 2009

speed skating. But, also for the first time, both the women and men’s hockey will be played at the Canucks territory in the General Motors site where the rink is much narrower than in international play. It’s just too bad that the Canucks will have to take the longest road in NHL history that lasts over 6 weeks with 14 games to be played. In woman’s hockey, the player to watch would have to be Hayley Wickenheiser of team Canada. By the age of 30, she has earned the 2002 and 2006 MVP of the Winter Olympics with additions of 6 gold medals and two silver medals from the World Championships. Like Steve Nash, age has only made her game better. And in figure skating, Kim Yu-Na, 18, has already made a name in her sport with her artistry on the ice. Not only will she have the support from her native home, she will also have the support from the Canadians whose country is the venue of her training. Last but not least is Shani Davis of the United States, 26, in long track speed skating. Davis has joined Eric Heiden to win both the sprint and all around World titles. Despite being involved in some controversy at the last games, Davis still won gold at the 1000 meter race. For this game, he is favored to win the same event. So, if there is any free time during classes take a break from the studying and tune into the winter games.

By Calvin Prashad

he Winter Olympics are an important event in Asia, with sports such as speed skating attracting an almost religious following in South Korea. In fact, South Korea dominated the short track speed skating events during the previous 2006 Winter games in Torino, Italy winning a total of six of the eight gold medals in that event. As a result, South Korea was the only Asian nation to finish in the top ten in terms of gold medals. Li Ye of China and Ahn Hyun Soo of Korea also set new records in the Men’s 1,000-meter event. Ahn is the first man to win three gold medals in speed skating as well as five consecutive world championships. However, he will not be competing in Vancouver, as he did not qualify for the Korean national team as he had spent an extended time injured earlier this year. Jin sun-Yu also was the first woman to win three gold medals in 2006. PyeongChang, South Korea is currently bidding for (very likely to win after two failed bids) the 2018 Winter Olympics which will be the crowning achievement for winter athletics in that country. The Chinese women’s skating team also tends to have strong showings at international competitions. Harbin, China, known for its winter festivals and ice sculptures has also expressed interest in bidding for the 2022 Winter Olympics. The Japanese are also fielding an array of figure skaters and Japan’s skiing team also managed to pull off a surprising win at the World Championships earlier this year making skier Norihito Kobayashi another athlete to watch. Some athletes to watch:

Apolo Anton Ohno – USA, Short Track Speed Skating

Possibly the most drama (and controversy) generated at the event will arise from Japanese-American Apolo Anton Ohno who was the subject of ire and death threats from Korean fans after their skater was disqualified from a race during the 2002 Salt Lake City games. Ohno has pointed out to the judges that the Korean skater, Kim Dong-Sung, who had finished first had blocked his path during the race, a rule violation known as “cross tracking”. The subsequent flood of emails from South Korea threatening the Olympic committee, judges and Ohno crashed the email servers at the IOC. Ohno had to be protected by 100 riot police when he arrived at Inchon airport to compete in the 2005 World Championship. While most enmity between the two countries has subsided after the 2006 games, where both teams embraced after an event, the South Korean-American rivalry, as well as China quickly closing the gap will be something to watch for in Vancouver.

Above: Kim Yu-Na Kim Yu-Na – Korea, Figure Skating

Kim Yu-Na was born in Korea but now lives and trains in Toronto, Canada. She is the reigning world champion and intensely popular in Korea where, according to a recent poll, she is more popular than President Obama and Korean President Lee Myung-Bak. She has 50,000 twitter followers and is worth 2.6 million dollars in endorsements, including Hyundai, Nike and her own brand of cell phone from Samsung. The Korean press refers to her as “Queen Yu-Na” with fan and photographers in Korea usually mob her. She currently holds the number one rank in the world and is the first women to score over 200 points in a competition. Earlier this year, she returned to Korea to enroll in university, but still trains in Canada. She names, among others, Michelle Kwan as her inspiration for skating and performed alongside her during the Ice All-Stars at Seoul in August.

Right: Apolo Anton Ohno Fall 2009

asian outlook

Julie Chu – USA, Ice Hockey

Julie Chu is the assistant captain, first Asian-American woman and one of the more talented players on the US Women’s hockey team. She is a first generation Chinese-American and one of the greatest collegiate hockey players in NCAA history. Playing for Harvard University, she became the NCAA’s all time leading scorer, as well as career leader in points. She joined the USA national team in 2001 where she helped USA to win silver and bronze at Salt Lake City and Torino. After taking over as assistant captain in 2007, USA had won two world championships, back to back in 2008 and 2009, and defeated hockey powerhouse Canada twice. She is also one of the faces of an anti-doping campaign targeting American youth and one of the more celebrated American athletes competing in Vancouver.

and was encouraged to pick up speed skating from his father. Cho way into the national team started when he worked with as a “training rabbit” with the women’s team. The women had a hard time keeping up and he eventually found a place on the US Men’s team. Cho had originally planned to quit the sport due to his dissatisfaction with his progress as well as fatigue. However, Cho managed to win the US qualifier after two American skaters collided, allowing him to cross the finish line first. At 18, he is the youngest member of the team but has is training in Vancouver and plans to continue skating in the future.

Wang Meng – China

The younger Wang Meng, born in 1985 in Harbin, China has dominated recent international competition and won a gold medal in the previous winter games at Torino.

Lee Ho Suk – South Korea

Lee is one of the best younger skaters in the world and has done quite well for himself in international competitions, to say the least. He even outskated Anton Ohno in the 1000m event in Torino to finish behind the legendary Ahn Hyun Soo. Now that Ahn will not be competing, Lee Ho Suk has a good chance at gold. Image Sources: http://d.yimg.com/a/p/ap/20091115/capt.f857aff5afbe476aa3d825b6b2a77bcd.skate_america_figure_skating_nymg141.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ApoloOhno.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:YangYang%28a%29_Hotel.jpg

Above: Julie Chu Yang Yang (A) – China, Short Track Speed Skating

Yang Yang was born in 1976 in Heilongjiang Province, China and is not to be confused with her teammate, also named Yang Yang but was born in 1977. An (A) is used to distinguish her from her younger teammate whose name is followed by an (S). Those letters stand for August and September respectively, which are their birth months. She was China’s first female gold medalist when she won at speed skating in 2002 and now holds multiple world records. She marched as China’s flag bearer at the 2006 Olympics and will be a torchbearer on one of the final laps for this winter’s games. Other Speed Skaters to watch:

Simon Cho – USA

Cho came to the United States from Korea at a young age

Right: Yang Yang (A) 22

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Fall 2009

Diane Wong I like race. I know this sounds a bit politically incorrect because the concept of race has been confused so thoroughly with our terrible history of racism,but I still think interracial relationships are wonderful. Dating across races opens us up to new cultures, points of views, and experiences—and, most importantly, teaches us to have tolerance and respect towards all races. Even after the abolition of slavery, interracial relationships were still taboo and antimiscegenation laws were still upheld in several states. Anti-miscegenation laws continued until the Civil Rights Movement of 1955, which was caused, in part, by the murder of Emmett Till, an African American boy from Chicago who was murdered by two white men after whistling at a white woman. Three years after the incident, came Loving v. Virginia, a landmark civil rights case ending all race-based legal restrictions on marriage in the United States. The plaintiffs Mildred Loving, an African American woman, and Richard Loving, a white man, had been married in the District of Columbia in order to evade the Racial Integrity Act. The Racial Integrity Act of Virginia required that a racial description of every person be recorded at birth, and that it was a felony to marry across race. However, under Section 20-58 of the Virginia Code, interracial couples were prohibited from being married out of state and then returning to Virginia. The Lovings were persecuted and prosecuted in the state of Virginia and were forced to leave the state for 25 years. The couple moved to the District of Columbia and set in motion a series of lawsuits, which ultimately reached the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court unanimously voted Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act of 1924 unconstitutional, since it violated the Fourteenth Amendment – equal protection clause. Since the Supreme Court struck down the last of America’s anti-miscegenation laws, the number of interracial marriages has tripled. Unfortunately, interracial marriages have not been paralleled by an increase in public acceptance

of interracial relationships. In this more tolerant era, you would expect people to be more open minded to miscegenation. Just last month, however, a Louisiana justice of the peace, Keith Bardwell, refused to issue a marriage license to Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay because they were of different races. Bardwell voiced a concern for any children the couple would have in the future, maintaining that to hisexperience; most interracial marriages do not last long. Though it is astonishing to see this extent of discrimination come up in our generation, I am not surprised. Even at a liberal college campus like Binghamton University, some students have very conservative views concerning interracial dating. As an Asian woman who chooses to date outside of my own cultural boundaries, I have been warned multiple times that doing so would leave me branded as a sellout, or that I would constantly struggle with ethnic identity. I have seen the legitimacy of my relationships questioned as well as my personal integrity. This mentality towards interracial couples is prevalent on campus, in the media, and especially in the Asian American community. It’s important to keep in mind that if we continue to be closed-minded and discourage interracial dating, we are moving away from a more tolerable and accepting world. Anti-miscegenation laws are a byproduct of intolerance and racial oppression. Only through constant reaffirmations of the principles of the Civil Rights Movement can we put the racism of the past behind us.

Image Sources http://technique.library.gatech.edu/articleimages/2005-04-01-20-1.jpg http://www.afroromance.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/weddo. jpg

Fall 2009

asian outlook

Head to Head: Asian Men

The Problem with Asian- American Men By. Diane Wong

In a society where Asian women are sexualized and Asian men desexualized, there is undoubtedly a large sense of Asian American male frustration. What I’ve noticed is that in many instances, Asian men attribute their failure to attract women or their inability to find occupation to the fact that they are Asian. Just how true is this statement? The fact of the matter is that race doesn’t have much to do with the difficulties that Asian men cope with; it’s just simple human nature. We’re living in a more enlightened era, yet a lot of negative images are still out there pertaining to Asian men. The media tends to typecast Asian men to be either kung fu masters, feminine or nerds. The emasculation of the Asian male has a very long history, many Asian Americans are still appalled by older images such as writer Sax Rohmer’s books about the sinister Dr. Fu Manchu and Mickey Rooney’s buck-toothed Mr. Yunioshi from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. As a result of being programmed from a young age with these unhealthy images, many Asian men have absorbed deeply many negative beliefs about stereotypes and society in general. When Asian men actually believe that certain stereotypes limit their ability to perform whatever, they subconsciously sabotage themselves by feeling less confident and more withdrawn.

With their lack of confidence, they adopt weak body language and act stoic in social interactions which makes the original false conception true. What to take into account here is not how true these perpetuated stereotypes are, but rather the manner of how Asian men choose to overcome these limiting beliefs. This is the exact mentality that prompts a self-fulfilling prophecy, with their lack of confidence, they adopt weak body language and act stoic in social interactions which makes the original false conception come true. The reason stereotypes exist is because people are afraid of change and what is unknown, they prefer to cling to simple classifications which maintain an established order. It is true that there are stereotypes that

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limit Asian men; however the problem is that quite often, they allow these stereotypes to restrict them rather than to break free from them. The main reason why it is so hard for Asian men to break free and stand up for themselves can be attributed to their dual personalities. Many Asian men are brought up by their parents in a strict household and from a young age, they are expected to obey, to not rebel and just follow instructions. While that may be great for getting an A in college, it absolutely suffocates the true voice of their personality and as a result of this, they may be used to staying silent and not taking any risks. By hiding their voices and keeping their heads down, it’s seems almost impossible for Asian men to break the bond of certain stereotypes. Though I have met plenty of Asian men who do not fit in this circumstance as I describe, the majority of those I’ve gotten acquainted with throughout my years in high school and college prove my point to be valid. They could be seen as polite and elegant by the eastern culture if they are more reserved however, the western culture can view their introversion as a sign of insecurity or social awkwardness. Now, I’m not saying that all Asian men are bound within the line of stereotypes; there are plenty of Asian men who try to break free from certain stereotypes and keep their voices strong. However, after witnessing many Asian men trying to break free from stereotypes, I’ve noticed that time and again they have a certain self-loathing towards their Asian ethnicity and either try to over-exaggerate it or try to conceal it and take on a different identity altogether. I’ve noticed plenty of Asian men who’ve been brought up with discipline and grew up in decent neighborhoods who dismiss all of the Asian values they’ve grown up with and turned “hood” or “white-washed” either during high school or college. How I

Versus Asian Women instruments in showing off your confidence, and a little bit more of confidence can get you a long way.

What is Up with Asian Women? By: Ninja Report

see this is, that after being bound by Asian cultural standards for most of their life, once they have the chance to change their identity, they look for the most dramatic change possible. By turning “hood” or “white-washed” they are building an alternative image so they wouldn’t be seen as reserved and withdrawn anymore. This over-exaggeration conceals their Asian ethnicity and in this sense, makes it seem like they’ve broken the bonds of Asian male stereotypes. When in reality, it just further shows the inability for Asian men to be confident in themselves for who they are. As an Asian woman, I have dated Asians and men from other ethnicities. As I’ve tried to explain in this article, I believe that lack of confidence is the leading problem with Asian American men in our generation. In all human beings, a lack of self confidence perpetuates feelings of insecurity. This prevailing sense of insecurity has an array of extremely negative effects on the Asian male’s ability to form a healthy relationship. Insecurity will do everything it can to tell you that your partner will abandon you, so in order to avoid such a scenario many Asian American men become extremely jealous and possessive. This jealousy usually manifests itself as controlling, dominant, and authoritarian behaviors. These behaviors set the foundation for an extremely unhealthy relationship and women who choose to date Asian men ultimately bear the burden of dealing with their partners issues. Insecurity is also the reason why so many more Asian American men cheat on their partners than Asian American women do. Having grown up lacking confidence, some Asian American men assert their confidence by keeping two partners at once just to reaffirm themselves and prove that they are worthy and wanted. I hear plenty of Asian men complain about Asian women dating more non-Asian men, but the issue at hand has nothing to do with race. It’s because Asian men lack the self confidence and still hold negative selfbeliefs about themselves that make them unable to maintain stable relationships with women. Your voice is one of the key

By writing this article, I already know that I have warranted my death sentence. Therefore, I have drafted my will and left it at an undisclosed location. However, this is a dire issue that needs to be discussed and brought to people’s attention; where death is but a small sacrifice for the benefit of Mankind. What the Hell is up with Asian women? Like most women, they will never come to admit their faults, let alone acknowledge it. The Asian woman, especially in America, is one of the most indecisive, hypocritical, elitist, extreme, narcissistic, manipulative creatures on the face of the planet. You Asian female readers can deny this all you want, but I only speak the truth through observation and experience. I realize that these characteristics can be applied to all women, but Asian women have managed to find a way to make their own case in these extremes. Here is how I’m going to start off.

The Asian woman, especially in America, is one of the most indecisive, hypocritical, elitist, extreme, narcissistic, manipulative creatures on the face of the planet. They are almost never satisfied with anything you do—as a boyfriend, friend, or person. There is usually something you did wrong or not up to standards with them. You can build the Eiffel Tower for them and they will tell you that it’s nice, but you forgot to put a screw in one of the 7 million holes. Normal women will be grateful and pleased when they are given gifts and will show at least signs of appreciation. However, for Asian women, something is usually wrong with what you’re giving them. “It’s too cheap,” “This other girl’s boy

Fall 2009

asian outlook

friend does this,” “Well, he does this,” etc. There is generally something you can do better or something you forgot to do. Even if you actually, for once, did things up to par, you probably have bent over backwards and stuck your head between your legs, only to get an unenthusiastic, feigned “thank you.” Anything and virtually everything can be underappreciated according to Asian women. This, of course, brings up the next issue with Asian women. Asian women can be extremely unreasonable. “Extreme” is the key word in this situation. How so? They are, and have always been, something of an anomaly. They will want the nicest guy with all the characteristics of a Disney prince. However, in addition to that Disney prince, characteristics of an asshole or a douche bag have to be thrown into the mix, too. The Disney prince, at most times, who is supposed to emulate the knight in shining armor—the selfless, the romantic, the loyal, and devoted icon and dream man of women everywhere—is not enough for Asian women. To them, those characteristics are nice to have—and are quite desired, don’t get me wrong—but they want their boys to have a bit of “Greaser” in them too. The dream male for them is a combination of two sides of a magnet: something that should not go together for the fact that the two zones will always be conflicting. In the likely situation that they will not find that guy, they will go and find the bad guy first and save the prince for marriage. However, if they do find that guy, it’s not enough. Why? They want more, and they know they will get it. Maybe this characteristic is in most women, but what I have noticed is that Asian women are probably the most manipulative people on the planet. These ladies are not stupid. They know they have characteristics that only they have. They know who to target and how to target them. Whether they are the boys with yellow fever, the people who are suckers for their “innocent” charm, or the people who will succumb to their “adorable” voices and smiles, they know how to hunt. Watch closely and carefully for how they manipulate people for their own purposes.

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Fall 2009

They will completely change themselves and will do every little thing to lull you in. And as you come in closer, thinking they are nothing but harmless little girls who just want a moment of your time, they clutch you in their grips and you become their slaves for the rest of time (or just for however long they need you). All that charm that suckered you in the first place? Gone. How come? Because you’re too busy scrubbing their floors to look or hear that charm that you fell for in the first place. The moment you realize that you fell for it and try to make a run for it, they immediately go back into succubus mode and charm you back into doing their work until it’s done. This is just a small side observation of a significant amount of Asian women. Has anyone noticed that they seem to be the least proud of their heritage? It may take a while to see it, but if you look around, you may notice that there are a good few who try their best to dismiss themselves as Asians and dissociate themselves from Asians. There is absolutely nothing wrong with hanging out with other nationalities—as a matter a fact I encourage it—but these girls refuse to try and be friendly or refer themselves to anyone that is of Asian descent. In certain instances, they will go around saying, “Psh. I’m not Asian, you fool. I’m (enter another race here). So don’t call me Asian. Ha, ha, ha.” I think it’s perfectly fine to embrace and find interests in other cultures, but to deny your own birth right? I think that’s pushing it a little far. This doesn’t apply to all Asian women, but it’s something I’ve noticed in a great amount of Asian women. These are just a few of my findings on most Asian women and their flaws. These women, who do so much harm; from the taming and subduing of men, transforming once good men into the bitter, miserable, angry assholes, there is no end to their destruction. So to every male out there, beware of the Asian female, for they are like a game of Russian roulette: A high-risk game with high-risk rewards that can ensure certain death--of your life, soul, or character once you lose. Picture sources: http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/009VFY_Irene_Keng_004.html http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/image-library/port/376/t/tequila.jpg

Reexaming US-Korean Ties by Calvin Prashad The nature of US-Korean relations is strange in that South Korea is almost expected by Washington to acquiesce to its every demand be it a trade agreement, the stationing of more troops, or a more hard line stance on North Korea. Although American intervention arguably preserved South Korean sovereignty in the Korean War, the legacy of the postwar government consists of flagrant human rights abuses, corruption and a lack of liberty and justice for all. The United States routinely ignored the crimes of several despotic leaders during the Cold War, as Korea was a valuable strategic location. The Koreans themselves had to earn their liberty through protests and popular movements for democratization. Very recently, Koreans protested in droves a new free trade pact that would allow the dumping of cheap American beef on the Korean economy. Bear in mind that this was during the height of the mad cow disease scare, and American beef was not subject to acceptable screening methods. The resulting protest that saw tens of thousands of protestors take to the street protested the government accepting inferior terms as well as an inferior product that would arguably put Koreans at risk. The government admitted that it had misinterpreted the treaty and many were forced to reassure the public that the beef was safe and that the government retained control over its economic destiny.

obedience. Although, these nations were arguably built, modernized and shaped by the US while the security of said countries guaranteed by the US during the Cold War, the geo-political structure in Asia is nonetheless changing to a region where the United States risks losing all its influence. In the next decade, it is increasingly apparent to me that Asia, much like Europe, has to be an equal partner to the US rather than a pawn in greater US ambitions. Failure to do so will see a loss of all American influence in the region in favor of a more hard-line and nationalist foreign and domestic policy. Already, the winds of change threw the longstanding, pro-American, Liberal Democratic Party out of power in Japan in favor of a coalition of parties that favor a complete withdrawal of American troops from the Japanese home islands. Will the same happen in Korea? Although Korean leaders have swayed between conciliatory and hard-line policy towards its northern neighbor, if peace continues to progress, we may see renewed calls to have US troops moved out of Korea. If that does come, we must remember that the roots of this is not in xenophobia, nor anti-Americanism, but rather a rejection of America and its ever present hand in its domestic affairs. Contrary to popular belief, imperialism is still alive and well in Asia. It merely takes the form as trade agreements, American bases, troops, and total economic domination. United States policy towards North Korea has also been consistent for the past few decades. It has followed periods of harsh rhetoric, periodic cutoffs of aid and mostly

The basic premise of US-Korean relations (as well as most of Asia) is wrong. For too long, the United States has felt that Korea and Japan owe them a certain degree of obedience. The basic premise of US-Korean relations (as well as most of Asia) is wrong. For too long, the United States has felt that Korea and Japan owe them a certain degree of

Fall 2009

asian outlook

empty, conciliatory efforts at peace. By no means do I wish to condone the multiple crimes of the North Korean regime against its people, this does not excuse the use of food aid as a policy and political tool. With the North Korean economy shattered due to poor planning and decades of sanctions, the difference between starvation and life would be international aid. US policymakers have come to regard aid as “reward” to the North Korean regime and continue to use propaganda and rhetoric to bolster a hard-line, militant approach, to North Korea. Of course, Kim Jong-Il and his inner circle are not affected by sanctions, but the average North Korean is. Therefore, when the cutoff of aid occurs, the humanitarian situation worsens while no real change occurs in the government. If anything, such measures stiffen the resistance of the North Korean government, as it (in their eyes) justifies and legitimizes their international isolation and belligerence, as well as weapons development. The frequent (and often overstated) threat of North Korean invasion allowed American troops a foothold on the Asian continent and a counterweight against the Soviet Union. Even today, it is in the best interest of the US government to keep troops in Korea as a tool of influence and strategic counterpoint to China. In 2004, the North Korean Human Rights Act increased sanctions on the North. This act, ironically named seems to forget that even food, is a basic human right as it pushes crippling sanctions that increased the misery of the average, poor North Korean. Even worse, as a country where communication is censored, sporadic and controlled by the government, the average North Korean will not understand, among other things why there are sanctions in the first place. All that the farmer knows is shortage and starvation, something that, according to his government is the work of an evil greater power and is not the fault of the “Great Leader”. What good are sanc-

tions then? American based activists such as Christine Ahn have advocated peace and a more conciliatory approach to dealing with the North Korean regime. Since most Americans are indoctrinated to believe that Korea can only be reunited through force, such an idea is unfathomable and subject to much criticism. The US government of course, expressed their anger over the idea of a negotiated peace as it run against decades of conventional wisdom and policy on the Korean peninsula. In 2004, as a member of Food First, a world anti-hunger advocacy organization, she addressed the Human Rights Commission in South Korea where she was particularly critical of the North Korean Human Rights Act. A month later, a Department of Homeland Security lawyer named Joshua Stanton wrote a 12-page article exclusively attacking Christine Ahn as a “communist sympathizer” and “North Korean apologist”. Keep in mind of course, that Ahn merely criticized US policy, and did not offer any support for the human rights abuses nor the North Korean regime itself. However, its frequently a political tool in the United States to equate criticism of US policy as fascist, communist, socialist, Nazi or just plain anti-American. Since then Ahn is a regular feature on conservative and right wing watch lists as an agent of the North Korean regime. Stanton defended his obsessive rambling by noting that he blogged as a private citizen rather than as a representative of the government. Nonetheless, his thinking is consistent with both Democratic and Republican administrations. This of course led to an all out assault on Christine Ahn, without much regard to her actual work or beliefs. The fact of the matter is that in spite of the mostly domestic causes of the North’s predicament, the US plays some role in the escalation of tensions as well as the suffering of the ordinary people. The current US view removes North Korea from historical context and relies on perceived irrationality of the dictator and the people. There are pages and pages on the excesses and quirks of the regime but very little on pre-sanctions North Korea. Instead, the US encourages the simplistic view of the North as a rouge militaristic state hell bent on the irrational acquisition and sale of nuclear weapons. There is no consideration for how the current policy situation affects the North, nor even the possibility that the North may have a rational reason for wanting nuclear technology. Again, I cannot stress enough that the previous statement was not an endorsement for a nuclear-armed North Korea but rather an objective observation on how a tiny country can multiply its bargaining position against two larger powers. Either way, the US

All that the farmer knows is shortage and starvation, something that, according to his government is the work of an evil greater power and is not the fault of the “Great Leader”. What good are sanctions then?

asian outlook

Fall 2009

military holds exercises every year simulating not a defense of South Korea but rather an invasion of the North. It should be abundantly clear that the 30,000 American troops in South Korea are primarily an offensive force with the secondary objective of preventing an (unlikely) Northern invasion. US based groups are now pushing to end the Korean War (which never actually ended as the countries are at a ceasefire) through peaceful settlement as well as turning back the demonized image of the North Korean people. For their efforts, their efforts at stroking productive and useful dialogue on US policy, they are branded as traitors and blacklisted by their government. They are accused of “brainwashing young people” and “undermining national security”. At the risk of sounding like Glen Beck, It is the right, as well as the patriotic duty of every American citizen (be they conservative, liberal or moderate) to question the policies of the government in a productive and rational manner. Why sanctions on North Korea? What have they accomplished? Why not peace as an option? We need to separate the North Korean regime from the North Korean people. Only then can we make progress towards reuniting and disarming the Korean peninsula. The status quo of posturing, punishment and retaliation is unacceptable. Picture sources: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/080511_ ROK_Protest_Against_US_Beef_Agreement_by_hojusaram.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:080503_ROK_Protest_Against_ US_Beef_Agreement_02.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Korean_peninsula_at_night.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Unification_flag_of_Korea.svg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JointSecurityAreaNorthKoreans. jpg

North Korea stands in stark contrast to its brightly lit and developed neighbor. Both sides are said to favor a federal system that would allow both Koreas to keep their current governments yet function as a united state. The June 15th North–South Joint Declaration, signed in 2000 were the product of reunification talks that were held under the International Red Cross, not the United States. At these talks the Koreas agreed to pursue peaceful reunification. Below is the unification flag that the Koreas have marched under for several international sporting events since 1991.

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asian outlook

ThiNK: Tomorrow’s Hope in North Korea ThiNK was founded in the autumn of 2006, by students who could not stand idly by in the face of the extraordinary suffering of the North Korean people. We were established with two goals in mind – raising awareness in the student body about the plight of the citizens of North Korea and raising money to fund activities that help North Korean refugees in China escape from the country in order to resettle in places where they can live in dignity and freedom. To further this end, ThiNK works alongside an organization called LiNK, Liberty in North Korea (linkglobal.org).

For those students who are not familiar with the North Korea (NK) Crisis, here are some basic facts: Between 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 North Koreans have died from famine since 1995. Chronic famine in North Korea has persisted into the 21st Century. Due to famine in 2006-07, 75% of North Koreans have cut their food intake and more than 50% only eat two meals a day.

We currently do not have set meeting times this year because of our limited membership; anyone interested in getting in ThiNK should email thinknorthkorea@gmail.com or join our facebook group “ThiNK:NK”

It is widely acknowledged that these famines are not due to natural disaster but to the North Korean government’s economic policies.

ThiNK is currently looking for willing students who would like to fill eboard positions. If interested, please get in touch with us!

Nearly 60% of North Korean children suffer from malnutrition. Some suffer permanent brain damage as a result.

North Korean Awareness Week is ThiNK’s definitive event, and has been held once each semester since the group’s inception. Part demonstration, part fundraiser, this event fulfills ThiNK’s two primary missions of raising awareness and helping refugees. We create a variety of creative art work and participate in stunts, like “Operation dropdead,” to spread the message to the campus community.

The problem of hunger has forced many North Koreans to leave NK and escape to China to find a better life. The Chinese government does not recognize these North Koreans as refugees but as “illegal migrants,” and thus forcibly repatriates those that it captures in its territory. 70-90% of female North Korean refugees are sexually trafficked If captured in China, North Koreans are forcefully returned to North Korea where they face executions or a life in a concentration camp. If you are a female NK citizen who was inpregnated in China when you escaped there, upon your repatriation you will be subjected to forced sterilization. There are roughly 200,000 people in North Korean Concentration Camps. Conditions are abysmal. Tales of torture and cruety abound. Escaping to China is considered a crime in North Korea, and if you commit a crime in North Korea, your entire family could end up in jail. That’s 3 generations: Your parents, you, your children.

asian outlook

Fall 2009

AO Conscience Fall 2009

asian outlook

Cover: Venice - Yinzi Liang

asian outlook

Central Park - Kelvin Chan

Fall 2009

Overlooking Paris from the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur - Yinzi Liang

Fall 2009

asian outlook

Fenghuang, Hunan Province, China - Yinzi Liang

asian outlook

Fall 2009

Zhang Mu Tou - Kelvin Chan

Fall 2009

asian outlook

Green by Meladel Busante

Alone at night, When there are no other noises, But the humming of Fluorescent lights. Is when they come, The spears to my heart. I imagine, The other fingers that have brushed your face. Sensations that penetrate, Deeper than flesh. Lips that have kissed Yours, the ones that say to me I love you. Something lost, Something gained, Something unnamed. In the humming of the fluorescent lights.

asian outlook

Fall 2009

by Rena Lee

Fall 2009

asian outlook

I buried myself in you,

Missed Call by Meladel Busante

It used to be once or twice, When we were together. Three or four, When we broke up. At least ten When I started dating him. I’ve blocked your texts, To keep my sanity. What could the phone company Be keeping from me But meaningless “Good mornings” And the occasional “I miss you”. I will not allow myself to miss you, Your memory. How your love was so overwhelming, It broke me. First love. How tragic. I buried myself in you,

And let myself go. 38

asian outlook

Fall 2009

Williamsburg - Kelvin Chan

Fall 2009

asian outlook

William To Pioneer. Lover. Renaissance Man. Visionary. Will.i.am To lived a short, but fulfilling life from September 2005 – December 2009. He was born after a shooting star fell out of the sky and impregnated the earth goddess. After spending four years at SUNNY Binghamton University, William dedicated 102 percent of his time to Asian Outlook. On his graduation date, he was beaten multiple times with bamboo sticks from the ASU office, used as a prop in BUJA’s Ghost House, and was then struck with the broken computer from the ASU office. With his last gasping breaths he said, “this room spins right round, right round, when I go down, when I go down down!” A tattered Asian Student Union blazer was found near the scene of the crime. UPD has no suspects. William was known for bringing Asians back to Asian Outlook after the conquest by the Manchu in 2001. He had only one rule - that no one may touch his feet. Any underlings who could not resist were consequently banished to the Food Court. William was renowned for his prowess at both cooking and seduction. General To’s Chicken is both a tasty dish and a very potent and dangerous sexual position. It was the first position added to the Kamasutra in over 10,000 years. The To Dynasty was marked by periods of famine, as well as sexy parties when rice was plentiful. He will be succeeded by his bastard child whom he had with the daughter of a local warlord. Before his untimely passing, William was on his way to conquer the island of Madagascar. Sadly, he could not overcome the Foosa. Oh, the Foosa, so annoying... always coming to our parties and ripping our limbs off. On his way to Madagascar, he led an expedition to the Curries of India restaurant where he lost many men trying to find the bathroom. This, and his failure to subjugate Chinascope are among his more epic shortcomings at Binghamton University. Among his lesser accomplishments include his defense of the VPMA’s office, his protest against the racist and imperialist Student Association, as well as mastering Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. Among speculation that his hot sister would take the reigns of AO, publicty editor Chris Lu responded with a shout of aleleleelelelelelelelelele and a twisting hand motion. His dying wish was that all girls a move them body, because when ya move ya body, and move it, nice and sweet and sexy, alright! Willam is survived by his many wives and one girlfriend. We can see how much he is in heaven now. “So long, and thanks for all the fish.” - Kelvin Chan “Bring me my nuts on a silver platter.” - Diane Wong

“How will I resist the British now?” - Calvin Prashad

To Will, Our valiant leader, remember all the good times we’ve had together and . Thank you for all your guidance “Farewell our fearless leader, King Julian! May your con- and support this past year and half. I wish you the best of quests expand beyond Asian Outlook!” luck in the future. Come back and visit soon. If not, I’ll - Chris Lu see you in Vegas. Thank you, “An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to Ivan Yeung spend time with his fools.” - Ernest Hemmingway/Gene Kim “Jeff Hwang had an adventure thinking of a witty quote, and instead became brain dead and ended up just saying, “Does anyone else have the Heebie Geebies?” ‘got rice, bitch?”’ - Jonathan Yee Jeff Hwang 40

asian outlook

Fall 2009