Asian Outlook A word from the VPMA...
Maryam Belly on the ongoing struggle against tolerance and minority rights...
Asians Vote?
Read about the most elusive and least known of all creatures: the Asian American voter...
And much more inside...
Spring 2009 Vol XXII Issue I
Letter from the Editor... Dear Readers, As many of you may or may not know, last semester, a week before finals, certain interests within the student government held a hearing regarding putting the position of the Vice President of Multicultural Affairs to a vote by the students—despite the fact that there is no demand to shut down this very crucial office. More importantly, this was not the first time (and you can be damn sure that it won’t be the last time) that such interests attempted to shut down the VPMA; luckily, given the strong show of protest from the various cultural groups and our allies, we were able to show the Student Assembly that not only is the VPMA a unifying—rather than dividing—factor, as well as an invaluable bulwark against racism and injustice. I mention this instance not just to publicize a little-known event, but also to give you a taste of what is to come. Peter Lam, the past editor of AO from two years ago, has consistently mentioned his wish to see AO return to its activist roots and become more politically active and socially aware. As a result, in this issue, you will find, among others, an editorial by Maryam Belly, our current VPMA, as well as features on the topics of voting patterns amongst Asian Americans, Asian Americans who have been appointed to positions within Obama’s cabinet, and a first-hand account of the divisive, turbulent struggle to remove the VPMA—to name a few. It is my sincerest hope that such articles will get you, our readers, to think, to ponder, and to consider such vital, if obscured matters. Often, I have wondered whether Asian Americans are quiet and inactive in the political and social arena because we are perceived as such (and thus believed in such falsehoods), or did these misconceptions arise from fact? Whatever the case may be, the fact remains that such stereotypes exist—to the detriment of Asian-Americans. As a result, I hope that you, dear readers, will find this issue informative, interesting, and inspiring. Most importantly, I hope that this issue will strengthen your collective resolve towards working for a brave new world of equality, in the social, economic, and political spheres, and acceptance of religious, ethnic, or cultural differences. To this brave new world, Will To Head Editor Asian Outlook PS: Among other things… Apologies to Pat McAree, whose photos were featured (but not credited) in Albert Kim’s article “Cry for North Korea,” from our Winter 2008 issue. Despite this mistake, Pat has graciously allowed us to keep the photos in there anyway. Thanks Pat, and hope to see more of your work in the future!
Editorial Policy Asian Outlook is the art, literary, and news magazine of the Asian Student Union of SUNY’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.
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Letter to the Editor: Enough China Bashing.
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just picked up your magazine for the first time. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more. Calvin Prashad’s article on anti-Asian racism was especially outstanding. However, I have to say that the following article by Kelvin Chan (melodramatically titled “China is Dead”) was unfortunate, and a perfect example of the “Chinabashing” that Mr. Prashad rightly condemns. Clearly Mr. Chan has a deep respect for the ancient heritage of Chinese culture, but shows little respect for the living people of China. Like the racist pandering of Rep. Knollenberg mentioned by Mr. Prashad, Mr. Chan’s article portrays the melamine disaster as the product of a pervasive
Chinese backwardness, “a mentality of cutting corners”, not as the typical lack of effective regulation we see almost anywhere rapid industrialization is underway. Mr. Chan’s assertion that modern Chinese writing has become “bowdlerized into meaningless slashes and strokes” is petty But a nation as a whole should never be blamed in these simplistic and irrationally disdainful terms linguistic chauvinism at best. The sweeping generalization that China is a nation “too busy working in the sweatshops, exploiting laborers, operating the black market, and gambling” could be shockingly offensive, if it were not so hackneyed and familiar. This quote could have been taken from a
nativist pamphlet from the days of Chinese Exclusion. Some of these stereotypes reflect very real problems, and those responsible absolutely need to be criticized. Mr. Chan deserves credit for speaking out against those who poison for profit, brutally repress political activists, and so on. But a nation as a whole should never be blamed in these simplistic and irrationally disdainful terms. I imagine Mr. Prashad might agree. -- Brian Zbriger
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C O N T E N Columns... T S
Features
How to Get Our Votes: Myths and Behaviors about Asian-American Voting Behavior Debunked 6 Calvin Prashad Smart Choices for Obama’s Cabinet Include two AsianAmericans 8 Wilson Chen Of Coconuts and Bananas: Top Four Self-Hating Asian Americans Who Ruin it For the Rest of Us 10 Will To and Calvin Prashad Get Your Flirt On, Man 12 Chris Lu
Asianese 20 Compiled by Lali Ha, Fan Chen, Victor Chan, and Karina Rodrigues
Reviews A Day in the Life... 13 Andy Kwan
Still Life in Color: Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern 14 Karina Rodrigues
Conscience... pages 22-31
Featuring the creative works of... Alyssa Alimurung Kari Tam Emil Carlo Rafol, aka Shift the MC Rayna Moy Victor Chan Vivake Khamsingsavath Front Cover Design by: Kari Tam Featuring artwork from http://rameyko.com/aa_philadelphia_debate_rally_st.jpg 4
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Editorials Unity? Or You Need Me? 16 Maryam Belly The VPMA Situation 18 Calvin Prashad
Still Life in Color: A classic of Chinese cinema which tells a tale of three wives...
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Thanks to All Our Contributors!
Get Your Flirt On, Man: Class is in Session, and Chris Lu is your teacher...
Editor-in-Chief Will To Treasurer Wilson Chen Secretary Alyssa Alimurung
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Staff...
Conscience Editor Kari Tam Publicity Linda Su Kaming Cheung Webmaster Sophia Lin
Alyssa Alimurung Emil Carlo Rafol, aka Shift the MC Rayna Moy Vivake Khamsingsavath Calvin Prashad Chris Lu Maryam Belly Andy Kwan Pat McAree
Assistant Editors Victor Chan Jarucha Jiradacharoen Karina Rodrigues Devek Singh Layout Editors Lali Ha Fan Chen Elliot Won
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W O H to
t e G
r u O
: s e
t o v
by Calvin Prashad
Myths and Facts about Asian-American Voting Behavior Debunked
In my previous article, I discussed the common trend for politicians to intentionally ignore Asian-Americans. The question can probably be asked, what is it that politicians can do to appeal to Asian-Americans? Contrary to conventional be-
liefs, our communities are not particularly interested in ethnic politics and will vote for candidates that appeal to their beliefs. Chinese-Americans will not vote for only Chinese candidates, Indian-Americans will not turn out for only Indian candidates, and you will see many Korean-Americans at the polls even if there isn’t a Korean name on the ballot. Indeed, some things are just more important to our communities than just promoting “one of our own”. Others will claim that certain ethnic groups Asians will vote in a solid Democratic bloc while ignoring the Republican Party. History dictates and current voting patterns suggest that this is also untrue. Most Vietnamese Americans will in fact vote for Republicans stemming from old loyalties formed during the Vietnam War. Older Asian-Americans who
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are small business owners, likely turn out to be Republicans. Many pundits claim appealing to Asian voters is a lost cause because many of them just don’t seem to care. I’ll also put some of this burden on the Asian-American community; everything can’t be blamed on politicians alone. Effective political mobilization has been lacking in API communities for quite some time. Combine this with apathy and a general lack of political tradition in their home countries, the Asian votes barely registered as a ripple in the general scheme of things. Today however, the ranks of Asian American voters have swelled significantly thanks to voter registration drives. These drives, mostly run by high school students, in fact represent an era of increased political awareness within the new generation as well as a concerted effort to mobilize the older generations. During the debate for the recent State Assembly election in Flushing, not only was there a huge turnout, but the debate was also translated for the non-English speakers. Such a thing would have been unheard of in the same neighborhood twenty years ago. Clearly, trends show that with the number of
“...the ranks of Asian American voters have swelled significantly thanks to voter registration drives.” immigrants becoming citizens, and with the children of immigrants turning 18, the ranks of eligible voters will continue to swell in the future.
placed on higher education in Asian-American communities, To support my claim that the value of ethnic politics has and any candidate that promises to fight for increased financial greatly diminished, I submit last November’s State Senatorial aid and better funding will immediately appeal to my parents. race in Flushing. The incumbent was a Democrat Caucasian Regardless of party, if you can promise to rein soaring tuitions, woman who had held the seat since 2000. Her opponent was you’ve got a pretty good shot at winning the vote from a typical a prominent Republican Chinese-American businessman Asian-American who held a very strong presence in the community. Conventional wisdom would dictate “Conventional wisdom would dic- family. Additionthat the Chinese-American would win in tate that the Chinese-American ally, many families (including my a landslide in this heavily Asian-populated would win in a landslide...” own) spend thouneighborhood. In fact, prior to the election, sands of dollars one could not miss the candidates’ campaign on expensive tutoring programs in the name of squeezing out signs in store windows, street corners and even on the back some more points on the SAT or giving their child a leg up in of commuter vans. Come Election Day however, the Demostandardized testing. Perhaps by subsidizing or giving certain breaks to families that utilize these services, we can see the overall quality of education rise with well-educated and ambitious students. Such a program will appeal not only to Asians, but to all Americans facing the pressure of the mounting cost of higher education. Better higher education sounds like a no brainer? Let’s consider aid to small businesses. The lifeblood of immigrant neighborhoods are the small businesses and enterprises owned and run by immigrants that in turn, employ new immigrants. By giving tax breaks and other incentives, these businesses can thrive and the overall prosperity of immigrant neighborhoods will also rise. Helping small business and the middle class are promises that both parties have been making for years. Should a party finally get serious about easing the burden on them, rather than cutting taxes for the wealthy and major corporations, a loyal base will soon form for that party. Rather than cheap promises and political grandstanding, it is my hope that political parties will stop looking for the next “hockey mom” or “Joe the Plumber” and get serious about helping all communities and all walks of life. For too long, AsianAmericans have been especially ignored in this country, partially because our few numbers or lack of political will. Unfortunately, no one will listen to us if we do not have a voice. There is a lot of untapped potential in the hordes of professionals and educated individuals in the Asian-Pacific Islander committee, and the wise candidate who can tap into crat won in a landslide. Voters chose the candidate that had this will enjoy tenacious support as well as an educated and both served the community well and held views compatwell-funded base. ible with their own. To say that ethnic voters will only vote for members of their ethnic group is giving them too little Sources:: credit. http://www.onyxcollection.com/images/inlays/AmericanFlag01.jpg How then, can a candidate appeal to an Asian-American http://losestadoslatinos.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/vote-and-citizenship. jpg community? My first suggestion would be education. More http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a188/BEASTMARIO/dont_forget_to_vote_ specifically, aid for higher education. There is a high value magnet.jpg asian outlook
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Smart Choices for Obama’s Cabinet Include Two Asian Americans
by Wilson Chen
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n the 2000 presidential elections, President Bush promised to slim down the federal government’s size and spending. However, in the years since then, with the unfolding of the global war on terror and the financial/housing crisis, the government’s responsibility to protect Americans and ensure economic stability has become more crucial than ever—sidelining the original promise of reducing the size of the government. The decisive federal interventions, as evidenced by the financial market bailout and upcoming fiscal stimulus package, also mark a critical step away from the free-market heyday that prevailed in the last two decades. As the government grapples with the worst economic outlook in years, it will take leadership that is sharp, nonpartisan, and forwardthinking to get through the current crisis, not to mention lay the groundwork to prevent future large scale meltdowns. Among the leaders that Americans should examine are the nominations that President Obama puts forth for his Cabinet. Far from being the ideological juggernauts that some feared, the choices for his Cabinet have been well-
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received. They include, two pragmatic and distinguished Asian Americans, Eric Shinseki and Steven Chu, who will take the positions of, respectively, Secretary of Veteran Affairs and Secretary of Energy. Should these two appointees be approved by Congress (which is very likely), this will be the second successive presidential administration with an Asian American as a cabinet member. The first Asian American to be
“General Shinseki became the first fourstar general of Asian descent in American military history...” appointed to Cabinet was Elaine Chao, who after serving as Secretary of Labor under Bush, left this January. She was also the only cabinet member to have served under both terms of the Bush Administration in the same position to which she was appointed. Another Asian American who served alongside Chao in the Bush Cabinet from 2001 to 2006 was Norman Mineta, who was appointed Secretary of Transportation. Mineta
came from an immigrant Japanese family that was interned during World War II. While serving as a House Representative, he helped draft the legislation that acknowledged and apologized for the internment of Japanese Americans. General Eric Shinseki of the US Army and Dr. Steven Chu of University of California, Berkley will be nominated to serve in roles that, despite being not as high-profile as that of the Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, remain important in shaping domestic policies. With thousands of veterans already home from the conflicts in the Middle East, as well as tens of thousands more expected to arrive as military levels decline in Iraq, General Shinseki faces the most difficult task since the Vietnam War, as he will be responsible for running the government agency charged with providing veterans’ health care and benefits. Dr. Chu’s future responsibilities are concerned with energy security, nuclear security, scientific research advancement, and environmental responsibility. In light of the convergence of the
issues of energy, economic growth and national security, the next Secretary of Energy’s actions may greatly affect foreign policy and military policy more than it has in the past. Eric Shinseki is a native of Hawaii. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point in upstate New York, and following his graduation, Shinseki was deployed in the Vietnam War. While on his two tours of duty, Shinseki was wounded three times, including a mine explosion near his foot that could have ended his life, to say nothing of his military career. He overcame these injuries, and stayed in the US Army, serving in various command staff capacities for the United States and NATO until he was promoted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who serve as strategic military advisors to the President. General Shinseki became the
“Both Dr. Chu and General Shinseki are highly experienced in their respective fields, and also bring to the Cabinet a diversity of thought that was lacking in our last president’s advisors.” first four-star general of Asian descent in American military history, and his duty with the Joint Chiefs was to be his last service in the US military. In the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, General Shinseki openly contradicted thenDefense Secretary Rumsfeld’s assertions that the post-war occupation could be done without adding more troops to the invasion force. This strained relationship probably discouraged Shinseki from continuing in any military position following the end of his Joint Chiefs’ term in mid-2003. He retired from the US Army shortly after. The Veteran Affairs agency that Shinseki will lead has been an often-
criticized agency in need of change. Congress blasted it in 2005 for providing inadequate mental health care to returning veterans uncovered by investigative news-reporting. There has been minimal progress reported since then, without progress on pervasive problems, such as shoddy veteran outpatient care and long waiting lists. Still, a leader who is willing to speak out and galvanize public support for American veterans can bring the necessary changes; to this end, Eric Shinseki’s testimony on Iraq and his honorable service record is a strong indicator that the Veteran Affairs Department can be changed to better serve the needs of America’s returning soldiers. Steven Chu was raised in Garden City, NY in a family that was steeped in scholarship, evidenced by the Chu family’s PhDs in various sciences and engineering. Chu himself pursued his undergraduate studies in physics at the University of Rochester, following with a PhD at UC Berkeley. Wanting to broaden his horizons after receiving his PhD, he took a job with AT&T Bell Labs to perform applied research before returning to academia as a professor. In 2004, he was named to head the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, an Energy Department lab operated by UC Berkeley that conducts advanced research on all matters related to energy. Dr. Chu’s work at Bell Labs on lasers and optics earned him and his research team the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1997. Besides his work in optics, Dr. Chu has also taken a great professional interest in the environment and climate change. As the director of the Berkeley National Lab, he shifted more resources into the study for alternative energy sources and ways of making them viable. Unfortunately, the issue of global warming wasn’t taken seriously by the Bush Administration, nor was the issue of reducing reliance on foreign oil. Under Dr. Chu, the Energy Department can begin its evolution and become more
than just a caretaker of nuclear energy and weaponry, but also an international leader on the road to green, sustainable energy. Even small, meaningful steps toward energy independence would provide more leverage for the United States to effectively counter hostile, oilrich nations, as well as give the American economy alternative fuels to achieve costeffective growth with minimal impact to the environment. General Shinseki’s and Dr. Chu’s records are impressive, and speak volumes of their potential ability to handle the demands of their future roles. It bodes well with the theme of change for the better that has been heralded as the mantra of the Obama campaign. Both Dr. Chu and General Shinseki are highly experienced in their respective fields, and also bring to the Cabinet a diversity of thought that was lacking in our last president’s advisors. This diversity of thought may not be a reflection of their Asian backgrounds, but rather of their willingness to think independently, speak their opinions, and take action on pressing issues such as the Iraq War and global warming. In these troubled times, such a quality is more valuable than ever, especially with the government playing a larger role in the everyday lives of Americans.
Sources • http://www.usatoday.com/news/ washington/2004-12-09-diverseusat_x.htm • h t t p : / / w w w . veteransforcommonsense.org/index. cfm/Page/Article/ID/4286 • http://www.boston.com/news/nation/ washington/articles/2007/07/18/ veterans_affairs_chief_quits_amid_ criticism_on_care/ • http://ericshinseki.org/about/ • http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/ physics/laureates/1997/chu-autobio. html • http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/ us/politics/05web-chu.html
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Of Coconuts and Bananas: The Top Four Self-Hating Asian Americans who ruin it for the rest of us By Will To and Calvin Prashad The rise of conservative thinkers, writers, and legislators of minority descent is a troubling one, and one that shows no signs of ceasing. After all, not only do such conservatives deny that there is any place within the great American narrative for marginalized communities of color, such conservatives are often held up as examples and instances of the success made by the right-wing in appealing to and addressing concerns of ethnic minorities, despite the fact that these individuals have been completely consumed by the rigidly traditionalist dogma of their patrons. In truth, these four individuals—and those like them—are more conservative than most, perhaps compensating for their skin color by adopting these views and taking them to extremes. So sit back and enjoy this tale of those who, despite belonging to a marginalized ethnic group, take great joy in perpetuating the oppression and discrimination of others.
Fourth Place: S.I. Hayakawa
Fourth Place: S.I. Hayakawa Born in Canada, Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa later went on to garner importance in the field of semantics, as well as win an office as a Republican Senator from California (1977-1983). For the purposes of this feature, however, Hayakawa’s claim to fame was as president of San Francisco State University during the student strikes of 1968. Although the strikes and protests originally arose from the suspension of a controversial, militant professor, the movement grew to encompass dissatisfaction on the part of minority students at the curriculum offered by SF State. One of the demands of the protesters included the creation of ethnic studies programs; indeed, were it not for the strike, one could safely say that there would not be any such programs and degrees today. At the time of the strike, Hayakawa became acting president—and thus the greatest opposition to student protesters; not only did Hayakawa continue to insist that the campus stay open, but further, Hayakawa also banned meetings on campus, and limited picketing to the perimeter. Hayakawa even went so far as to pull the wires from the speakers at a student rally—an act which thrust him into the spotlight and garnered him fifteen minutes of fame, fame that incidentally, might have later led to his election as Senator. Therefore, for standing against the tide of change and an im-
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portant milestone in the history of social justice, S.I. Hayakawa is fourth on this list.
Third Place: Bobby “Piyush” Jindal
Third Place: Bobby “Piyush” Jindal Born in Louisiana to immigrants from India’s Punjab region, thirty-seven year old Bobby Jindal is both the governor of his home state and the most visible and successful marker in the development of minority conservatives. Though it may seem counter-intuitive, if not impossible, for such a politician to be elected governor of a deep South state, the fact of the matter is that Jindal’s successes follow in the pattern of other minority conservatives. Like these conservatives, Jindal refashions himself as all-American, wholeheartedly embracing racial compliance and submission, even going so far as to adopt the name “Bobby,” the name of a character on the hit series Brady Bunch. While it is certainly Jindal’s prerogative to choose his nickname and religious affiliations, his political positions speak for themselves; to begin, like other Republicans, Jindal is a strong opponent of affirmative action, that linchpin of minority rights. Additionally, Jindal, despite having received close to forty percent of campaign contributions from IndianAmericans in Louisiana and across the nation, remains mum on the issue of his ethnic heritage, choosing, instead, to play up both his acceptance of mainstream American culture and conversion to Catholicism. In essence, Jindal’s success among Republican voters is due not only to his own highly-driven work ethic, but also to the fact that, despite being a politician of color, he does not behave like one.
Second Place: Dinesh D’Souza
Second Place: Dinesh D’Souza Born to immigrant parents from Goa, a former Portuguese colony on the west coast of India, D’Souza, like Jindal, is a Roman Catholic. However, unlike Jindal, D'Souza committed the gravest of sins—and criticized key members of the Conservative movement in one of his latest works, The Cultural Lefts and Its Responsibility for 9/11. The premise of this work? The cultural left bears the responsibility for the 9/11 terrorist attacks—that's right, not the US military presence in the Middle East, not American influence in Saudi government, not the volatile situation between Israelis and Palestinians. Michael Moore, Britney Spears, Bill Clinton and the ACLU are respon
sible for Islamic extremist anger toward America. To quote D’Souza: "What impact did the abortionists, the feminists, the homosexual activists and the secularists have on the Islamic radicals who conspired to blow up the World Trade Center and the Pentagon?” Frankly, I was not aware that homosexuals, feminists and abortionists determined policy in our country, as I had always thought that it was rich white men who determined government policy. Given that D’Souza wrote an entire book about his admiration for Ronald Reagan, this dynamic shouldn't be too hard to see. Further, while this work is done in the typical Conservative fashion, replete with name-calling, finger pointing and huge leaps of faith and imagination, it was in fact roundly attacked by his fellow Conservatives. So what happened? In short, D'Souza decided to point fingers at conservatives, who themselves are notorious for a total lack of self-criticism. Therefore, when D'Souza attacked their tactic of blaming everything on Islam, he drew fire from noted conservative Robert Spencer, who has cited the 1453 conquest of Constantinople as evidence that all modern Muslims are violent barbarians. Either way, nearly every work that D'Souza has authored (even those dating back to his time as editor of a conservative paper at Darmouth University) has drawn criticism for its destructive and irresponsible claims, proving that D’Souza will say anything and everything possible to draw attention to himself. From attacking feminism to claiming that African-Americans have an "habitually ingrained attitude of defiance that is ultimately self-destructive" dating back to the slave revolts, Dinesh D'Souza ensures that every time he opens his mouth, all of us suffer for it.
First Place: Michelle Malkin
First Place: Michelle Malkin Without a doubt, the first place honor (if it could be called that) in the pantheon of coconuts and bananas goes to Michelle Malkin. Born Michelle Maglalang to Filipino parents in New Jersey, Malkin later went on to attend Oberlin College and write for, among others, the Los Angeles Daily News and the Seattle Times. When responding to criticism from one newspaper that she was an "Asian Ann Coulter," (yet another [in]famous conservative pundit known for racist, hateful remarks), Malkin went on to say that she was "not Asian...[but] an American, for goodness' sake"—as if readers needed any further proof of her allegiance to the rabid, anti-diversity/ pro-assimilation rhetoric of conservatives today. Clearly, either Malkin has not heard of the term "Asian-American," or, more likely, her conservative, claustrophobic worldview does not have space in it for racial and cultural differences—only conformity. Additionally, Malkin has also authored, among others, a poor excuse of a book titled In Defense of Internment: The Case for Racial Profiling in World War II and the War on Terror. Basing her work on isolated incidents as well as the false assertion that intercepted and decrypted Japanese communications provided evidence of Japanese-American espionage, Malkin’s work ignores the vast body of historical research done on the
history behind the Japanese internment. Moreover, Malkin’s shoddy work was never peer reviewed by experts in the field, and as a result, has attracted many a plethora of critics, among them Eric Muller, a professor at the University of North Carolina and author of his own book on the wartime internment of Japanese-Americans. Lastly, Michelle Malkin is unique among other public personages in that she is strangely sensitive to criticism—and this, perhaps is her greatest flaw. For instance, when various experts derided In Defense of Internment for not being peerreviewed, she not only shot back with a scathing, if senseless, retort on the necessity of peer-reviewing, but also questioned the very expertise of such intellectuals in the first place. Additionally, in one notorious incident, Malkin posted the personal contact information of several student protesters from UC Santa Cruz, who were campaigning against the presence of military recruiters on campus; the students reported receiving death threats and verbal abuse. Later, in a regrettable turn of events, Malkin’s address was leaked by several of her opponents, forcing her into a very similar position as the student protestors; in her case, however, the situation deteriorated to the point where Malkin had to take her children out of school and move her home. While it is certainly the case that what was done to Malkin cannot be justified by any stretch of the imagination, the same can also be said for her own heavyhanded, abusive tactics. There you have it readers, the top four Asian and Asian American conservatives, and certainly the most volatile, disturbing, and damaging of any of them. Indeed, these four right-wing superstars, with their preaching of assimilation and racial one-ness, have more potential to permanently cripple Asian-American political activism than anything that white conservatives could come up with. For that reason, these four— and others like them—are the ace-in-the-hole, the trump card, and an effective (if not-so-secret) weapon of the right-wing in the struggle against racial acceptance and social equality. Source: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_AS94d6MFUFk/SDxAtsMfisI/AAAAAAAAAPA/ Fx5Wr_57G2E/S240/WriterMichelleMalkin.jpg
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Get Your Flirt On, Man by Chris Lu “Damn it. The (insert adjective) guy took my girl.” Sound familiar to you? What? You say this a lot? You’re pathetic. Did you even try flirting with the girl? You did?! Then that means there is a pretty good chance that you don’t know how to flirt or you just suck at it. Don’t tell me that asking about how she did on her test was flirting. That’s called socializing. When you socialize, you make conversation to show 1. Have a Goal Other Than the Girl - Girls like a man on a mission. (For some reason that’s uber sexy to them. Go figure.) Also it’s better for you in general to go out and set big goals for yourself to begin with. 2. Confidence - Nothing is more sexy than confidence. Seriously. A girl loves it when their man is sure of himself. Self-reliant, goaloriented, determined… all indications of confidence. I’m not saying this will make you ooze “sexiness”. Sometimes, you’ll actually end up oozing “ASSHOLE” if you go overkill on being confident. (Then again, some girls like the whole asshole thing. *ie. My girlfriend and almost every girl who watches Gossip Girl) But to be honest, THIS is one of the most important things you can ever have! Without confidence, a girl won’t even bother on a second look of lust because you’re so pathetic. (If you must, use fake confidence. That’s how I roll) 3. Know Your Target - If you are going for a shy girl, I don’t think you should go up to her and start attempting to be the class badass. You’ll most likely scare her away. It’s important to
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you were attempting to flirt with saw it the same way. And this is very important that you MEN try and understand this: Girls believe in having friends of the opposite sex and leaving it just that way. (Not to mention, they are very selective of their friends too) So “...unless you understand the con- unless you understand the cept of flirting; you are going to concept of flirting; you are going to continue to fail at continue to fail at life...” life and you will always be stuck as “the friend” untaxi driver once. (A scary experience less your god decides to intervene and considering I was in the front seat) Does throws someone on your plate. Now that mean I was flirting with her? Hell here are the major points in flirting: no. I was bored and she was interesting to talk to. More likely than not, the girl that you’re trying to be friendly and make the other person feel comfortable. Everyone does it. In fact, I socialized with a drunk
try and find out if she is compatible with you in the first place. You don’t want to waste any flirt energy on anyone who you are not compatible with. 4. Timing - I cannot emphasize enough. Timing is key. In fact, that’s one of the most important thing to
consider when you are flirting. You have to look at the situation around you and judge if it’s the appropriate setting. Then, see if she’s in the mood to flirt, and you have to say the right things at the right time. There is no real “how to” for this but this is something you hone with practice. So just experiment and be prepared for a bad rep. 5. CONFIDENCE, CONFIDENCE, AND CONFIDENCE!
Yeah, it’s that important. In fact, it is. You can be the biggest geek on the planet, wear suspenders and laugh like Steve Urkel. If you make yourself seem confident enough, THE GIRLS WILL COME TO YOU. Or you can try these: 1. Start working out. Having a decently toned body and maybe a four pack does your image wonders. And it’s good for you too. 2. Pick up a “sexy” hobby: skateboarding, playing guitar (Guitar Hero and Rockband do not count. Try to avoid video games! ), doing martial arts, cooking/ baking, singing, or playing a musical instrument, and most importantly…. learn how to dance. You want your girls to be able to move their body, so they want you to be able to move your body too. 3. Change your wardrobe and hairdo. As shallow as it is… these two categories make a man. Try something new or cliché. For me… The punk look worked best. And if what I told you failed…. go to www.askmen.com Source: http://flirt-school.com/images/Flirt400by400.gif
A DAY IN THE LIFE by Andy Kwan
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ith the recent success of autobiographical comics, heralded by Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis and Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home, it’s not surprising that writers of this particular genre have been receiving more notice. One recipient of this fanfare has been cartoonist Gabrielle Bell, for her serial narrative Lucky. This is a semi-autobiographical mini-comic that chronicles her artist’s life in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Unlike her peers, Bell eschews grand narrative scope in favor of sliceof-life storytelling. She facilitates this through devoting a four-to-six panel page to each day of her life, and creates an artful blend of diary and comic strip. Bell emphasizes characterization over plot. Thus the events of her book (apartment hunting, job woes, and relationship squabbles) are just as ordinary as those experienced by any twenty-something year old living in New York. While Bell never glorifies her life, she transmutes the mundane aspects of everyday life into a madcap and whimsical landscape, through the infusion of her wry observations and dialogue. Thus, scenarios like teaching art to precocious tweens or working as an artist’s assistant achieve subtle heights of humor and fancy. Most satisfyingly of all, Bell shares her world with readers through intimate narration and nuanced characterization. Whether it’s the maddening tedium of applying to dead-end jobs, the paralyzing anxieties accompanied with art modeling, or merely the simple pleasure of a magnificent rooftop view, readers can easily emphasize with her drudgeries and relish her small
triumphs. Although the artwork comes off as unassuming, it is one of the stronger points of her book. By employing an iconic style, Bell conveys a charm befitting of the book’s subject matter. Furthermore, the art’s austerity and lack of color nicely reinforces the ordinary, everyday nature of the comic. And while intricate details are sparse in the art, Bell has an uncanny knack of drawing vivid facial expressions,
best highlighted by Gabrielle and her coworkers’ looks of sheer panic during a radio announcement concerning an imminent attack by Al-Qaeda. While the art is a perfect fit, the panel layout suffers from inconsistency. The first issue of the volume stays closest to the comic strip form, with six panels on every page, yet it is the weakest of the three collected issues in terms of design. Because of Bell’s
fondness for prolific dialogue and narration, the narration boxes and speech bubbles are uncomfortably crammed with the images, making the issue a fairly claustrophobic read. However, things improve dramatically by the second issue. The six-panel page is eliminated in favor of four larger panels, a decision that allows the text and art to breathe. The book’s narrative flow is also guilty of inconsistency, especially in the first issue. By the perimeters of its genre, the comic diary does not have to a central focus. Yet it is the complete lack of any focus in the first issue of Lucky that makes it an uneven read. While amusing moments abound, the seeming lack of cohesion between the various events make the reading somewhat tedious. Luckily, things improve in the next two issues. Bell abandons the flow of the first issue in favor of tightly cohesive ministories from a certain month in her life, including her time spent working at a jewelry store and her bizarre experience selling comics on the street. In Lucky, Gabrielle Bell has crafted an addictive and understated comic. It’s both endearing and laugh-out-loud funny; simply a delightful read. Article Source: Lucky, by Gabrielle Bell Drawn & Quarterly; HC: 111 Pages Picture Sources: http://www.drawnandquarterly.com/blog/uploaded_ images/LUCKY.cover-751759.jpg http://crosshatch.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/gabriellebellhotdog.gif
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Still Life in Color: Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern
by Karina Rodrigues
Zhang Yimou’s Raise the Red Lantern is a tapestry of opulence and distorted sound. Throughout the film, people have their voices silenced and shuttered, torn apart and then destroyed again. This is 1920s China, where wealth can buy luxury -- and occasionally, wives. Ruled by noblemen without visible faces, their sprawling compounds form an array of concave lines and alcoves, all within the center of a single abode. No boundaries are ever shown. To the viewer, they are infinite. It could matter less whether they extend a meter wide or to the end of the Yangtze River. Within one such sanheyuan, Songlian appears. Pretty and educated, she embodies a mixture of precocious and naive youth. She is willing to marry into a like estate as the Fourth Mistress, but with her family bankrupt and father dead, her path is chosen more from necessity than pride. At the beginning of the film, she remarks to her stepmother, “You wanted me to do this, didn’t you?” her resignation edged with opium-thick bitterness. Yet once there, Songlian is welcomed into the compound as a queen. She has her own lush quarters within the palace walls, a wardrobe of the finest silk robes, a servant girl to attend to her whims, the best medical care money can buy, and meals served up daily in a communal dining room. She is the household favorite. Her husband -- the master -- comes to visit
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her every night, and her house is lit with large red lanterns. This corresponds to the set of rules announced by Chen Baishun, the master’s valet. Depending on which wife the master sleeps with, those silk lanterns outside her quarters are lit in honor of the occasion. These lanterns arrange a host of privileges: foot massages with tiny weighted hammers, her ability to
dictate the cuisine each day, and the focus of everyone within the estate. In turn, a multitude of red lanterns hang from the edge of every wife’s home. When set alight, the compound is radiant. When covered, the landscape is shaded a desolate ashen blue. These simple rules also give rise to a complex female dynamic where nothing is as it seems. Songlian meets the rest of the master’s wife-concubines: the First Mistress, the Second Mistress, and the Third Mistress. The First Mistress is indifferent and old; since giving birth, her matriarchy has been since established. She receives no visits from the
master, and holds a senior position amongst the wives. The Third Mistress is a retired opera singer, Meishan, who trills from the rooftops every morning. Beautiful and petulant, Songlian dislikes her immediately. Finally, she meets the Second Mistress, Zhouyun, who offers Songlian kindness and friendship -- or so it seems at first. She also meets Yan’er, a personal servant who appears to detest her from the outset. Craving the attention from the master that Songlian receives, Yan’er engages in an elaborate fantasy, stealing lanterns to pretend that she is a concubine. And with the red and gold warmth of the lanterns, she can convince herself that this fantasy is true. As the story unfolds, Songlian learns about malice, hatred, and deceit. In this world of subtle nuance and charade, everything has weighty, political significance. Shocked by the machinations of the women who surround her, she retaliates with tired anger and then deceit of her own. But ever so soon, the palatial ground she lives on comes to look like a prison. Songlian is not innocent, but nor is she sharp enough to pour herself into this game and use guile to her best advantage. Loyalties are rearranged, and by being pulled into this struggle, Songlian has no idea where she stands. I was struck by two key sequences
while watching. In one, Songlian discovers Yan’er with a handcrafted voodoo doll, pins stuck into it from all angles. She wrenches the doll away from her and discovers her own name written on it. About to rage at Yan’er, Songlian remembers that Yan’er is an uneducated maid, and hence, illiterate. When she forces Yan’er to admit who wrote it, she discovers that the amiable Zhouyun -- a woman “with the face of a Buddha, but the heart of a scorpion” -is responsible. In a fit of fury, Songlian later throws out each hidden lantern, forcing Yan’er to burn them on an ice-cold night. As they go up in flames, Yan’er watches, but refuses to apologize for her actions. Finally, she collapses from pneumonia and is taken to the hospital where she dies. Another sequence shows Songlian on her twentieth birthday, drunk and wild with elated grief. Having learned that Meishan is having an affair with Doctor Gao, she inadvertently blurts that out within earshot of Zhouyun. Meishan is subsequently dragged off to a room high in a secluded attic, where she is strangled to death for her adulterous behavior. In both sequences, snow acts as a tableau to frame each death. On the day Yan’er dies, Songlian succumbs to despair; she cannot push aside her guilt, even though a servant woman claims that it was Yan’er’s “fate to die.” When Meishan is murdered, she loses her last foothold on sanity. Her descent is both sad and troubling. By the same time next year, the master has married a new, fifth, wife, and Songlian is left to wander back and forth across her room with each large red paper lantern lit forever.
As this happens, each cycle of cruelty begins anew with every woman caught in the same tangle. They have no power, and so are able to act in the only way they know how: against one another. The master is heard but not seen; he acts as a catalyst for the embroiling conflicts in this film. But the sociopolitical commentary has multiple dimensions:
plays Songlian with smoldering reserve, grace, and passion. Even when Songlian fails to endear herself in the script, Gong Li succeeds at evoking sympathy from the audience. Raise the Red Lantern was never sanctioned by the Chinese government -- much like Zhang Yimou’s story itself, the subtext beneath the beauty
in each scene, Zhang Yimou builds on the heightening tension to reach a wrenching yet inevitable ending. Architecture and aerial views of the sanheyuan are filmed in different seasons: winter, autumn, and summer. The rarefied, chilly framing of an infinite series of doorways -- and deep sensuous vermilions -- underpin this world with startling beauty and richness. These contrasts magnify the intensity of the film. Shot in the classic three-strip Technicolor process, Raise the Red Lantern has a palette no longer seen in American films, and its colors are sublime like nothing I’ve ever seen. this world with startling beauty and richness. These contrasts magnify the intensity of the film. Shot in the classic three-strip Technicolor process, Raise the Red Lantern has a palette no longer seen in American films, and its colors are sublime like nothing I’ve ever seen. Despite the amazing cinematography of this film, Gong Li remains its star. She plays Songlian with smoldering reserve,
of this film delivers a kick in the face to obsolete feudal traditions. Its couched allegory is wide to interpretation, but set in its defiance of a traditional hierarchy. This condemnation may make it a controversial film, but I’d say that’s all the more reason to see it at least once.
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Unity? Or U-Need-Me? by Maryam Belly
Maryam Belly is the current Vice President for Multicultural Affairs.
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even concede that the cultural groups are active enough to seek students to replenish their membership, thereby assuring the continued existence of the group in question. Nonetheless, the lack of unity and support across cultural groups is the biggest obstacle that groups face, even bigger than a waning membership or budget. This year’s VPMA issue has reawakened in me the zeal to see the cultural groups on
from those who seek a campus free of diversity and tolerance, one steeped in conformity and bigotry. When certain publications target students from one cultural group, we should not ignore it and assume that, just because it isn’t our demographic specifically, it is not hate speech, and therefore not our fight. So long as we are all susceptible to an attack, then that targeting and marginalization of others affects us as well. Additionally,
very year, the Vice President of Multicultural Affairs suffers numerous attacks that, fortunately, are always defeated through a united front, which is composed of the various cultural groups on campus, as well as the general student body. This show of camaraderie, this “call to duty”, campus unified. I was largely impressed the type of tactics utilized by these exhibited by students whenever the issue by the support exhibited by students for publications never change, and while arises, leaves little doubt to the stability one another, even when it was obvious the victims might vary in appearance, ethnicity, religious affiliation, etc, they and the necessity of the position. “After all, we, the mem- are the same—in that they share the Yet with each episode of this VPMA bers of cultural groups common bond of being victimized. soap opera, I am left with questions and students of color Similarly, the people on campus of why it happened in the first place, have been inactive who subscribe to ideals of cultural what we can do to end this on-going dormant even for far too assimilation rather than cooperation game, and whether this time will be the long in our activism” with diversity, and are foolish enough one when the position is successfully to act on such selfish desires, never eliminated. I am also left wondering what role that we, that is students of that many of them have never exchanged change. We must recognize that the color, can play regarding the enabling of even a single word. With regards to the Asian students assaulted on campus these attacks. Oftentimes, it is easier to Asian Student Union (ASU) specifically, a few years ago are no different from identify blatant provocation, and while I am still chilled when I recall the rows the gay student assaulted downtown, the challengers of the VPMA position of students who stood during Will who in turn is no different than the girl have consistently been the same brand To’s speech, and the joining in of non- raped in her bathroom, and who is also of students, that fact alone should not ASU members. This, if anything, is a no different than the Muslim students prevent us from examining who else is testament to our ability to reach out to accused of terrorism. Our ability to at fault. After all, we, the members of each other. While it is great that we have respond to each of these is significantly cultural groups and students of color strong individual groups, this strength is reduced because, rather than being able have been inactive – dormant even – all the more necessary simply because to seek justice following any one of for far too long in our activism and in of external threats—and, through these deplorable incidents, we are stuck our efforts to create a more welcoming cooperation and coordination, can be trying to garner support from those who campus for those who follow us. Still, multiplied. In a world where it is clear don’t understand the vested interests of it is true that the cultural groups are the that the cultural groups are united and are the victims. The time has come for us to most active in terms of the quality and willing, indeed, unafraid, to come to each start going to each other’s meetings rather quantity of events they are able throw— other’s aid (should the need arise) there than leaving events as the designated hence the large budgets. In fact, I will is little doubt that there will be hesitation time to coordinate. Executive
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boards should stipulate that to become a member, you must have previously established a relationship with their third floor counterparts. It is ridiculous that, after spending all four years of their undergrad career at Binghamton, a student can visit the third floor, and aside from their office, know only the bathroom. If we take the time to reach out to one another, we will realize that our groups share many of the same problems, and that some organizations have developed solutions which may be
better than the ones used by others. In conclusion, I will continue my efforts to foster unity, but ultimately, it is up to the rest of you. I have always operated under the mantra that you can only understand who you are once you see what you are not, so while it may feel uncomfortable sitting in a room where you are the only one of your race, sex, sexuality or religion, that discomfort will quickly subside once you realize that the people around you express feelings that you’ve had but were unable to articulate
or work out within yourself. I will end here, but as a parting note I must say that we should not stop there, and instead go beyond working with those who are like us, and reach out to our adversaries. That is the biggest challenge of all, and while it may seem like idealism, the possibility of it becoming a reality can only be realized once we learn to step out of our comfort zones. That, of course, starts with unifying with our friends.
Submissions? Or thoughts and comments? Send all work (with pictures please) via email to: ao.editor@gmail.com Creative works, please send to: aoconscience@gmail. com Meetings are Thursdays, 7:30 pm in UU329. See you there!
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The VPMA Situation by Calvin Prashad Whatever the intentions behind the creation of the VPMA position may have been, in practice, it serves as a vital link between the cultural groups and the Student Association. Indeed, the very existence of the position does not constitute special treatment, but rather a relationship that has evolved since its inception a decade ago. Additionally, and most importantly, the VPMA has also evolved to protect students against hate crimes and abuse. Proponents for eliminating this position claim that having this position on the e-board is not only special treatment, but encouraging us minorities to “segregate” into our own groups rather than mixing with the rest of the student body. Two arguments: 1. Claiming that having a VPMA equals special treatment is akin to crying that veterans get special treatment because the government has a bureau that deals specifically with veterans’ affairs. The VPMA exists to, at the very least, help administer
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to the specific needs of student groups. It takes the administrative burden off of the other SA e-board members. 2. Commentator after commentator that spoke against the position reiterated the point that having the VPMA encourages “segregation" and the elimination of it would be “good for us”. Instead of hearing from these commentators, who are of course extremely familiar with the needs of peoples of color, I’d like to think that we minorities (lumped together as we are) know our needs best. The last thing we
“...the idea behind the campaign to remove the VPMA is rooted in the belief that “multiculturalism” is somehow harmful and dangerous...” need is for someone else, particularly someone who has not an inkling of our experiences, to dictate to us what we do, or in this case, do not, need. Based on some of the literature going around campus, it would appear that the idea behind the campaign to remove the VPMA is rooted in the belief that “multiculturalism” is somehow harmful and dangerous, a line that is frequently uttered by neoconservatives and other xenophobes. However, the truth is that new immigrants cannot simply flip a
switch and magically assimilate. All ethnic groups will arrive in our country, speaking their language, keeping their customs and living in ethnic neighborhoods. Those opponents of “multiculturalism” point to bilingual signs, these ethnic communities, and people conversing in their native languages as threats to US safety and security. Readers should keep in mind that these very same sentiments were echoed by bigot Robert Spencer last semester. Frankly, opponents of the VPMA are just a stone’s throw away from claiming cultural groups should be abolished as well. It is naïve to think that they will just stop at eliminating the VPMA. The proponents of this bill attempted to silence opposition to the bill by claiming it was the “democratic” thing to do. By putting anything to a vote, they reasoned, they could effectively quash dissenting opinions by labeling them “undemocratic.” The truth is, if the student body isn’t clamoring for or demanding that the VPMA position to be brought to a referendum, then, it isn’t a “democratic” vote, but rather the opposite. After all, it is a case of a few, select individuals pushing their agenda onto the student body; if that is not despotism, then what is? The question of who these individuals are is not important at the moment. A more pressing concern includes their tactics and strategy, particularly the way that they have cleverly moved into the SA for the singleminded goal of eliminating the position. This is why they felt a referendum on the VPMA was of greatest importance, while the previous tuition hikes were not important enough to warrant such a measure. I have also been disturbed by the indifference exhibited by many SA officials toward the students that came out to exercise their own democratic rights; clearly, the SA officials arrived with their minds already made up. Perhaps the most telling instance was when the SA President walked into the room with an arrogant smirk and “Eye of the Tiger” blaring from his laptop. Clearly he came to fight, and it didn’t matter if it was
the administration, the students, or common sense. He did provide a moment of comic relief however, when he lost his composure in the middle of the debate and started ranting about the administration trying to take over the SA. Others claimed that the two hundred or so students that attended the meeting (on the eve of finals no less) did not represent the entire student body. Whatever the number of students in attendance at the forum, these claims were extremely insulting, and furthermore, showed the students that, quite simply, our opinions did not matter, and were of no consequence. Lastly, there is the issue of hate. Even the ACLU admits that hate speech has a place on college campuses. Well, if that is the case, then shouldn’t there be someone to stand against it? Just because it occurs, does not mean that we should let it happen—nor should we forget our sense of right and wrong. I agree that such a clause providing protection against hate speech does not exist in the SA constitution, but in practice, the VPMA has been the best person to stand against it. When the UPD and the administration cannot get involved, the burden of responsibility lies on the students to fight bigotry and ignorance. For that matter, even if the UPD and the administration do get involved, who can say for certain that there will not be any discrimination on their part? In conclusion, the VPMA is an essential position in the student body, and one can be certain that our opponents will fight year after year to eliminate it. Their persistence is both annoying and futile, so it’s up to all of us to not let others, especially those who do not know our needs and wants--and do not care to learn about our such needs and wants--impose such an agenda on us. Sources: http://www.suny.edu.tr/upresimler/roll/binmingham.jpg http://profile.ak.facebook.com/object2/1611/50/l7097896922_4771.jpg
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asianese Did You Impress that Special Person on Valentines Day? Now Surprise Your Lover with Cute Phrases in Asianese! by Victor Chan Translated by Victor Chan, Karina Rodrigues, & Lali Ha
I love you. Can I have your credit card?
You look cuter without those jeans.
K: 사랑해. 네 크레딧 카드 마구 긁어도 되지? Saranghae. Ne keuredeet kadeu mahgu geulgudo dweji? C: 我爱你. 那我可以用你的信用 卡吗? Wǒ ài nǐ. Nà wǒ kě yǐ yòng nǐ de xìn yòng kǎ ma? J: 大好きだよ。クレジットカード を借りてもいい？ Daisuki da yo. Kurejitto kaado wo karitemo ii?
K: 넌 옷을 안 입을때가 제일 귀여 워. Nun oseur ahn eebeurddega jeyil geeyuhwu. C: 你不穿那条牛仔裤就更可爱. Nǐ bù chuān nà tiáo niú zǎi kù jiù gèng kě ài. J: ジーンズを裸になったら、もっ と可愛くになると思う。 Jiinzu wo hadaka ni nattara, motto kawaii ni naru to omou.
Get over here before I smooch you!
You are my dessert
K: 입술 훔치기 전에 빨리 와! Eepsul homchiji juneh bballi wa. C: 你过来,要不然我就吻你! Nǐ guò lai, yào bu rán wǒ jiù wěn nǐ J: キスする前に、早くこっちに来 てよ！ Kisu suru mae ni, hayaku kocchi ni kiteyo!
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K: 당신은 나의 달콤한 초콜렛~. Dangshin naeh dalkomhan chokollet. C: 你是我的甜品 Nǐ shì wǒ de tián pǐn. J: 君は僕のデザートだよ。 Kimi wa boku no dezaato da yo.
Come here, my dumpling.
K: 얼른와, 내 사랑스러운 만두덩 어리 Ulleunwa, Ne sahrangseuruhwoon mandoodung uhri. C: 过来这儿, 水饺. Guò lai zher, shuǐ jiǎo. J: おいで,俺の団子。 Oide, ore no dango.
I want your big hot steak K: 난 너의 뜨거운 삼겹살을 원해. Nahn nueh ddeuguwoon samgyupsalreur wonhe. C: 我想要你的大牛排. Wǒ xiǎng yào nǐ de dà niú pái. J:あなたの大くて温かいステーキ ほしい。 Anata no ookute attakai suteeki hoshii.
Tired of cleaning up after yourself? Don’t feel like making dinner?
Then get someone else to do it for you! Come to our service auction: Friday, March 6
FA258
7pm
Hosted by AO and our friends from the Philippine’ American League asian outlook
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Everyday By Victor Chan
As the days went by I thought of none but two One was the means, The other was to find you I traveled the lands And I trained by day Yet still here I stand All of it was for nay Painful moments and Struck apart by time, Sitting with a shadow Waiting for the bells to chime Even if you’re not here anymore Even if you have gone far away In the back of my mind, I still see you every day.
Keepin it real
Photograph by Alyssa Alimurung
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Transform Me by Alyssa Alimurung
To be a tiger So fierce & fearless Roaming wherever the heart may be A sight for caged minds Yearning to be wild & free The spirit is broken I just can’t fly & everyday I run my fingers across those branded words But the truth is I’m a walking lie Somewhere in the spaces of my mind An inner sense slumbers Waiting to be released from nostalgic binds
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artwork by Victor Chan 24
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Gone by Vivake Khamsingsavath
What were you to me And what I am today Can’t believe you’re so far away
I guess only a glimpse will suffice But I still miss you so much in my life I don’t understand, I don’t know who I am How was it possible that I was ever in your hands? That past seems so unreal And I’m closer to a man
I’m finding truths when you’re not around When you’re gone I’m losing sense of the past When I move When I lose When I no longer feel your hands
I’m finding truths when you’re not around When you’re gone When it’s something I’ve done When I move When I lose When I no longer feel your hands
And I try to forget What is gone And I try to stop listening to the same songs Because every lyric reminds me of where I went wrong
I avoid the faces I can’t stand to see When in truth I can’t stand me Can’t stand what I’ll be And all I want to see is a picture of you What I used to be
Lethal and Fatal Photograph by Alyssa Alimurung
I’m finding truths when you’re not around When you’re gone When it’s something I’ve done I’m losing sense of the past When I move When I lose When I no longer feel your hands
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Just A Moment(Remix) 2 This is dedicated to my grandfather who passed away on October 30, 2008.
Can we please have a moment of silence? For those who passed away and are no longer by us For my grandfather, who just passed away from cancer I know you’re in a better place, I hope your prayers got answered It’s for you that I’m pouring these drinks, I sip on hard liquor I didn’t know what to think, it’s hard living My mother gave me the call during the early morning Her voice was full of sorrow, up early and she was mourning Didn’t know what say cuz my mother was crying Told her things would be OK, we all knew he was dying Diagnosed last year, gave him six months to live Almost doubled what they said, he was dying to live So can we please have a moment of peace? I know you’re resting easy now in your eternal sleep I’m glad you didn’t suffer much during your last few days I hope to meet you up in heaven when I hit my grave This goes out to those gone Our lonely nights are long, but we’ll stay strong And even though life must go on We’ll still mourn, while wishing y’all were home
Emil Carlo Rafol www.myspace.com/SHIFTtheMC
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Put On 2
For everybody reppin’ QUEENS, just throw up ya sets I’m just trying to reach my dreams, until then I won’t rest I’m here to give it all my heart, cuz I got one chance So while you people bring it back, I’m taking steps to advance I’m done with playing all these games, traded in my playstation Reflected on my life, I’ve been patiently waiting The music keeps calling my name, I’m here to change They say the games crazy, I’m already insane I guess I’ll see you in my nightmares, I’ll meet you right there Black tee, blue jeans, and fresh Nike airs I got a swagger of my own my own When it comes to New York City best believe I put on I’m sick of seeing all these flashing lights, in my rearview Will I make it back home tonight? Or will life kill me? My mind is higher than those jets in sky I just poured a little goose and now I’m feeling just fine My mind is racing against time again My heart is pacing and I don’t fear death I’ll keep on pushing on along until my body just caves in Put on for city, rep for Queens till I’m faded and gone
SHIFT THE MC Pop Off 2
(Pop Off) Pop off if you runnin these streets and (Jump Off) Jump off if you ridin my feet Represent yo cities from corners to concrete And if y’all wanna bump with us (It Ain’t A Thing) I’m reppin for the N-Y-C the 7-1-8 A rebel with cause about to put you in your place See I’m ripping it catch me on the corner simply kickin it I’m intricate you bitches know how Shift the kid be spitting it I’m living it you can catch me chillin by the avenue I’ll battle you smack you with the mic and give you attitude Damn right I’m rude watch me keep on rising like the latitude I’m not mad at you I’m just hungry I’m a cannibal An animal suddenly my verses become tactical And practical every move I make strictly mechanical My verses factored out simplified to my expressions See me wilding on your block taking out all my aggression My words are weapons feeding on your soul and its transgressions Here’s a lesson, rewind this track and pay attention Coming sick with it infecting you with demon forces My words burn slowly while not knowing what remorse is
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Half-Blood Flowers
I held up a set of three tiny red beads and threaded the silver wire through them at once. Despite the tears welling up in my eyes, I had managed to make good time so far. I had to finish tonight, because tomorrow would be the last day that I would ever see my Paw Paw. Here is yet another instance of me trying to chase after my Chinese heritage. No matter how hard I try, I always feel like my Chinese half is being washed out from under me. I find it to be a relief when I see a choice for “mixed” on standardized tests now. Although it may seem insignificant, choosing between Asian/Pacific Islander and Caucasian was hard for me. Being raised in an American household, I wanted to bubble-in Asian. I wanted to be a part of something that I was missing out on. This was lying; I’m not an Asian. I am a mutt, and I belong with all of those other mutt-bubbles that are also in limbo between two or more races. I desperately want to feel Chinese, and be recognized for it. The beaded flower I was making for my grandmother’s funeral was one of the things she had taught me to make when I was younger. With little communication between us, she would show me how to create flowers, knit scarves, or play simple card games like Go-Fish or 21. As she asked me to play “T-we-n-ty One,” using too many syllables in her Chinese accent, I felt disappointed that this was all the conversation we could have. I was not raised to speak Toy-San, and I will never know the secrets or stories of her life, especially now since she is no longer here. Language also separates me from my brother and my boyfriend. In comparison to my 28
asian outlook
February 2009
older brother, I am not sufficiently tapping into my Asian side. Playing Chinese harp, eating Chinatown meats, knowing Kung Fu, focusing his studies on Mandarin, studying in Taiwan next semester, and aiming to be a Chinese teacher all makes me feel like I should be involving myself in my heritage, like him. The fortune-cookie papers I collect and eating the Chinese candies I love do not compare. My boyfriend is also learning Mandarin, and the two of them combined make me feel like I am missing out. I suppose what I am feeling is jealousy. When I talk to my boyfriend he tells me how excited he is about what he learned in class and tries to get me to repeat things. I find myself not wanting to speak it and quickly change the subject. He is German and learning more Chinese than I; I should be the one teaching him. My schedule in college does not give me time to learn and my ten-word vocabulary in Toy-San won’t get me very far. When I speak the few words that I know, they are awkward and unfamiliar to me. Not being in-touch with my Chinese half has left me with a feeling of embarrassment. On the very rare occasions I see my Chinese family it is also awkward. We do not see each other enough, even though some of my cousins live only 20 minutes from home. My mother does see eye to eye with my other side of the family. This is why it takes a while for us to warm up to each other every time we do visit. There is something interesting about how my siblings and I always become best friends with my cousins after spending time with them despite the forced separation. There is that connection that I know I have with them; how we’re so similar, and how we laugh so hard our sides ache at the simplest things. This connection is what I want to make stronger. Unlike with my cousins, the connection that I had with my grandmother was leaving me. My connection with her weakened with death, but became a memory to hold. As I placed my beaded flower in my Paw Paw’s hand, another part of my Chinese heritage slipped away. Those few moments that bound me with my grandmother were gone. All I could do now, at that point, was to fold the gold and silver papers to be burned and sent up to the heavens as gold and silver nuggets, bow three times with incense, or burn the chrysanthemum-scented paper money. Every action was so foreign to me, yet I started to feel like it was connecting me in some way. I was more Chinese than before, surrounded by those with black hair and almond eyes, Chinese writing all over the walls and on the colorful wreaths, and the incense filling my nose. There was a sense of family, so many people and so many decorative gifts honoring my Paw Paw. Then the procession started. The driver followed the long line of black cars, and then drove my siblings and I back home. That instant, it was all over. Back to school and back to our non-Asian way of life. There is a delicate balance that I must find in my life between being Chinese and American. Just as the royal families were afraid of diluting their precious blood over the years, I am afraid of losing my Chinese blood. For what I, and perhaps my children, lack in Chinese blood can be made up in spirit. As my Chinese side appears to vanish I must latch on and embrace it, never let it out of my sight. The fragile beaded flowers would not exist unless someone put forth the effort, as I must do to keep this from slipping away. by Rayna Moy
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ZengCheng, China Photograph by Kari
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