Asian Outlook | Spring 2017 Issue 2 by Asian Outlook

ASIAN OUTLOOK Vol. XXXII, Issue 2

Pengyou Project • Whitewashing in America Media • Goodbye Uniqlo!?

The Obama Legacy • President Trump’s Ban on Foreign Travel • SASE Christina Chen

Volume XXXII, Issue 2

contents ASIAN OUTLOOK 2

ASIAN OUTLOOK

arts & entertainment 10 | eSports Careers | Tiffany Tung

conscience 30 | Angeles Yeung 31 | Airi Kojima

letter from the editor...

ASIAN OUTLOOK EXECUTIVE BOARD SPRING 2017 editors-in-chief

Dear Readers,

conscience editor

Recent events have left this nation torn and tired. The Trump administration’s admittedly bombastic rhetoric has frequently left the United States in compromising situations, straining relationships with Russia and North Korea. Additionally, the targeted strike on a Syrian airbase and the detonation of the “mother of all bombs” in Afghanistan have sent shockwaves throughout the foreign community, evoking both criticism and praise for the United States. The first 100 days of Donald Trump’s presidency have been turbulent. As an indicator for the forthcoming years of an America under President Trump, it presents a future filled with ambiguity and instability. As an American living in the U.S. , I see the growing unrest among my fellow Americans. I see a nation increasingly divided, a nation experiencing rising violence due to conflict over the very values that America was built upon. But the most overwhelming thing I see and feel is fear. Because most of my relatives are living in South Korea, the rising tension between the U.S. and North Korea has been difficult to watch. Will the next tweet from President Trump thrust the peninsula into war again? How far is he willing to go, to push until one side finally gives? The very concept of being American is difficult to explain. To be American is to be inherently inclusive, to embrace new ideas and cultures you are exposed to. Americans have a unique privilege of experiencing new areas of thought, food, religion, language and traditions right in their very own backyards. It is a feature of life seldom found anywhere else. Destroying the very fabric of American society will not make a safer America, nor will it create a better America. No, destroying this will erase the very concept of what it means to be an American. We cannot let growing foreign tensions create doubt in American communities and endanger American culture. Each passing day brings a seemingly interminable wave of breaking news, bold and flashing, vying to capture our attention. It is in times like these that it is imperative that you take a step back, even for a second, to break away from the steady stream of incoming media and to appreciate your surroundings, your life, and the people who work to better this world. Please, become that steady hand that can offer some stability in this time of uncertainty. Thank you.

copy editors

layout editors

business manager publicity manager

Alex Ching Airi Kojima Angeles Yeung Brian Kang Nina Ocampo Amy Zhang Alyssa Boyle Benny Louie Alicia Kam Tram Duong Justina Liaw Kana Prasertchoang Tiffany Tung Ava Hunt

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, Asian Outlook also serves to protect the voice of those in the minority, whether by ethnicity, gender, and/or political orientation. 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 submissions. 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.

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Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 3

PROJECT PENGYOU binghamton chapter

I have switched schools, made new friends, and gotten used to a completely different lifestyle living in Binghamton than I had grown accustomed to in my former city of Cleveland. However, all these changes came about because of one decision I made at the end of my third semester at college, which was to switch from a computer science major to a history major and to focus on China. I was able to take an elective class at my old school about the politics of modern China, and it changed my entire direction. I went to China upon graduating from high school and I loved it, but this class was the first thing I did relating to China since my return from that trip. I was hooked on the first day of class, as I found my love for China being taken to a new level. I would read the class textbook for fun. I excelled in the course, which quickly became my passion. I fell in love with the culture, the vast history, and the bright future of China. My entrance to Project Pengyou only heightened that passion. Late last semester, I went to an event hosted by Project Pengyou on campus. The people were amazing, and the club seemed to be up my ally. So I joined as soon as I could, and I am so glad I did. At Project Pengyou, I found an amazing group of like-minded people who care about bridging the gaps between American and Chinese culture and building strong friendships between American and Chinese students. Not only does Project Pengyou have a great objective that I am glad to be a part of, but it has continued to enhance my appreciation and understanding of Chinese culture from the programs we have put on and the friendships I have made. This is a great club with great people. I highly recommend giving it a shot.

lot has changed for me over the past two years.

ASIAN OUTLOOK

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At Project Pengyou, I found an amazing group of like-minded people, who care about bridging the gaps between American and Chinese Culture

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By Edward Kerner

STORY OF SELF T

wenty-three years ago, on a warm, windy day in March of

1994, a small infant was left at a gas station in Anhui, Hefei, China. That infant was me. Some time after, I was taken to a state-run orphanage, where I was cared for by selfless and caring ai-yi’s or “nannies” over the next few months. On May 14, 1995, after an almost yearlong process, a 5-foot-2-inch, blond, 42-year-old, single, soon-to-be mother boarded a plane with a wallet-sized photograph of a 3-monthold baby girl tucked away in her pocket. Her mission – to fly across the Pacific to meet her daughter for the very first time. Growing up, I had a relatively normal upbringing in a moderately affluent suburb of New York City. Besides the occasional comments here and there from seemingly wellintentioned white folks like, “You’re so lucky your mom adopted you” and “You’re living such a better life here,” I seldom became upset about the life that had been created for me, even if I was one of a very small Asian population in my community. My mom always reinforced the idea that we were an unstoppable pair – that I should never forget that I had saved her life as much as she had saved mine. Fast forward to 2009. It’s your typical, errand-running Saturday. The sun is shining, and the wind is whipping through my long, tangled hair. My mom and I are on line at the local Walgreens waiting impatiently as the woman in front of us disputes a rejected return. Eons go by. “Are you two together?” The cashier asked us, pulling us both back into consciousness. My heart dropped deep into my chest, and I could feel my cheeks start to turn red. It felt like an eternity had gone by before I heard my mom reply, “together,” and we began to approach the counter. It took me a while to realize what had happened as my mind raced in zigzag formations like a mouse trying to escape a playful cat. That moment, a mundane moment for most people, was the moment I realized I wasn’t white, like most of the people I saw on TV. I wasn’t white like my friends in elementary school. And I certainly was not white like my mom – an assumption I had formed subconsciously in my head from a young age. I came to the realization that despite our efforts to act and feel like a family, I had no control over the perceptions other people made about me. It wasn’t until that moment that it hit me that the way people viewed a gray-haired woman and a

By Annie Newberry

young Chinese woman would most likely not be as a family. Yet instead of retreating into my shell and pushing away my mother who made me who I am today, I turned my ambition and willpower toward learning what it meant to be Chinese, and specifically Chinese American. I realized that if people were going to see me as Chinese, I wanted to do everything humanly possible to embrace that perception. I wanted to be able to do silly, mundane things like inquire about different rice cookers at the Asian store, or order Shanghai xiaolongbao or “soup dumplings” at restaurants in Chinatown. Being of Chinese heritage, not being able to speak the language and understand small nuances of Chinese American life quickly became paradoxical to who I saw myself becoming in the future. In 2011, I studied abroad in Beijing for the very first time on my own. Although I could barely understand a daily weather forecast from my host mom in the morning or buy a pear on the street on the way to school, I was blessed to live with a host family who welcomed me into their home as their second daughter. Five years have gone by, and we still keep in touch to this day. It wasn’t long before I found a home and a safe place in China, a place where I could wholeheartedly embrace my Chinese side in blending with the majority but also a place where I could be proud to be American. At Project Pengyou, we celebrate the notion that a person doesn’t have to exclusively identify with only one culture to fit in. Each and every one of us can belong to more than one cultural community at the same time and feel just as comfortable in each world. We are here to build bridges – to educate people, to engage with people, and to show that the US-China relationship is not just bureaucratic squabbles but something founded on an understanding between people from all different backgrounds. No matter your ethnicity, gender, faith beliefs, etc. , we are testament to the fact that what often seems to make us different on the surface is actually what brings us together in the end.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 5

Japanese Internment And Present Day By Kana Prasertchoang

reviously cited as the “rising star” of the

Republican Party, Beth Fukumoto officially resigned from the Republican Party in late March. Fukumoto had served as Hawaii’s House Minority Leader since 2014 and stated her resignation stemmed from the changes she saw in her party during the presidential election. In her resignation letter, she says her Republican Party members were “marginalizing and condemning minorities, ethnic or otherwise, and making demeaning comments towards women.” She believed the Republican Party no longer reflected her political views or the values of the diverse Hawaii population. She will instead be seeking membership in the Democratic Party. Fukumoto recalls how she had once discussed her

ASIAN OUTLOOK

concern over Trump’s suggestion of a Muslim registry with her Republican colleagues, as it reminded her of the Japanese internment camps in World War II. They told her it was just rhetoric. However, as someone who is closely connected to her Japanese roots, Fukumoto knows how mere rhetoric can change into something else. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, rumors spread about a Japanese American plot to disrupt war efforts. Racist rhetoric grew and sentiments against Japanese Americans grew hostile. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, which forced thousands of Americans to relocate to designated camps based solely on racial prejudice was a traumatizing part of United States history. Fukumoto’s family was a part of the internment of Japanese Americans. Her grandfather was detained and while it was for a few hours, many families had to endure it for much longer.

“History doesn’t repeat itself because we forget. It repeats itself because apologists like Rep. Covarrubias attempt to convince us these atrocious actions were justified.”

Fukumoto’s situation would not be the last time the Japanese internment camps would be brought into present day discussion. On the same day, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) criticized a Colorado lawmaker who seemed to defend the incarceration of Japanese Americans while discussing a bill that would make Colorado a sanctuary state. The Ralph Carr Freedom Defense Act is a bill in response to President Trump’s suggestion of a Muslim registry. It is named after the Republican Governor of Colorado, Ralph Carr, who was an opponent of Japanese internment camps. The Ralph Carr Freedom Defense Act plans to protect Colorado residents from federal government overreach based on race, ethnicity, national origin, or immigration status. While addressing the state’s General Assembly about the bill, Phil Covarrubias, the Republican State Representative of Colorado, said the Japanese internment was made “in the heat of combat when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and all of that was going on, there’s no time to ask questions and find out who’s a citizen and who’s not.” He continues to say, “I hear people saying that we need to respect other people’s rights, and I agree with that, but what about them respecting our rights and our country and our laws?” He seems to ignore the fact that a majority of Japanese Americans who were forced into camps were actually U.S. citizens.

The CAPAC chair, U.S. Representative Judy Chu, condemned these remarks, saying the internment camps were never justified no matter the circumstance. She also said, “History doesn’t repeat itself because we forget. It repeats itself because apologists like Rep. Covarrubias attempt to convince us these atrocious actions were justified.” While Covarrubias has since claimed he does not condone the internment camps, his rhetoric fosters an us vs. them mentality. Trump’s methods on keeping America safe often brings forth the memory of Japanese internment camps into discussion, which also serves as a lesson from our past. Going forward, the United States must decide if it will learn from the past or be destined to repeat the vicious cycle. Sources: www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/amp/hawaii-republicanleader-rep-beth-fukumoto-officially-resigns-gop-n737341 www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-republican-beth-fukumotoresigns-gop/ www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-fix/wp/2017/03/23/notime-to-ask-questions-colorado-lawmaker-appears-to-defend-use-ofwwii-japanese-internment-camps/ http://twitdoc.com/view.asp?id=361109&sid=7QMT&ext=PDF&l cl=2017-3-22-Resignation-Letter-sf1.pdf&usr=bethfukumoto

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 7

ASIAN OUTLOOK

A reflection on what

Baseball means to me By Airi Kojima

remember sitting in front of

TV when I was younger, cheering for the pinstripe team, the New York Yankees, with my dad and with a glove on my left hand. This was when I was still in first grade. Like most New Yorkers, I’ve always been a huge fan of the Yankees, and I honestly don’t think there will be a time when this will change. My interest in baseball sparked from a mere coincidence of discovering a baseball neatly placed in a glass container on top of the piano many years ago. I can recall this incident like it happened yesterday. I would ask, “Daddy why is a ball in a glass thing?” And he would look down at me and say, “This ball is special. It’s signed by Hideo Nomo, a professional baseball player who played in Japan but is now a pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers.” My dad seemed really happy and proud, but I didn’t quite understand him at the time. It soon made sense when I got older. Ever since that day, baseball became a part of my life. On weekends, other than the times I spent going to the Bronx Zoo, I’d sit next to my dad on the the

small couch and watch baseball. Since I lived in New York, I soon became a big fan of the New York Yankees. As I got older, I started to learn the rules of the game and started to memorize the names of the players. Among the many players, one name stood out, Hideki Matsui. He started his baseball career in Japan, and in 2003, he was traded to join the Yankees. He was spectacular, and learning that he was Japanese made me happy and proud. At that moment, I realized why my dad seemed so happy many years ago. After all the success that Matsui had with the Yankees, I feel like many Japanese players’ dream is to play in Major League Baseball. Of course for some that wasn’t just a dream; it became a reality. To me seeing a Japanese baseball player playing on the field in the U.S. means a lot. Although I am not related in anyway to the player, something about watching a person whose ethnicity is the same as mine makes me feel good. If someone asked me what it meant to see Japanese players play in a foreign country, the answer would be simple — that they give people hope, purpose and unity. In other words, they give us hope and a reason for kids to

chase their dreams. The players give us a purpose to cheer for them and the power to unite with those who want the same thing. Unlike the way one would cheer for a favorite team, something about watching a player succeed in a foreign place empowers me. They make me work hard for my own dream and make me never give up on my dreams. As I’ve said before, baseball has always been a huge part of my life. Although I played softball in middle school and high school, it definitely wasn’t baseball, but it was close enough. From my experience of playing softball for six years, I learned to appreciate any opportunity that I had to be part of the team. I believe the Japanese players who play in the Major League feel the same. Most importantly, I believe that they’re the ones who gave me the strength to persevere at some of the most difficult times of my life. They are the ones that taught me the valuable lesson that the harder you work, the bigger the appreciation for all the work that results in accomplishments. I don’t think there will ever be a time when I will forget this.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 9

he recent rise in popularity of esports only shows the success

and accomplishments of the players, not the struggles they have gone through for years. It may seem like professional esports players are just playing games all day and managing to make money, but the process is much more complicated than that, especially the beginnings of Asian American players. Esports and its structure for professional leagues are similar to traditional sports and its structures. Each game, such as League of Legends (LOL) or Defense of the Ancients (DOTA), has its own professional league, where organizations establish a team to compete. For example, League of Legends requires at least five players to play for the five roles but also requires a coach, analysts, substitutes and other support staff, as well as a gaming house for the players to live in and practice. Some well-established teams even hire sports psychologists or nutritionists for their players to ensure they are always in the best condition possible and attract wellknown sponsors, such as Monster

10 ASIAN OUTLOOK

and Geico. League of Legends has two seasons, the Spring Split and the Summer Split, and each region (Korea, China, North America, Europe and more) holds its own competitions. At the end of the Summer Split, teams at the bottom of the standings compete with Challenger teams or amateur teams who try to win and enter the professional scene. Spots in the League professional scene have dramatically risen in value with people seeing esports as potential investments. For example, co-owners of the NBA team, Sacramento Kings, purchased a spot from the Challenger Team Coast, who won a spot in 2016 North American professional League scene. They established their own brand called NRG Esports and competed before losing their spot. Then after the Summer Split, the World Championship starts. The top teams from each region compete, and only one team is crowned the best team in the world. The most recent Season 6 League of Legends World Championship was held in North America and broadcast internationally in multiple languages.

eSports

Although it may be common and stereotypical to think of Asian Americans as avid video game players, it does not extend to actually pursuing an esport career. Before esports became well-established and complex in structure like traditional sports, you just had to be good enough at the game to be noticed, and you would play with your teammates. Now, with higher stakes, players practice hours each day, discuss strategies with coaches and teammates and generally have higher expectations and larger workloads. Some players, such as former Cloud 9 and current FlyQuest player, Hai, develop wrist problems and even recovered from a collapsed lung and continued to play while he was in the hospital to avoid getting rusty. Hai, whose full name is Hai Du Lam, came from a Vietnamese immigrant family. He struggled at first with traditional game consoles due to lack of English communication skills and could rarely afford to buy them. He dropped out of college after an organization offered him a position on their team and was one of the lucky and hard-working few who

Careers

made it to the professional scene. His brother, Kien Lam, who played games with Hai when they were young but did not pursue a career, wrote an article, “The Hai Road,” about his younger brother. He writes how he believes their parents still do not truly understand what Hai does for a living. Their parents had tried to make them focus on studying, but since they worked so often, it was “hard for them to enforce those rules.” He acknowledges that they were free to play games and pursue unconventional careers due to their parents’ work ethics. Not all players have somewhat supportive parents such as Hai. One of the most successful players in League of Legends, Doublelift, whose real name is Yiliang Peng, was kicked out of the house by his parents at age 18. He had just returned from the Season 1 Championship in 2011 (we are currently in season 7), where his team placed third and received a $10,000 prize. Although he continued to compete and eventually became very successful, winning multiple North American championships,

By Tiffany Tung Doublelift mentioned in a recent interview with Blitz Esports LOL that his relationship with his family still has not improved, with their strained relationship presumably from his decision to continue an esports career instead of focusing on school and pursuing a traditional career. Not completely abandoning school like Hai and Doublelift had, other players struggle with balancing school and an esports career. CaliTrlolz, whose real name is Steven Kim, delayed his education at a pharmacy school for a year to continue competing as a member of Team 8. His team was regulated to compete with a Challenger team, and he stayed on to ensure that his teammates still had a career before leaving for good. They prevailed and continued to compete without CaliTrlolz but once again fell to the bottom of the standings. This time, they lost against the Challenger Team. CaliTrlolz understood that he had a backup plan if he fell out of the professional scene but knew that his teammates did not have the same level of safety, so he delayed his education to help his team.

Pursuing an esports career requires as much, if not more, sacrifice and dedication as any other demanding career that requires moving to a new place, living with strangers, practicing for hours everyday and fighting each year with other people trying to establish their own careers while ending yours. With traditional expectations of Asian Americans to focus on school, some players sacrifice their education, while others sever their family relationships, willingly or not. Sources http://lol.gamepedia.com/NRG_ Esports#Other_Contents http://www.lolesports.com/en_US/articles/ the-hai-road http://lol.gamepedia.com/CaliTrlolz http://lol.gamepedia.com/Doublelift h ttp s : / /w w w. yo u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=xHfv94qojGE&t=1s http://lol.gamepedia.com/Hai

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 11

The Patriotic Education Campaign in China By Mengshu Ye

the 1980s to 1990s, there was a “rapid conversion of China’s popular social movements from the internal-oriented, anti-corruption, and anti-dictatorship democratic movements in the 1980s to the rise of external-oriented, anti-Western nationalism in the 1990s” (Wang 2008). One crucial element that caused this dramatic transformation was the Patriotic Education Campaign. It was 1989, my mom was 18 and my dad was 19. They were protesting with their classmates on the streets of China. The pro-democracy movement was sweeping around the country at the time. People went on to the streets calling for democracy, freedom of press, and freedom of speech. However, the movement ended tragically when military tanks ran into the crowd of protesters in Tiananmen Square on June 4th of that year. The Tiananmen Square Massacre became a defining moment in modern Chinese history and an open wound for my parents’ generation. As the patriotic education generation, the Tiananmen Square Massacre was unheard to me, as well as to most of the younger generation in China. The patriotic education campaign has two main focuses: the reeducation of history and the emphasis of the struggle and hardship of Chinese contemporary history caused by the western powers and the contribution and achievement of Chinese Communist Party. In this process, the Tiananmen Square Massacre was wiped away and faded from the main stream society’s and younger generation’s history memory. After the Tiananmen Square massacre, criticisms from the west were strong; China found itself facing an isolated and ostracized economic and political position in the international society. This unexpected crackdown deeply shook Chinese society; the country was left in shock, uncertain about the future. Many scholars believed that China’s regime would collapse very soon. At this time, Chinese Community Party (CCP) realized, it was a life or death moment. They had to find a way to take action and prevent the collapse of CCP ideology, their government and their country itself. rom

12 ASIAN OUTLOOK

"As the patriotic education generation, the Tiananmen Square

Massacre was unheard to me, as well as to most of the younger generation in China.” As a result, the goal of the Patriotic Education Campaign became to change the image of Western powers and CCP for the younger generation of China (Wang 2008). However, the two focuses created both a “victim narrative” and national pride. It is not surprising that the Patriotic Education Campaign is so strongly related to the nationalism of the young generation in China. In recent years, there are some major international affairs that received huge reactions in Chinese society such as the Senkaku Islands event, the Taiwan issue, and the South China Sea issue. The reaction of these events show a strong sense of national hatred toward other countries. This irrational patriotism had become the common social reaction when it comes to the issue of foreign relationships. The attention to these conflicts damaged Chinese society by promoting hatred and nationalism ideas. After decades of patriotic education campaigning, it became very easy to provoke these emotions largely occupied by public opinion through television, news, and internet. For the younger generation in China especially, who received education from the patriotic education campaign, these international conflicts enhanced their resistant emotions toward other countries and influenced their view of the world. Launched since 1991, over the decades, the Patriotic Education Campaign has proven to be very effective and efficient. After 1989, China successfully overcame the crisis. The leadership of the CCP became stable and the cohesion of the country was strong and powerful. With no sign of stopping, it is certain that the Patriotic Education Campaign will continued to shape the ideology of Chinese people and influence the future of Chinese society.

Source: Wang, Zheng. “National Humiliation, History Education, and the Politics of Historical Memory: Patriotic Education Campaign in China.” International Studies Quarterly 52.4 (2008): 783-806. Web.

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 13

White washing in American media By Alyssa Boyle

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N MARCH 2017, A NETFLIX TRAILER OF THE UPCOMING live-action remake of “Death Note” was released. Although the film is based on a Japanese anime thriller and manga by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, the lead roles in this Netflix remake will mostly cast non-Asian actors. The main character of the original story, Light Yagami, will be played by Nat Wolff, a member of The Naked Brothers Band and the lead in “Paper Towns.” Also, on March 31, 2017, Paramount Studios released the live-action movie “Ghost in the Shell,” a remake of the original 1995 movie based on a 1989 manga by Masamune Shirow. In this new live-action parody, Scarlett Johansson is playing the lead role of Major Motoko Kusanagi. Both of these stories are iconic and famous Japanese mangas remade into live-action films by the American film industry, which is casting predominately Caucasian or otherwise nonAsian actors as lead roles. There is a serious lack of Asian and Asian American representation in Hollywood projects; according to a study released last year conducted by the University of Southern California, Asian actors made up just 5.1% of speaking or named characters across film, television and digital series in 2014. Naturally, this problem could be largely alleviated if Hollywood and the American film industry in general avoided whitewashing people of color out of their own stories. Two Asian Americans, Jes Tom and Chewy May, released a video called “Ghost in the Shell PSA,” which shows the effects of whitewashing these stories. Based on this video, May tells Buzzfeed News that “whitewashing a superhero character tells little girls of color that they cannot be superheroes, and it hurts.” Tom adds,

“Whitewashing Asian people out of stories created for and by and about us makes it hard for other people to see us as full, dimensional people.” Constance Wu, who plays Jessica Huang in “Fresh off the Boat,” wrote about the importance of Asian media representation when Matt Damon was cast as the lead role in the film “The Great Wall”. She said, “Our heroes don’t look like Matt Damon. They look like Malala. Ghandi. Mandela. Your big sister when she stood up for you to those bullies that one time.” Another infamous phenomenon seen on American television much too often is “yellowface,” or non-Asians wearing makeup to make themselves appear more Asian. According to ScreenCrush, Paramount Studios had commissioned screen tests using computer VFX to make several of the movie’s non-Asian actors, including

Johansson, “appear more Asian.” Paramount fired back, saying that “a test was done related to a specific scene for a background actor which was ultimately discarded. Absolutely no visual effects tests were conducted on Scarlett’s character and we have no future plans to do so.” However, ScreenCrush stayed firm, saying, “Despite Paramount’s denial, we stand by the assertion that visual effects were performed on Ms. Johansson’s character and likeness.” All in all, whether or not these tests were performed on a background actor or Johansson herself, they should not have been conducted at all when there is a far simpler alternative. As a tweet posted in Japan had said, “Use an Asian. It’s cheaper.”

Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/entertainment/death-note-whitewashing/ http://io9.gizmodo.com/oh-no-ghost-in-the-shell-considered-using-cgi-to-make-1771222939 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hollywood-yellowface-east-asians_us_55bfaa11e4b0d4f33a0382ad https://www.buzzfeed.com/kassycho/ghost-in-the-shell-psa?utm_term=.stMKp9jbwB#.wmdLpJX40b https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/we-need-to-talk-about-ghost-in-the-shell?utm_term=.hf3p91qgDE#.hp5kJVMPKR

Natt Wolff stars as a Japnese teenage character in Japanese-manga remake “Death Note”

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 15

http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/20/7856467/airbnb-diversity-report-gender-race-interactive-chart

The Ugly Racism Behind Airbnb

By Alicia Kam

2008, Airbnb is one of the world’s fastest growing start-ups. The online hospitality service that allows ordinary people to rent out their space to travelers currently has over 150 million users and has listings located in over 65,000 cities and 191 countries. Simply put, it’s huge. Personally, I’m not surprised that Airbnb has been met with such massive success. As one of Airbnb’s 150 million users, I have used Airbnb on more than ten occasions while traveling and had a great experience about 99 percent of the time. The hosts are friendly, the spaces are great, and the price I pay is absolutely worth every dime. However, not all Airbnb guests find themselves having the time of their lives while using the service. While complaints range from dirty homes to unresponsive hosts, sometimes the issue is much more serious in nature. Let’s go back to January of 2017, the same month Donald J. Trump was officially sworn into office as the President of the United States of America, one of the most diverse countries in the world. Dyne Suh, a 25-year-old law student from California, decided to go on a getaway to a ski resort in Big Bear Lake over President’s Day weekend. She ounded in

16 ASIAN OUTLOOK

planned the trip with her fiancé and used Airbnb to look for an accommodation. Suh settled on a listing, entitled “Tree House Loft and Private Bathroom” located in Running Springs, California. She booked the accommodation and went about the rest of her day. Later on, she messaged the host, Tami, to ask if it would be okay to have two additional guests and two puppies stay at the listing. Tami agreed to the request as long as the guests paid extra. All is well. On February 17, the group of four got ready to leave for what they thought would be a nice trip to a ski resort. In Suh’s words, it was “a welcome break.” While driving up the mountain, a winter storm struck. It snowed and rained, flash-flood warnings were issued, and the roads became dangerous to travel on. Nevertheless, they pushed on. Right before they reached their lodging for the night, Suh messaged Tami. She told the host that they were almost there and inquired about how the extra guests could pay for their stay. That was when Tami turned a whole 180 degrees. The host refused to let the guests stay at the loft and writes, “If you think 4 people and 2 dogs [are] getting a room [for] $50 a night on Big Bear Mountain during the busiest weekend of the year … . You are insanely high.” Suh

protested, explaining that she had screenshots of their conversation that prove Tami agreed to the additional guests. Tami continued to refuse and canceled the reservation, calling Suh a con-artist. As if that wasn’t harsh enough, Tami went on. “I wouldn’t rent to you if you were the last person on Earth…One word says it all. Asian…Want something for nothing.” In disbelief, Suh responded threatening to report her to Airbnb for being racist. Tami was unfazed, telling Suh to “Go ahead. It’s why we have Trump…and I will not allow this country to be told what to do by foreigners.” Left alone shelter-less on a snowy mountain, Suh, her fiancé, and her two friends eventually found a cabin after two grueling hours. On the mountain, they also encountered a news crew from KTLA 5 News, who are on the mountain to cover the ongoing storm. A reporter interviewed Suh as she told her story through sobs. She said to the camera, “I’m an American citizen. This is my home.” Fast forward to April 2017. On KTLA 5’s YouTube channel, the video clip of Suh was released and NBC Los Angeles and KTLA 5 finally reported the story. Viewers and netizens expressed outrage. After the incident, Airbnb refunded Suh and offered to pay for a hotel stay. The company also banned Tami indefinitely from using their service. This story took place a year after Airbnb released a review that concluded that “minorities struggle more than others to book a listing.” Consequently, Airbnb implemented a policy that requires hosts to treat guests with respect. The policy goes on stating “We, believe that no matter who you are, where you are from, or where you travel, you should be able to belong in the Airbnb community.” Despite Airbnb’s efforts to create a respectful environment, experiences such as Suh’s are not isolated occurrences. A quick search online reveals many stories of racism on Airbnb. In 2016, a man named Rohan Gilkes posted a story on Medium, an online publishing platform, recounting his experience with Airbnb. He was traveling to Idaho to visit a friend and requested to book an Airbnb. On his first attempt, the host cancelled his request, explaining that the space was being used. Despite changing his travel dates multiple times, his requests were repeatedly denied, and the host ignored his messages. When Gilke’s white friend requested to book the place on the exact same dates, the host immediately accepted. While the nightmare for Dyne Suh is over, the underlying problem is far from solved. Race relations are as tense as ever in the United States, especially after the election of Trump. As Airbnb continues to struggle with racism, so do millions of Americans. Contrary to Suh’s and Gilkes’ experiences, I’ve always had a wonderful time using Airbnb. It’s efficient, affordable, and reliable. However, if anything even remotely similar happened to me while using the service, I wouldn’t even know how to react. I would probably be angry. No, I would most definitely be angry and pissed beyond belief. But I would also be sad — sad that although this is 2017 and racism should be long gone, it’s not. Instead, racism unfortunately remains a prevalent obstacle and Suh’s story only reveals a small insight into the challenges that minorities continue to face today.

Sources: https://www.airbnb.com/about/about-us https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/04/07/one-word-says-it-all-asianairbnb-host-reportedly-leaves-guest-stranded-because-of-her-race/?utm_term=.28fc39de8344 http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/trump-citing-airbnb-host-banned-refusing-asianamerican-guest-article-1.3032358 https://medium.com/stay-woke/i-read-about-this-phenomenon-of-black-people-being-rejectedon-airbnb-f36dd3ab0375

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 17

The Model Minority

Myth

any have heard of the model minority

myth that seems to apply to Asians, but what exactly does it mean, and where did it come from? Essentially, Asians are the “model minority” that naturally excel at math and science and succeed economically due to their race and culture, which put plenty of emphasis on the importance of a hard work ethic and education. Unlike America’s treatment of other minorities, American society decided not to view Asians as a threat to the country anymore, but as a welcome addition…or so it seemed. The Japanese actually started this shift in view during the 1960s as Americans began to admire and seek anything Japanese. The model minority myth as an actual term first appeared in a newspaper article in 1966, well after legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the racial prerequisite for naturalized citizenship attempted to stop Asian immigration

18 ASIAN OUTLOOK

By Nina Ocampo

to the country. In a country that has historically displayed high levels of racial hostility toward all people not considered “white,” including Asians, what benefit would “praising” Asians have? The 1960s was also the time when the Civil Rights Movement began, with the black community pushing more visibly for political and legal rights than they had before. Other minorities also suffered from injustices; so, why didn’t they leap into the movement together with them? In response to the Civil Rights Movement’s demands for equality on all fronts in American society, the government used Asian immigrants and their descendants as examples of the success of the country’s democratic values. The argument stood that if Asians, as a minority group, could succeed in the system, then its institutions were colorblind and not racist like the Civil Rights Movement claimed. The

stronger motivator, however, was that the USSR used American domestic discrimination of its minority populations as Anti-American propaganda. Including Asians into mainstream American society made the US appear more accepting of others despite continuing racial discrimination against others, such as blacks and Native Americans. American leaders pushed this idea due to the Cold War with the USSR. They knew that the Soviets were using the racial injustices in America as negative propaganda for the Communist agenda, and they needed to justify the US’s resistance to change in any way possible. Meanwhile, the Asian American community embraced this stereotype that marked them in a good way; it was a far cry from the cries of “yellow peril” that targeted them for exclusion in the past. The deliberate placing of one minority above another led to divisions between minorities, as the Asian American community did not wish to risk losing the good name they just earned from American society. The model minority myth also characterized Asians as law abiding and never complaining, which placed them in opposition to Civil Rights Movement members that practiced vocal and civil disobedience. Thus the Civil Rights Movement, which fought for the equal rights of not just blacks, but every other minority by extension, lost a considerable amount of strength and persuasive power. The model minority myth also hurts the people in the Asian American communities themselves. The most basic negative impacts are

to deny the racism that Asian Americans still face and to group them all into one “character.” Just like any other stereotype, the model minority myth lumps all the members of its demographic together into one uniform mass. While stereotypes tend to form from a grain of truth, a wide variety of people fall under the Asian American demographic, ranging from the very wealthy to the dirt poor. By its very definition, the model minority effectively overlooks poor Asians who struggle to get by, since it defines Asians as inherently successful. Another implication of the model minority myth here is that it creates an illusion that Asians have moved from the black side to the white side of the American racial divide, which proves more insidious since it only serves to promote and preserve the unequal divisions in American society. In the end, we need to get rid of the model minority myth and encourage all minorities to cooperate to win lasting social progress against racial discrimination.

Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/11/29/thereal-reason-americans-stopped-spitting-on-asian-americans-andstarted-praising-them/ https://www.education.com/reference/article/unraveling-minoritymyth-asian-students/ https://www.racefiles.com/2014/02/21/the-origins-of-the-asianamerican-model-minority-myth/ http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/10/16/the-effectsof-seeing-asian-americans-as-a-model-minority/model-minorityseems-like-a-compliment-but-it-does-great-harm

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 19

North Korean Missile Tests Puts U.S. on EDGE

By Ava Hunt

North Koreaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued missile tests, Secretary of Defense James Mattis and the Trump administration must decide the next steps for the United States. Although several sanctions were issued by the United Nations to hinder these weapon developments, Kim Jong-un has disregarded these warnings. Furthermore, the Chairman has claimed that North Korea now possesses the technology to launch nuclear attacks on the United States. Although specialists believe that the Republic does not yet have this power, the threat remains an imminent one. While the Trump administration has been exploring military defenses to prepare for this threat, Mattis has stressed diplomacy. Initially, sanctions were issued against 11 North Korean individuals and one company for their association with the nuclear development. These individuals located in China, Cuba, Russia, and Vietnam all had ties to companies n light of

20 ASIAN OUTLOOK

that supported North Korean military defense industries, sales, trading companies, and banks. They were banned from having any business and property with the United States. Despite these sanctions, the nuclear development has continued. As a result, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The policy of strategic patience has ended. We are exploring a new range of security and diplomatic measures. All options are on the table.â&#x20AC;? Although the United States can continue to put forward tougher sanctions, it is likely that the U.S. government will need to take more aggressive action. The United States can proceed with several options: the most effective but riskiest option would be direct military action. The U.S. military can attack strategic targets through special operation raids. However, this move is nothing but provocative towards North Korea. From a more preventative approach, another option

would be to hinder future tests by shooting down any missiles launched into international airspace. With the redirection of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group back towards the Peninsula, the fleet is almost fully equipped to execute this operation if necessary. However, the consequences of its initial arrival are still unforeseen. Any large risk can easily prompt the Republic to release their missiles, which are in close range to numerous major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Seoul, the latter being only 50 miles away from the DMZ. Is it still possible for the United States to amp up the pressure on Kim Jong-un with less risky alternatives? The Trump administration can take an approach on the technology end through electronic warfare, including cyber attacks. Additionally, on the Navy’s side, all water vessels heading towards North Korea can be stopped and stripped of all potentially dangerous supplies. With all of these options, the White House must still take into consideration the position of their allies. After Trump’s recent meeting with China’s President, Xi Jinping, the U.S. president stated that “China has great influence over North Korea. . .and China will either decide to help us with North Korea, or they won’t. And if they do that will be very good for China, and if they don’t it won’t be good for anyone.” Regardless of China’s decision, the United States will go forth with action against North Korea. On the Peninsula, an even more pressing issue still carries much weight: the

impeachment and displacement of Park Geunhye, former South Korean president. The state of the nation is still malleable, as the two leading candidates for presidency hold drastically varied stances. Moon Jae-in proposes to take a more passive and accommodating approach, including consideration of removing the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from the country. Ahn Cheol-soo, on the other hand, intends to take more aggressive and militaristic initiatives on the North. Depending on the outcome of the upcoming election, the U.S. government may have the option to continue relocating more weapons and troops to South Korea. In addition, South Korea may be able to work on developing their nuclear defenses as well. Despite the current dilemma in the Middle East, these nuclear developments have proved to be the most pressing issue for the United States. Any small misstep could easily be the tipping point that sends the North Korean arsenal into effect. Mattis describes their actions of missile developmental testing as “reckless” and claims, “That’s got to be stopped.”

Sources: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-04-01/north-korea-nuclear-ambitions-must-be-stopped:-mattis/8406806 http://www.cnbc.com/2017/03/17/us-policy-of-strategic-patience-with-north-korea-over-tillerson.html http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-year-in-review/analysis-what-will-trump-do-about-north-korea-skim-n698216 https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2017/04/05/us/politics/ap-us-china-us-summit.html http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/9129/does-us-carriers-about-face-in-pacific-signal-impending-northkorea-showdown https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/us-defense-chief-worries-about-reckless-nkoreaactions/2017/03/31/88e21830-1607-11e7-bb16-269934184168_story.html?utm_term=.64f4641f7de5

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 21

Goodbye Uniqlo!? “Due to President Donald Trump’s desire for people to “buy American,” he is pushing for a foreign tax policy on products made outside of the U.S.”

By Benny Louie

United States, and it will probably not be the last international chain store to do so. Due to President Donald Trump’s desire for people to “buy American,” he is pushing for a foreign tax policy on products made outside of the U.S. He claims he is doing this to bring jobs back to the American people, hoping to revive American manufacturing. The issue he is ignoring is how expensive it is to manufacture goods in the U.S. compared to the costs overseas. Consumers don’t care about labels, they only care about prices. If prices begin increasing, consumers will look for cheaper alternatives. Trump’s policy will cause the overall prices of all products, foreign or otherwise, to increase. This will not only raise the price of doing business in the U.S. , but it may also completely push businesses away from the U.S. Business has evolved over the years. Whereas in the past, business was primarily done within a country, it has now grown past country borders and expanded into the global realm. It has been a natural process accompanied by economic growth, technological advances and cultural exchanges. Trump, however, seems to want to move backwards. He wants less globalization and more “defense” against foreign businesses. In doing so, Trump will systematically begin to isolate U.S. business from the world. We live in a new age of progress where the only way to progress is to share with one another. If we begin running into our shells for protection against foreign trade, how can we hope to further advance? Chinese President Xi Jinping recently delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos defending globalization. As he put it, “Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean you cannot escape from.” Yet Trump is trying to do just that. He wants the U.S. to leave the big ocean and retreat back to small ponds. It is impossible to see how that can be beneficial to any economy. It is ironic to see Trump strive for people to “buy American.” Many Americans have roots in foreign niqlo is threatening to leave the

22 ASIAN OUTLOOK

countries. In a way, to be American is also not to be American. The U.S. has been called the “melting pot” of the world, where different cultures from different places around the world assimilate . This only goes to show how globally connected the America’s culture is to the world. By attempting to remove foreign influence on American business, we will essentially remove ourselves from our own roots. This will become particularly apparent when businesses begin to leave the U.S. due to a 35 percent tariff on foreign imports. In the end, the ones that will be harmed the most are the consumers. Tadashi Yanai, chairman and president of Fast Retailing Co. , owner of Uniqlo, said in an interview that if Trump directly told them to manufacture their products in the U.S. , he will forgo business in the U.S. He explains how it is impossible to manufacture quality products at a cost affordable for consumers in the U.S. “If (manufacturing products in the United States) is not a good decision for consumers, it is meaningless to do business in the United States,” he said. If Trump succeeds in implementing his tariff on foreign imports, it is likely Uniqlo and other companies will pull out of America. The biggest issue with issuing a tariff on foreign imports is the possibility of sparking a trade war. In 1930, the Smoot-Hawley Act placed a tariff on all countries that shipped goods to the U.S. It is widely accepted that this made the Great Depression much worse than it could have been. Once the U.S. began placing tariffs on other countries, several countries retaliated by placing tariffs on the U.S. , resulting in economic activity sharply dropping in the United States. Although some claim that Trump’s plan is not the same, one cannot deny their similarities. Defenders of Trump’s ideal explain that the SmootHawley Act placed a tariff on everyone, therefore sparking retaliation from everyone. They argue that Trump’s plan will only tax Mexico and China and therefore, only those two countries will retaliate. While this may be true, it is undeniable that Trump’s plan will inevitably completely

deter doing business in the U.S. If other countries begin to see the U.S. placing tariffs on countries that are simply doing more business in the U.S. than they should be, it will deter them from doing any business in the U.S. at all. Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big claim is that Mexico and China are stealing jobs from the American people. Who knows when he will decide the same goes for other countries as well? Trump is essentially threatening other countries to stay away from the U.S. When the economy is doing poorly, he blames other countries. When there are difficulties in regards to foreign relations, he blames the Obama administration. There is almost no end to the number of people he can pass blame onto.

Sources: http://money.cnn.com/2016/07/07/news/economy/trump-trade-smoot-hawley/?iid=EL http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/31/news/economy/uniqlo-threatens-to-leave-us/index. html?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/17/news/economy/china-xi-jinping-world-economic-forumdavos/?iid=EL http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/13/news/economy/donald-trump-buy-american/index. html?iid=EL http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/06/news/economy/nafta-trump-tariff-jobs/?iid=EL http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/20/news/economy/donald-trump-jobs-wages/?iid=EL

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 23

A The Domination of Korean Chaebols

you

walk

By Brian Kang

24 ASIAN OUTLOOK

along

the

South Korea, several names stand out as you repeatedly pass by them. Lotte, GS, SK, GS, SK, GS…their glowing signs attract a steady stream of customers flowing in and out of the establishments. A few blocks down, you see a massive building complex owned by Samsung. Is it a factory to produce some of their world-renowned smartphones or televisions? Walking further down the block you see a sign that reads ‘Samsung Medical Center.’ Wait…a medical center? From Samsung? Samsung, like several other brand names that have become a staple in Korean consumerism, is what is known as a chaebol. The term ‘chaebol,’ loosely translated means ‘clan’ and ‘wealth.’ Chaebols are very much family affairs. Controlled by one family, these companies literally sprawl across a variety of sectors. From chemical engineering to huge malls, they have a dominating presence in South Korean life. There are 45 chaebols that are recognized in Korea. Of the 45, ten of them lead the pack with operating profits in the billions of US dollars. These mega-conglomerates are: Samsung, LG, SK Group, GS Group, Hyundai, Lotte, Hanwa, Hanjin, Kumho, and Doosan. Combined, they own around 27 percent of South Korea’s business assets, and the top five companies control 55 percent of the nation’s GDP. So how exactly did they become so large? After the Korean War ended in 1953, South Korea was a nation in shambles. Its GDP was at a measly $67, a far cry from the booming GDP of the United States. Poverty stricken and desperate, the nation found a new president that would enact lasting changes that shaped South Korea into the economic powerhouse it is today. In 1961, Park Chung-Hee, the father of the currently impeached President Park Geun-Hye, staged a coup and took control of the government. Within weeks, President Park had streets of

Protests for the arrest of Samsung heir Lee Jae-Yong and impeached President Park Geun-Hye

a solid plan to jumpstart Korea’s dwindling economy and acted on it. To accomplish this, he first had to reach out to the large companies that had already established themselves. He had the leaders of said companies arrested and bargained with them to gain their cooperation. The leaders were soon released and allowed to maintain control of their companies for a price, they would have to work cooperatively with each other and the government in order to complete large projects to advance Korean economy and infrastructure. However, the companies were compensated with government tax cuts and loans. Gradually, the successes of President Park’s reform began to show and the success of the companies was widely celebrated throughout Korea. The continued growth of these companies led to the formation of the chaebols that are present in Korea today. Though chaebols are still credited with rebuilding South Korea and launching it into an age of modernization, popular opinion is beginning to shift against these family-controlled conglomerates. An increasing number of individuals, especially millennials, have grown to become opposed to chaebols. Amusingly, many Korean dramas

portray a corrupt chaebol and their evil deeds that often end in the chaebol being persecuted. Many now believe that chaebols are the only benefactors of programs created to distribute money to ordinary citizens. Additionally, the chaebols’ absolute control of their respective industries makes it difficult for micro-cap or mid-cap companies to find success. Another factor of chaebols that concerns the Korean public is their sheer size. Afraid of a catastrophic failure that could seriously disrupt South Korean economy, the government has been lax in their regulations of chaebols, and often times, chaebol leaders that have been criminally indicted have been released soon after being imprisioned. Their use of wealth and power, often in illegal circumstances, to suppress up-and-coming companies and small businesses has been extensively documented, further adding fuel to the fire of public unrest against chaebols. More recently, the impeachment of President Park Geun-Hye has had a considerable effect, effectively turning the Korean public against the chaebols. During the investigation into Park’s connection with the shaman leader Choi Soon-Sil, prosecutors

found evidence of corruption amongst the leading chaebol families. The heads of the companies were brought in for questioning in relation to the then President Park’s case. The prosecution found that in Samsung’s case, the de facto leader of Samsung, Vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong, had promised Choi $38 million in return for political favors and acceptance of a merger between Samsung and another company. Eventually, Lee was indicted and is currently in prison on trial awaiting charges. Other chaebol leaders are still under investigation by prosecution. Recent events have shattered the public’s perception of a chaebol’s untouchable status and initiated a wave of persecution of the nation’s largest companies. Though some analysts have said that these chaebols are too large to disrupt, the public’s growing unease and dissatisfaction have proven to be a potent factor. As I write this on a Samsung laptop, with my Samsung phone and Samsung tablet next to me, sitting in front of a Samsung TV, I am constantly reminded of Samsung’s increasing global presence. Although chaebols almost certainly will not be dissolved in the near future, doing so would have truly catastrophic consequences, stricter government regulations to curtail the efforts of expansion and monopolization by the chaebols seems more feasible than ever. Resources http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-onbusiness/international-business/asian-pacificbusiness/south-koreas-chaebol-problem/ article24116084/ h tt p : / /c o n t e n t . t i m e . c o m /t i m e /w o r l d / article/0,8599,2054405,00.html https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/world/ asia/lee-jae-yong-samsung.html h t t p s : / / w w w. b l o o m b e r g . c o m / n e w s / articles/2016-10-27/samsung-lotte-and-theproblems-with-chaebols-quicktake-q-a h t t p : / / w w w. b b c . c o m / n e w s / w o r l d asia-37655548 h tt p s : / /w w w. ny t i m e s . c o m /2 0 1 7/0 2 /1 7/ business/south-korea-chaebol-samsung.html https://www.cnet.com/news/the-chaebols-therise-of-south-koreas-mighty-conglomerates/ h ttp : / /w w w. i nve s to p e d i a . c o m /te r m s /c / chaebol-structure.asp

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 25

Myths On Illegal Immigrants Debunked By Justina Liaw

26 ASIAN OUTLOOK

United States of Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great history tells a story of people from many different cultures and backgrounds coming together to build the worldclass country it is today. In the recent presidential election, President Donald Trump emphasized in his campaign that, unlike prior presidents, he would round up and deport undocumented immigrants more aggressively. He has spewed out a lot of false statements when it comes to the topic of illegal immigrants, and in general, illegal immigrants already have a negative connotation and stigma. In order to have a third-person perspective on the idea of immigrants in the U.S. , one must be able to differentiate the truths and lies told about them. he

Undocumented immigrants donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay taxes. According to CNN Money, eight out 11.1 million illegal immigrants were in the workforce in 2014. Out of those eight million, nearly half of them have paid Social Security taxes. Even by simply getting by, immigrants pay taxes every day when they purchase items that have sales tax. Furthermore, one would think that in order to file for state and federal taxes, he or she needs to be documented, but surely enough, all someone needs is an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Undocumented immigrants would not want to avoid paying taxes because first and foremost it is against the law, and if they were ever to be brought to court, it would help their case. Plus, if they are eligible for a refund, they would receive money back, and there would be no questions asked. They take away jobs from Americans. The American economy would not be the same without undocumented workers. If eight million immigrant workers were gotten rid of, the result would not be eight million job openings, but the economy would experience a huge exit of millions of entrepreneurs, consumers, and taxpayers instead. The U.S. workforce acts very harmoniously in that most of the time, the skills of native-born workers and immigrant workers actually complement each other, mutually benefiting each party. In brief, immigrant workers help the successful U.S. economy to go around. They drain the system and collect welfare. This cannot be true because undocumented immigrants do not qualify for welfare, food stamps, etc. Trump would often cite a controversial study that claimed 62 percent of the unauthorized population collected some sort of welfare, but even legal immigrants cannot receive such benefits unless they have been in the U.S. for over five years according to the 1996 welfare law. When it comes to heated topics like illegal immigrants, it is best to find out the facts for yourself. Formulating your own opinions just by what you hear from others is not always the way to go about it. It is easy to follow and hold the same opinion as someone you look up to, but your opinion is only valid when you have proper reasoning behind it. Even after reading this article, I challenge you to go out and research more to find out what the truths and lies are in controversial issues, whether it be about unauthorized immigrants or anything else that peaks your interest. Sources: http://money.cnn.com/2017/04/19/news/economy/undocumented-immigrant-taxes/ http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/20/news/economy/immigration-myths/ http://finance.yahoo.com/news/5-trump-myths-about-illegal-immigration-193622157.html https://www.adl.org/education/resources/fact-sheets/myths-and-facts-about-immigrants-and-immigration

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 27

28 ASIAN OUTLOOK

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 29

“Together” by Angeles Yeung Your mind is powerful It warps and bends So differently from mine It saddens me That it takes you to faraway places From where I stand I can only look on But remember, your soul is stronger I felt it when our souls embraced Although never again I take with me on my travels The sweet memories To which I go back to with melancholy Before, we were flawed Yet joyful The world was gray Yet sunlight streamed through We were okay Even thriving I should have known that we would tumble, Your fall more painful than mine I got back up quickly Now you’re left behind Then our paths diverged Ripped apart, like you were ripped apart I tell myself, One day there will be peace In our minds and in our souls We will be as light as feathers Floating upwards To a happy place Together

30 ASIAN OUTLOOK

Illustration by Airi Kojima April, a 15 year old giraffe gave birth to a healthy boy on April 15th. (Adventure Park Harpursville, NY)

Vol. XXXII, Issue 2 31

Asian Outlook

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