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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016 FREE 34 YEARS YOUR VOICE
TOP CONTRIBUTOR
YEAR OF THE DRAGON
SINGLES’ SURVIVAL GUIDE
Sili Savusa elevating the voices of Pacific Islanders. » see 7
Artist inspired by Bruce Lee, takes on racism. » see 8
How to milk your single status for all its worth. » see 9
COMMUNITY » 2 CALENDAR » 6 ASTROLOGY » 15
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VOL 35 NO 48
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34 YEARS
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Donations to three community groups
Jason Bartlett was the first Filipino-blooded player to win the World Series with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, while Tim Linceum won three with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, 2012, and 2014.
Photo from Delta Air Lines
Photo from The Wing Luke Museum
Delta hosts Asia Appreciation night
From left: Beth Takekawa, Ellen Ferguson, Chris Gregoire, Gary Locke, Helen Kay, and Casey Bui.
Filipino American shortstop lifts Cubs in World Series Addison Russell, the Chicago Cubs’ shortstop, helped his team end a 108-year title drought via a thrilling 8-7 win against the Cleveland Indians on Nov. 2. Born to a Filipino mother, Russell is only the third player with Pinoy heritage to win baseball’s highest prize in recent history. He also made history by becoming the youngest player to hit a grand slam in a World Series game since 1953, when Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle accomplished the same feat. ■
Addison Russell
Bill Gates plays in global online tournament
From left: Delta Air Lines Sales Account Executive Kathy Hu, Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce (GSCCC) member Felicity Wong, Delta Air Lines Specialty Sales Manager Gil Buitrago, GSCCC member Martha Lee, and Delta Air Lines Specialty Sales Manager Gloria Kwon
Delta Air Lines Asia Specialty Sales hosted an appreciation night on Nov. 10 at Palisade Restaurant in Seattle. It was an event in which it brought together its Seattle partners in Asia travel and celebrated its partnership in promoting Delta’s nonstop service from Seattle to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Seoul. Delta Air Lines Vice President, Mike Medeiros, also gave attendees updates on the Delta Seattle hub and SeaTac Airport at the event. ■
Seattle JACL grant
Photo from JACL
Former governors Chris Gregoire and Gary Locke awarded $72,000 to three community organizations — Kin On, Seattle Chinese Garden, and Wing Luke Museum. The funds were a benefit of last year’s visit to Washington by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The donations were contributed by the Washington Host Committee, including 11 corporations, who underwrote the costs of hosting President Xi. Locke and Gregoire reported that all were happy for their hosting to benefit the local Asian American community. The check presentation took place inside the Wing Luke Museum’s Tateuchi Story Theater on Nov. 17. ■
workshop for young leaders in 2017. The grant was a part of a three pronged initiative to raise money for youth activities through a raise-the-paddle effort at annual Chapter Banquet, a direct mail appeal to other past Seattle Chapter presidents, and grant writing. The raise-the paddle brought in $8,000, the direct mail appeal (with an anonymous match) brought in $5,000, and the Chinn grant brought in $5,000 — a total thus far this year of $18,000. Robert Chinn was the founder of United Savings and Loan, the first Asian-owned bank in the United States. ■
Robert Chinn Foundation Board member Peter Tsai, presenting the check to JACL Seattle Chapter President, Sarah Baker.
The Seattle JACL was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Robert Chinn Foundation on Oct. 10 to stage a two-day
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Some of the world’s best bridge players played against each other in a three-day Online Bridge World Cup from Oct. 31–Nov 2. Bill Gates was on the USA-BBO (Bridge Base Online) team, along with Bob Hamman, the world’s all-time top player; Jill Meyers, No. 2 all-time women’s champion; Sharon Osberg, a regular partner of Gates and his bridge pal, Warren Buffett; Fred Gitelman, the founder of BBO; and Sheri Winestock, wife of Gitelman. They played against a number of teams including China’s — which comprised of several political leaders, including Zeng Peiyan, former Vice Premier for Economy and General Secretary of the Asian Economic Forum, as well as Guo Jinlong, former Mayor of Beijing. Before play got under way, team USA-BBO participated in a Skype call with the team in Beijing. ■
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
34 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Charter schools win court victory in lawsuit Nordstrom pulls By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY A King County Superior Court judge granted supporters of charter schools a legal victory in a lawsuit challenging its funding. On Nov. 18, Judge John Chun granted the dismissal of several organizations that brought a lawsuit seeking to challenge a law allowing state funding to Washington state charter schools. The parties, which included El Centro de La Raza, the League of Women Voters, Aerospace Machinists Union DL 751, the Washington Federation of State Employees, Teamsters Joint Council No. 28, and several others, are allowed the opportunity to amend their complaint to plead the taxpayer status of these organizations to prove that they have standing to bring their claims in the lawsuit. “Standing” is a legal requirement needed to show a court that there is sufficient connection to and harm from the law or action challenged to support its participation in the case. The lawsuit will proceed with the remaining plaintiffs whether or not the other dismissed organizations decide to amend the complaint or appeal the court’s decision. “This ruling underscores the political motivations underlying this suit,” said Tom Franta, CEO of the Washington State Charter Schools Association (WA Charters) on Nov. 18. “This lawsuit
Judge Chun wrote in his opinion that the plaintiffs’ theory — that charter schools result in harm to traditional public schools — remains conjectural at this time. He also ruled that it was not made clear how striking down the law funding charter schools would redress the claimed harm.
is an attempt to intimidate and threaten Washington students and families. [The] decision is [a] true win not only for them, but for the thousands of families across our state working to bring opportunity to their communities. It’s time to move on and put the needs of students first, not lobbyists.” Judge Chun wrote in his opinion that the plaintiffs’ theory — that charter schools result in harm to traditional public schools — remains conjectural at this time. He also ruled that it was not made clear how striking down the law funding charter schools would redress the claimed harm. Essentially, plaintiffs cannot prove that the funds going to charter schools would go directly to public schools, or if it would go to another funding obligation. The court also dismissed plaintiffs’ arguments that the law funding charter schools would underfund the state’s obligation to traditional public schools. Chun
believed that the argument was based on speculation and was not “ripe” to bring in the lawsuit. In August, the same court granted 12 families of charter school students the right to intervene in the lawsuit. Included among the 12 are Gahyun “Sunny” Lee whose son, Wonoh, and daughter, Yulan, attend Tacoma’s Destiny Middle School. According to WA Charters, two-thirds of charter schools serve students of color and two-thirds of kids qualify for free or reduced priced meals. Charter schools are run by an appointed board or nonprofit, and are not subject to local voter control. Attorneys for the Washington Education Association, which represents the plaintiffs, did not return a request for comment at press time. ■ Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
Educators honor multilingualism of public school students Seattle Public Schools released its “Speak English AND Your Home Language” video on Nov. 17, honoring the multilingualism of students in Seattle and neighboring districts. The video,
available with subtitles in eight languages, including Chinese, Punjabi, and Vietnamese, was made in collaboration with Highline Public Schools, the Kent School District, and OneAmerica.
The video seeks to provide quality instruction to English language learners (ELL) to close opportunity gaps, and
hoodie depicting Nanjing massacre
By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Nordstrom Rack, a subsidiary of Seattle-based retailer Nordstrom, came under fire earlier this month for selling a hoodie printed with a scene from the infamous Nanjing Massacre. The company has since removed the item, which featured a still image of Japanese soldiers about to behead victims in the 2009 film “City of Life and Death,” which was about the violent episode in late-1930s China. Outraged shoppers posted messages, including “WTF” and “When did Nordstrom (see NORDSTROM on 15)
ACRS offers free hot meal on Thanksgiving Day
(see LANGUAGE on 15)
■ NATIONAL NEWS
Attorney says adoptee from South Korea deported from U.S.
By Andrew Selsky ASSOCIATED PRESS SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man who was adopted from South Korea by Americans when he was 3 years old landed on Nov. 17 in his native country — one that is
Thank you for recycling this paper!
completely unknown to him — after he was deported from the United States, an official and his lawyer said. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had ordered Adam Crapser deported because of criminal convictions, including assault and being a felon in
possession of a weapon. His life story highlights the failings of an adoption system that put him in the homes of one set of parents who abandoned him and another that physically (see CRAPSER on 13)
Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) invites members of the community to attend a free Thanksgiving luncheon at its headquarters in Seattle’s Rainier Valley (3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S.) from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., or until the food runs out. Last year, over 300 individuals and families attended this multicultural celebration, featuring activities and a range of Asian and Pacific Islander foods served by ACRS volunteers and staff. ■
YOUR VOICE
■ WORLD NEWS
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
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Kin gather at Philippine dictator Marcos’ tomb amid protests By Teresa Cerjano ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Family members and followers of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos gathered for a vigil at his tomb on Nov. 19, a day after his secrecyshrouded burial at a heroes’ cemetery triggered widespread protests three decades after the strongman’s ouster.
Marcos’ widow, Imelda, clad in black, thanked supporters and local officials who traveled by bus from Marcos’ northern home province to pay their respects. She said they had given her family strength as they kept the hope for nearly 30 years to have Marcos buried at the country’s Heroes’ Cemetery, which is reserved for former presidents, national artists and soldiers. Thousands of pro-democracy activists who
Dalai Lama preaches in Mongolia, risking China’s fury By Ganbat Namjilsangarav ASSOCIATED PRESS ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia (AP) — The Dalai Lama preached to thousands of Buddhists in Mongolia despite demands from China that the visit by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader be scrapped, at a time Mongolia seeks a critical aid package from its powerful neighbor. The Dalai Lama addressed followers at the Gandantegchenlin monastery on Nov. 19 and spoke about materialism at the start of a four-day visit that Mongolia says is purely religious in nature and won’t include meetings with officials. On Nov. 20, the Dalai Lama was scheduled to chant special sutras at a large sports facility built by Chinese companies through Chinese aid. The trip could have repercussions for land-locked Mongolia’s relationship with China, which protested previous visits by the Dalai Lama by briefly closing its border in 2002 and temporarily canceling flights from Beijing in 2006. China’s Foreign Ministry had demanded that the Dalai Lama’s visit be canceled. Spokesman Geng Shuang said that the Dalai Lama is a “political exile who has long been engaging in splitting China activities in the name of religion with the aim of alienating Tibet from China.’’ Geng appealed to Mongolia to maintain “the general picture of a sound and steady
Thailand’s queen in hospital with high fever, lung infection BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s royal palace says Queen Sirikit is being treated at a hospital for a high fever and lung infection a month after the death of her husband, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sirikit, who has been staying at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital, was transferred to Chulalongkorn Hospital, where specialists succeeded in bringing down the 84-year-old queen’s fever on Nov. 17, the palace said in a statement. It said she was able to “breathe well and eat.’’ It said an X-ray revealed a lung infection for which she was being treated with antibiotics. The queen has been in poor health for years and is known to have suffered a stroke. Bhumibol, the world’s longest-serving monarch, died on Oct. 13 after battling several illnesses for years. The country is observing a one-year mourning period. ■
Mongolian religious figures say the visit could be the last for the 81-year-old spiritual leader, and some of his followers traveled hundreds of miles to see him while braving the coldest November temperatures in a decade.
development of bilateral ties (and) earnestly stick to its commitment on Tibet-related issues.’’ The Dalai Lama has been based in India since fleeing Tibet during an abortive uprising against Chinese The Dalai Lama rule in 1959. His visit comes as Mongolian leaders are seeking a $4.2 billion loan from Beijing to pull the country out of a deep recession. With commodity prices slumping, Mongolia is running out (see DALAI LAMA on 15)
rallied in Manila on Nov. 18 said the decadeslong debate over Marcos’ final resting place was far from over, and they were planning more protests in the days and weeks ahead. President Rodrigo Duterte, who gave the go-ahead for the burial, appealed for calm. “I know Ferdinand will at last be at rest here at the Heroes’ Cemetery,’’ Imelda Marcos (see MARCOS on 12)
Imelda Marcos and her late husband, Ferdinand
asianweekly northwest
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
34 YEARS
■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR NOV 26
HAPPY HOUR FOOD WALK Seattle’s Chinatown International District 3–6 p.m. cidbia.org HOLIDAY POP-UP MARKET Hing Hay Park, 423 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.–6 p.m. shopsmallseattle.com
26 “SHOP SMALL, SHOP ETHNIC” HOLIDAY POP-UP MARKET AND FOOD WALK International District, Seattle 11 a.m.–6 p.m. ethnicseattle.com
27 VENTURING LAO’S MIGHTY MEKONG, ASIAN ARTS AND CULTURE PROGRAM Seattle Art Museum 1–3 p.m. friendsofasianart.org
28 COMMUNITY MEETING ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND UPDATE ON THE DONNIE CHIN MURDER INVESTIGATION Nagomi Teahouse, 519 6th Ave. S. #200,
Seattle 5:30–7:30 p.m. sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7944
29 WORLD CAFE – VIETNAMESE AMERICAN ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Southside Commons, 3518 S Edmunds St, Seattle 5:30–8 p.m. Free, registration encouraged vfaseattle.org/worldcafe
DEC 1
IN-NW DIGITAL INNOVATION SERIES: CREATING A SUCCESSFUL MULTICHANNEL STRATEGY Microsoft Events Center, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, 1301 5th Ave. Ste. 1500, Seattle 12–1:30 p.m. $35–$90 206-389-7278 FIRST THURSDAY FREE ADMISSION TO THE WING LUKE ASIAN MUSEUM The Wing, International District Free wingluke.org FIRST THURSDAY FREE ADMISSION TO THE SEATTLE ART MUSEUM The Seattle Art Museum, downtown Free seattleartmuseum.org
1–4
10 a.m.–3 p.m. 206-323-5250, stpeterseattle.org
KING STREET MAKERS MARKET, GIFT-CENTRIC POP-UP 11 a.m.–7 p.m. Plank & Grain Furnitore Co./Seattle’s International District facebook.com/kingstreetmakersmarket
1–17 NORTHWEST POP UP EXHIBITION, FEATURING ART BY AKIO TAKAMORI AND OTHERS James Harris Gallery 604 2nd Ave., Seattle 206-903-6220 jamesharrisgallery.com
2 TOP CONTRIBUTORS TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY AWARDS DINNER House of Hong Restaurant, Seattle’s Chinatown 6 p.m.–9 p.m. $75–$85 nwasianweekly.com/topcontributors
3 FREE TO FAMILIES: ADMISSION TO SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle Free seattleartmuseum.org/visit/asian-artmuseum MULTICULTURAL HOLIDAY ARTS & CRAFT FAIR St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 1610 S. King St., Seattle
4 CITIZENSHIP WORKSHOP North Seattle College, 9600 College Way N., Seattle 10 a.m.–1 p.m. 206-386-9090, citizenship@seattle.gov
8 CITIZENSHIP JOURNALISM: WHAT MAKES A GOOD STORY? A WORKSHOP 21 Progress, 409 Maynard Ave. S., #202, Seattle $10–$25 brownpapertickets.com/event/2715799 FREE ADMISSION TO SEATTLE ASIAN ART MUSEUM Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle 5–9 p.m. Free seattleartmuseum.org/visit/asian-artmuseum
10 HING HAY ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR Hing Hay Coworks, 409B Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.–5 p.m. facebook.com/events/617623475111609 ASIAN ART MUSEUM COMMUNITY MEETING, ON ITS RENOVATION AND EXPANSION PLANS Seattle Asian Art Museum, Seattle 1–2:30 p.m. facebook.com/events/662945873865378
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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com
YOUR VOICE
■ TOP CONTRIBUTOR
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
asianweekly northwest
A voice for the Pacific Islander community, and her inspiration By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY At a young age, Sili Savusa was exposed to community work through her parents. As a result of a hurricane in Samoa in the 1970s, her parents did a lot of organizing to help with the relief of those affected. Through that work and the ability to help the community, her parents started the first Samoa nonprofit agency. Savusa’s parents arrived in the 1950s from American Samoa to the Puget Sound and was one of the first Pacific Islanders living in the area at the time. Working with her parents and other community leaders in the nonprofit sector was something that Savusa grew up with and she was heavily influenced by it. As a long time White Center resident, she has had a unique life experience that she’s able to bring to her community work. Now she’s the executive director of White Center Community Development Association and she loves the fact that the CDA was created by the community. The organization will celebrate its 15th anniversary next year. “It’s an honor to live and work in the community. Also, 80 percent of our staff live in White Center also. The way we work is very grassroots and nontraditional compared to other community development organizations,” she said.
A trailblazer Not only did she help establish the first ethnic Parent Teacher Association in the nation, specifically for Pacific Islander and Samoan parents, Savusa has also worked with The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond for the past 20 years. As a Pacific Islander, Savusa relies on community partners to help elevate the voices of Pacific Islander families and communities because they’re a small group. She works to bring people together to build and establish relationships with organizations and individuals based on trust. “You can count on Sili to fight for communities of color. She wields her powerful voice to break down institutional silos to alleviate poverty, close opportunity gaps, and build community,” Michael Itti, executive director of the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, said. On the other hand, one of Savusa’s biggest frustrations is that people are afraid to talk about racism and institutionalized racism. “Racism continues to manifest itself through policies and decision-making that happens even in the communities, we need to figure it out. You have to be able to talk about race and how it plays out in our system. Until we get to that place, we’re just going to get stuck in siloes that get created,” she said. In addition, Savusa is a huge advocate for youth voices. “We have to make sure we’re taking care of the community and each other because young people are next to take care of all of us. Sometimes the most important thing I can do as a leader is get out of the way for other folks to come behind and get a sense in the work of community building,” she explained. “I grew up in a house where people believed in me. The kids need to be in schools where people believe in them, not just at home,” she said.
Continuing in her parents’ footsteps “I couldn’t have had better teachers to take
care of my siblings, figuratively and literally,” said Savusa. I remember [my parents’] community efforts growing up, there was always someone in our bedroom sleeping, and my siblings and I used to tease our parents, ‘Why don’t you put up a hotel sign in front of our house?’” She didn’t realize that the impact of her childhood would amount to taking care of others. Savusa is also involved in a lot of education initiatives. She’s a trustee at Highline College, where she often tells the teachers and administrators, “If you don’t believe in the kids that come in through these doors and who are part of the system, then I don’t want you to teach me.” Savusa wants people to teach in communities like White Center and acknowledge and affirm that students of color bring gifts into the classroom. “Education shouldn’t just take place in the four walls of a (see SAVUSA on 15)
Sili Savusa
7
asianweekly northwest
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34 YEARS
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
■ ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Photo from Quinn Russell Brown
Young artists harness the power of Bruce Lee, fights racism through poetry By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Above: Troy Osaki in a still from “Year of the Dragon.” Top-right: Aaron Middleton (left), Osaki, and Quinn Russell Brown (right).
How could you expect me to not hit back? To be a standing target too passive for confrontation? I refuse to be the Asian punching bag every country boy can have his shot at. America only wants me when I’m useful — inexpensive labor, a disposable body.
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As Troy Osaki stepped into the spotlight, a hush fell over the audience. As he started to speak, the tension clenched, started to build. His voice and how he relayed his words, at first moderated and methodic, ramped up in speed, momentum, and emotion, and he said:
Earlier this year in April at the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance’s annual fundraising banquet, Osaki recited his poem, “Year of the Dragon.” In the audience that night was Quinn Russell Brown, 26, digital editor for the University of Washington’s Columns Magazine. Brown had never met Osaki before, but upon seeing that performance, Brown reached out over social media.
“I tweeted him a GIF of Chris Pine crying after seeing John Legend and Common perform ‘Glory’ at the [2015] Oscars. Basically, Troy Osaki had me feeling like this. At the dinner, there was not a dry eye. People were touched by Troy’s poem. I knew it was something special.” Brown asked Osaki if he’d like to team up and create something, then brought in a friend, videographer Aaron Middleton. Together, the three created “Year of the Dragon,” a video performance of Osaki’s poem, about the not-often-told struggle and racism that martial arts legend Bruce Lee faced. The video was filmed in Seattle’s Chinatown/International District, a neighborhood that Lee used to inhabit in his early 20s, the streets of which he used to walk on.
A storyteller Osaki, 23, is a Filipino Japanese American writer and performer. He’s a Kundiman fellow and a Youth Speaks Seattle alumni and mentor. Osaki uses poetry and writing as a tool to reflect and process events in recent history, with a detachment that also feels deeply personal and universal. “Art is a way to change people’s hearts (see OSAKI on 12)
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It is my privilege and honor to serve our community. Thank you AAPI community for your support.
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
YOUR VOICE
■ LIFESTYLE By Stacy Nguyen NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY I’m an Asian American woman in my 30s. True story: I was at a funeral earlier this year and there, I ran into an auntie I hadn’t seen in awhile. After a few minutes of conversation in which she caught me up on her kids and I caught her up on my parents and my life, she pensively stared at me for a long moment. I could see her looking over my clothes, my body, my hair, my face. And then she was like, “Do you have a boyfriend?” I was like, “Ah, no.” And then it looked like her whole world was crushing in on itself. She also looked confused because, apparently, she had decided to herself that I was not so hideous that I couldn’t land some nice, inoffensive engineer dude to share incredible debt with, a dude to apply for a mortgage with. She said, “Why not? I feel so sad for you.” I wanted to be like: Don’t feel sad for me, Auntie. I mean, we’re at a funeral. You should be sad for this guy’s family. The implication that people innocently have made to me about how sad they find my singlestatus used to be something that angered me. But then I learned that you can score a lot of food when people feel sorry for you. And guys, I’m Asian. Sometimes, pride stops mattering so much when you’re getting free stuff.
1
Document, document, document!
I’m of the generation where I like to live life through my phone. I know it’s really irritating and annoying to other people sometimes, but posting consistent social media updates is a great way to keep your presence fresh in people’s minds. A lot of my peers will curate and post pictures that illustrate how fabulous their lives are.
A SINGLE LADY’S
10-STEP FO O L P R O O F
GUIDE
NOT GOING HUNGRY
s y a d i l o H
DURING THE
While that is a smart way to self-market, I like to veer in the other direction. I like to go on Snapchat and post cruddy, badly lit photos of myself scarfing down a cup of instant noodles, alone in the dark, eating over my sink at 1 a.m. I like to caption such photos with stuff like, “This only cost 10 cents! #livinglarge.” The key is striking the right balance between
■ COMMUNITY NEWS
Christmas tree sale event
El Centro de la Raza is selling Christmas trees this holiday season from Nov. 25 through Dec. 20. The trees will be available for purchase on the north side of the building located at 2524 16th Avenue S. in Seattle. “Our Christmas tree sale helps us provide services to those who are most in need in our communities during the holiday season and through the year,” said Executive Director Estela Ortega. El Centro supports 49 human services and community building programs that benefit over 18,600 vulnerable and
FOR
underrepresented people every year. Most of the low-income families served live below the poverty line, and rely heavily on government assistance and emergency services. “By purchasing a Christmas tree from us, King County residents directly contribute to their community,” stated an El Centro news release. ■ For more information, including a detailed list of available trees and how to pre-order, visit elcentrodelaraza.org/ events/event/christmas-tree-sales.
being just pathetic enough, and not going too far where people are like, calling you up and saying, “Hey. Are you okay? Are you going through something?”
2
Never go off-brand.
Sometimes it can’t be helped. Sometimes you do something super cool and you post about this super
asianweekly northwest
9
cool thing on social media. You will get comments flying in about how awesome your life looks. Nip that crap in the bud. Recently, a friend of mine commented on a photo and said I looked pretty. I responded by reminding her that I was still inexplicably husbandless. And I punctuated that comment with sad emojis. Feel free to be creative in that way.
3
Become a master profiler.
You’ve been getting groomed for this your entire life, from the moment you were a little kid playing with rocks in the backyard, and your mom came up to you and listed all of the people she had a vendetta against because of all of these insanely detailed observations she has neatly compiled in her head. Be that person. I like to run through my mental rolodex of friends and family members and categorize them on a spectrum. One end is “nurturing, soft-hearted sweetie.” The other is “MF-er who counts his/her share of the dinner bill down to pennies.” You want to focus your efforts on all the people on the soft end of the spectrum. Start connecting with them. Start sending out text messages to your auntie. Be like, “Been thinking of you! I just wanted to say, ‘Hey’!”
4
Remind everyone who is indebted to you they are indebted to you.
Life goes up and down. Sometimes we are up when others are down. I’ve had friends who’ve experienced a rough run with work and their finances over the years. And I’ve magnanimously taken them out to dinner to listen to them vent and also paid for their meals. I left most of the interactions feeling great (see GUIDE on 13)
asianweekly northwest
10
34 YEARS
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
OPINION
■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG
What you don’t read about cops Protests condemning police brutality in the “Black Lives Matter” movement can easily overshadow the heroism of law enforcement officers. The 15th annual Seattle Police Foundation (SPF) award banquet, aimed to share stories of police officers’ exceptional work, was held on Oct. 28 at Seattle’s Westin Hotel. “What doesn’t make the headlines are how often our officers come across people in need,” said Laura Mathers, SPF president and CEO. “How often they dig into their own pockets to buy a family groceries, diapers, clothes, and even beds for families, so that kids don’t have to sleep on the floor. How often? Every day in our city!” “This event will help boost the morale of officers,” said Kay Godefroy, one of the community members receiving an SPF award for her public safety programs. “It’s a different time for the officers with so much scrutiny,” said Godefroy. “It’s hard for all of them. We can’t stereotype anybody. You can’t paint all the officers with the same brush regarding the protests against the cops. They are trying hard to make the community safer and interact with the community. “It’s time for officers and community members to come together, and [recognize] some of the progressive work they are doing,” said Godefroy. Over 60 law enforcement officers were being recognized for saving lives, going above and beyond, leadership to deploy strategies ending the riot on May Day, dealings with gangs, and many other incidences illustrating their negotiation skills in de-escalating situations of threats to civilians. Some of the award recipients have performed remarkable service. For instance, Officer Jeffery Thompson has the “uncanny ability to record faces and names of everyone he meets (and often dates of birth) in his head. He is so good that it is common for precinct officers and detectives to call on him almost daily to assist with identifications,” according to the program description. There was Detective Rolf Norton’s investigation of a homicide case, which led to the arrest and conviction of the men in connection with a murder. The victim’s widow was grateful for Norton’s work and for how he personally returned her husband’s wedding ring and Bible. In another case, Officers Ryan Beecroft, Jayme Beckon, Wesley Collier, Hudson Kang, and Ken Loux saved the life of a suspect they shot. The man attempted to steal a car, and then drew two knives and came at the responding officer.
Photo credit
By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Gallery of honorees
K9 Officer Mark Wong and his dog Ziva.
Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said the department’s 2016 approval rating is 72 percent, up from last year’s 64 percent.
Jayme Beckon (middle), Hudson Kang (second from right) and other award recipients.
WEEKLY SPECIALS And Officers Tamara Floyd, Nicholas Plemel, Melody Rios, Samuel Specht, Demethra Behn, Quindella Martin, and Mark Wong attempted to save the lives of both the victim and the suspect of a stolen vehicle after the suspect collided with the victim’s car. They did CPR, but the victim didn’t make it. After discovering a dog was pinned underneath the victim, Wong climbed back into the rear of the car, pulled the dog out, and rushed him to a veterinary hospital. But the dog died on the operating table. Even off duty, police officers are never truly off. Such was the case of Sergeant Ann Martin. After witnessing a one-car crash, Martin gave life-saving CPR on the side of a Bellevue road to an unconscious driver, and comforting his 12-year-old son before medics arrived. The driver was released from the hospital three days later. Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole said the department’s 2016 approval rating is 72 percent, up from last year’s 64 percent. “Let’s face it — being a police officer has never been what one would characterize as being easy,” said Mathers. “Our officers are (see BLOG on 14)
November 23-30, 2016
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
YOUR VOICE
asianweekly northwest
11
OPINION
■ EDITORIAL
Thanksgiving every day ’Tis the season to reflect on what we have and how fortunate we are. It has been a surreal past two weeks to say the least. For some, it’s the horror of coming to grips with the soon-to-be President of the United States, actually moving into the White House and running the country. For others, it’s elation and a renewed hope that their lives will improve. I am speaking to the former, rather than the latter. No matter the downward spiral you believe this country is headed toward, there is much to be thankful for. And I, for one, am thankful to be an American citizen and to live in this great country.
My one year practice of appreciation A few years ago, I made it a point, every single day, to write down all the things that were good in my life. And I committed to doing it for one whole year. Not just around Thanksgiving or the holiday season, but every day for 365 days.
I’m a big believer in the saying, “What you focus on expands.”
focus on expands.” Meaning, if you focus on the negative, you will see and experience more negative. Likewise, if you focus and give energy to the positive, you will see and experience more positive.
Meaning, if you focus on the negative, you will see and experience more negative. Likewise, if you focus and give energy to the positive, you will see and experience more positive.
There were several dark days that would make me question my self-worth, God, and whether life was even worth living. Days I dreaded going into work because I would have to see and interact with people. Days when I wished I didn’t have anybody else to care for except myself. But I stuck to my practice and it got me through those depressing days. As a good friend of mine likes to say, “If you don’t have cancer, you don’t have problems!” Okay, it’s not entirely true, but you get the point. Did you wake up this morning? I’m assuming you did since you’re reading this
■ LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Take a breath Yes, life can sometimes suck. You may have trouble making ends meet. You could be battling cancer. These are all serious issues and it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. It can all feel so overwhelming. When this happens, I encourage you to simply stop the soundtrack in your mind and breathe. Quiet the noise and listen to your breath and slow your breathing. Count your breaths. Feel the rise and fall of your chest as your breathe in and out. Listen. Do you hear it? That’s the sound of life. You are alive. You have the gift of another second, minute, hour to share with the world your unique gifts. I urge you to adopt this practice every day and see how much your life changes. ■
… be thankful. Do you have a bed that you sleep in and a roof over your head? Be thankful. Are you free of pain or illness? Be thankful. Do you have a car that runs? Be thankful. Do you not have to worry about where your next meal is coming from? Be thankful. These are just a few of the many things so many of us take for granted when we’re boo-hooing and whining about how much the country sucks for electing Donald Trump, and how life, in general, sucks. I’m a big believer in the saying, “What you
Barber family thank you Editor’s note: This letter was emailed to the Northwest Asian Weekly from Lina Barber Tuia, the sister of Washington State University football player Robert Barber, who was granted a stay of suspension last week and allowed to return to school and football. Some content was edited for brevity It is difficult to express our sincere gratitude and love to YOU all, because we can hardly find the words. We want to say much, but no dictionary or language can truly define how we really feel, yet I will try. We deeply appreciate the numerous support and sacrifices made on behalf of our son/ brother Robert in his fight to be reinstated for school and football. We are humbled and sincerely grateful to our Heavenly Father for giving us loving families, caring friends, and great leaders like YOU. Our hearts are full of emotions, and we want to say that YOU are the greatest blessing in Robert’s life. The outcome of the fight was successful because of YOU … because YOU have helped. YOU have made it easier for our family, as we could not do much from our end but offer endless prayers (fasting) to bless YOU throughout the process. So many organizations and individuals have reached out to Robert in so many ways (we can never imagine), we would like to ‘THANK YOU’ (in no particular order). • “Uncle Jack” Thompson • Sen. Michael Baumgartner and family • Attorney Arne Heeden • Attorney Steven Graham • WSU Football (coaching staff, players) • Joe and Josie Salave’a • Coug Nation (students, professors, staff, alumni) • Asian Pacific Island Coalition • Spiritual Leaders • Rev. Suipi Vaielua (CCCAS, Fort Lewis) • Pastor Naamona Failauga (AOG) • Pastor Vaetoe Enesi (AOG)
• Asst. Pastor Keli Niuamoa • Pastor David Pritchard (Lake City Community Church, Lakewood • Pastor Lina Thompson (Lake Burien Presbyterian Church) • CCCAS Seattle I (First Samoan Congregational Christian Church, Washington) • Asian Counseling and Referral Service • Asian Pacific Cultural Center • Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs • Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs • Governor’s Commission
• YES Foundation of White Center • Samoa Washington Community • Danny Pritchard • Al Failauga • HTC Leota Strickland • Chief Luapo Fa’afetai Koria • Pat Thompson • Ty Tufono • Michael Itti • Ms. Savusa • Fagaitua High School alumni (see BARBER on 13)
Robert Barber
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asianweekly northwest
12
(OSAKI from 8) and minds,” said Osaki, “to change the way they feel and think.” “He has [a poem] called ‘Morning Service,’ about his grandma’s internment, her incarceration [by the U.S. Government during WWII],” said Brown. “It’s a really cool way for him to reflect on American history and retell those [kinds of] stories, but he also uses them to understand his own experiences — which is like a great way to educate people who are watching the videos. For lack of a better way, teaching history can be cheesy. A lot of the time when people tell you history, it’s either boring or cheesy. Troy tells history in a really present way.” Osaki is also a full-time law school student at Seattle University and a volunteer intern at Creative Justice, an arts-based program for court-involved youth to develop creative skills, gain mentorship, and obtain court-related benefits.
The Little Dragon One of the most influential martial artist in the 20th century was born in 1940, in San Francisco’s Chinatown. Bruce Lee spent his formative years in Hong Kong, where he trained in martial arts and was introduced to the film industry. Lee’s father, Lee Hoi-Chuen, was a Cantonese opera star, and due to the family connection, Bruce Lee had starred in 20 films before age 18. In 1959, Lee moved back to the United States to finish high school and worked at Ruby Chow’s restaurant in Seattle’s Chinatown. In 1961, he enrolled at the University of Washington. A martial arts exhibition in Long Beach led to an audition for the role of Kato in the TV series “The Green Hornet.” The show lasted for only one season (1966–1967). Following that were small stints and side characters. While a racial pioneer — Lee was an Asian man in popular culture at the time who wasn’t depicted as an asexual Asian clown — Lee still suffered from the latent racism in Hollywood. According to various accounts, including from Lee and from his wife, Linda Lee Caldwell, Lee
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
had trouble gaining meaty roles in Hollywood because of his ethnicity and because of his thick accent when speaking English. “For a lot of immigrants and Asian Americans, Bruce was a very powerful symbol and role model. But I think beyond that, a lot of people can also relate to being locked out of storytelling or to being not represented,” said Brown. “Of course, I’m not the person who can do that. (Brown is white.) That’s why I wanted to collaborate with Troy. And it’s my way of contributing, to facilitate [someone else’s vision].”
A new direction Osaki grew up watching Bruce Lee movies, training in martial arts, and listening to his parents tell stories about Taky Kimura, whom they trained under. Kimura was a Japanese American martial artist and one of Lee’s closest friends and top students. When he was younger, Osaki used to want to be a rock star. “I’m serious,” he said. “I liked Blink-182 a lot. But I was just not musically gifted — I couldn’t hold rhythm. My tone is totally bad. I couldn’t really sing. But I was writing lyrics all the time — I never considered them poems — but they were really poems.” His ear for the rhythm of cadence of words was cultivated by school teachers. Osaki started YouTubing a lot and then joined the college audition circuit. Between 2012 and 2015, Osaki competed at national events, such as Brave New Voices, the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational, and the National Poetry Slam. Osaki wrote “Year of the Dragon” in the summer of 2015. It took him a month and a half — longer than usual. It was also a turning point in his creative path. ‘Year of the Dragon’ is what Osaki calls a persona poem, one in which he talks on the personality and the identity of his subject — something he has never done before in his work. “Being able to take on [the persona of] Bruce Lee made me feel in ways that I don’t feel when I’m just myself,” said Osaki. “As like a man of color, as an Asian American male — I feel a lot of doubt. I
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feel — a lot of times — that I’m too quiet and I’m not taking up a lot of space. Not that men should take up more space, but I mean — people of color should.” “I’ve felt, in a lot of moments of my life, that I was invisible,” added Osaki. “I felt I wasn’t taken seriously because of my background. Bruce Lee challenges the notion of who Asian Americans folks are supposed to be. [We are not] powerless, voiceless, or easily exploitable. We’re not cheap labor, model minorities, [or a device] to pit people of color against one another. Bruce Lee for me was [a symbol] I could look up to, to challenge those systems of oppression.”
Universal struggle Months ago, Brown reached out to Middleton, a long-time collaborator — one he met when they were both students at the University of Washington’s Bothell campus. Brown asked Middleton if he was interested in a creative project involving a poet that he had met not too long ago. “Aaron decided to do the piece without reading it first,” Brown cracked. “He got there and he said, ‘Okay, so let me read it.’” During the interview, Brown looked at Middleton across a table, at a Capitol Hill cafe. “It just shows how game you are, to just show up and work with a guy you’ve never met and just create.” Middleton, 31, is West Indian, born in New York City to parents originally from the Virgin Islands. He was quieter than Osaki and Brown, preferring to sit back and listen, rather than talk. He is currently in a master’s program at the Academy of Art University. “I think this poem is not just about Bruce and his struggle and the Asian American struggle in media,” said Brown. “It also speaks to all people of color’s struggles in media. It’s so universal.” “Honestly, there are so many connections,” said Middleton. “It’s definitely wide-sweeping. When you look at minorities today, it affects everyone. There is difficulty breaking into everything.” “Word,” said Osaki.
34 YEARS Push back
(MARCOS from 5)
Osaki, Brown, and Middleton’s video, “Year of the Dragon,” was uploaded onto social media channels about three months ago at 9 a.m. Osaki was heading into work. “I work at a small law firm in the ID,” Osaki said. “We focus on dependency law, children and parents, trying to keep the family together or trying to reunite families when the state is trying to tear them apart.” At around 9:30, a white man stopped Osaki on the street. A short exchanged followed. “And he basically told me he was surprised I knew how to speak English,” said Osaki. “It was weird — it felt like too coincidental — to have uploaded the video, then to have this encounter. And the thing is these encounters aren’t unusual. I can name other times, like when someone has bowed to me on the street.” “White people never disappoint,” said Brown. “A lot of the time, I feel really defeated in those moments,” said Osaki. “And a lot of times, I don’t said anything back. I let it slide by. It’s something I want to change [about myself]. And I look up to Bruce Lee. He doesn’t let folks defeat him like that. It’s important to challenge racism and oppression to let people know it’s not okay.” “This is incumbent upon everyone,” said Brown. “I think I was just lucky enough that the right people taught me, and I made the right friends — like Aaron. … It’s like, once you learn these things [about systemic racism], you can’t forget them. [‘Year of the Dragon’] is such an eloquent description of an ill in the world that Troy gives you. It’s up to you to accept that reality or continue to live in delusion.” “There’s a line in the poem: How do you expect me to not push back?” said Osaki. “That’s my ask [for people of color]. To push back.” ■
said in front of a black tomb surrounded by wreaths of white flowers. “But I know we still have a lot of criticisms to face.’’ Her daughter, Ilocos Norte provincial Gov. Imee Marcos, and son Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos Jr. also thanked supporters and apologized for keeping the burial secret. The burial threatens to open old wounds in the Philippines, where Marcos’ 20-year iron-fist rule was marked by massive human rights violations and corruption. He was ousted in “people power’’ street protests in 1986 that sent him and his family into exile in Hawaii, where he died three years later. Vice President Leni Robredo, who ran in May elections under Duterte’s rival party, questioned why the burial was carried out even before a Supreme Court decision allowing it has become final. “We are alarmed by the brazenness of its execution,’’ she said in a speech. “Hidden wealth, hidden human rights abuses, and now a hidden burial with complete disrespect for the rule of law.’’ Bonifacio Ilagan, a left-wing activist who was detained and tortured during Marcos’ rule, said the dictator was buried “like a thief in the night.’’ “This is so Marcos style. I want to rush to the cemetery to protest this. I feel so enraged,” Ilagan told The Associated Press. A lawmaker considered asking the Supreme Court to exhume the newly buried Marcos. But Duterte, who is attending an Asia-Pacific summit in Lima, Peru, said through his spokesman that “hopefully both sides will exercise maximum tolerance and come to terms with the burial.’’ The powerful Marcos family has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, and after returning from U.S. exile in 1991, Imelda Marcos and two of her children eventually ran for public office and won stunning political comebacks. In 1993, Marcos’ body was taken to his hometown in Ilocos Norte, where it was displayed in a glass coffin and became a tourist attraction. But his family fought for his remains to be transferred to the Heroes’ Cemetery. Duterte backed Marcos’ burial, saying it was his right as a president and soldier. ■
Follow Troy Osaki at troyosaki. tumblr.com. Watch “Year of the Dragon” on Vimeo at bit.do/ dragonosaki. Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.
KING COUNTY — NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received for #C01089C16, West Point Treatment Plant Intermediate & Effluent Pump Station Variable Speed Drive Replacement; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 1:30 PM on Tuesday December 20, 2016. Late bids will not be accepted. Brief Scope: Replace seven medium voltage variable speed drives (VSD) and motor vibration monitoring equipment. Provide new or extended housekeeping pads to accommodate the footprints of the new VSDs and cabling as required.
Estimated contract price: $3,900,000 Mandatory Pre-Bids: Tuesday November 29th, 2016 at 1pm or November 30th, 2016 at 10am, at 1400 Discovery Park BLVD, Seattle, Washington 98199. There is a 5% minimum Apprentice Utilization Requirement on this contract. Complete Invitation to Bid Documents, including all project details, specifications, and contact information are available on our web page at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/ procurement_ovr/default.aspx
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
YOUR VOICE (GUIDE from 9) about myself and my value as a friend. I told myself I reached out to my buddies because they were sad. I didn’t reach out because I knew I was going to cash in one day. But I can! And I will! And you can, too! Subtlety is key. Say stuff like, “Hey, I’m so proud of how far you’ve come! Remember back in the day when you were so torn up about work, and I took you out to dinner and paid for that steak you ate and also a glass of wine? Man, how far you’ve come!”
5
Remind your elders that you exist and that you are hungry.
It’s pretty much impossible to pay for an Asian American elder’s meal. Once, I forced my credit card onto a Claim Jumper server and took the bill away from my dad. And honestly, our relationship has not fully recovered from that. What I do is that I tell a [soft-hearted] elder that I have been thinking of them and I would love to grab dinner or lunch to catch up. Typically, this elder is just so flattered that I have thought of them, in the midst of my busy and hip and happening life — and they probably say among themselves that my parents must have raised me right. So off to lunch we go! And you know, remember to always reach for the check after lunch, when it comes. It makes people feel good about you.
6
Don’t forget! Someone who is one year older than you, or whose parents have a higher familial status than yours is an elder! You probably are assuming you have to reach out to people who are your parents’ ages or older. I’m here to tell you that you don’t. The key here is that the person that you reach out to should be fairly traditional. (This is where your master profiling skills come in handy.) I’ve personally had a lot of success with dudes who were born in another country or older female cousins who like to cook and host karaoke parties. Cast a wide net. Take risks!
7
Go to networking events
Look, I’ve organized these types of events. And I’ve attended a countless number of them. One of the foremost concerns is having enough snacks or food for people because we know that’s part of how you draw people through the door. There is always an excess amount of snacks. If I know there’s an event I need to hit
up after work, I don’t eat dinner. Because I know that the spread of crackers, dip, and crudites I’m going to destroy is my dinner.
8
Kill that sense of shame within yourself. Then, invite yourself to all of the dinner parties.
9
Take leftovers when you leave people’s houses.
It’s actually incredible how easy this actually is. The greatest obstacle in this is yourself. The greatest obstacle is your self-doubt. I’m here to tell you that you deserve these free meals. Please repeat this to yourself over and over in a mantra until it sinks in and becomes a permanent part of your self-narrative. There are so many ways to do this. It will take experimenting, but find the ways that feel authentic to you. Here are some of my go-to conversation starters: “Hey, I saw that lasagna photo that you posted on Instagram! You made that? Wow! That looks amazing! You are so amazing! Will you make that for me?” “Hey, it would be really fun if the crew got together and had a dinner party before the holidays. It’s been awhile, right? I miss those guys. Hey, will you host?” “Dude. I’m tired and overextended and I haven’t been able to properly feed myself. Will you feed me?”
The general sense I get is that a lot of people generally love to cook and they love to host — but so many of us are health conscious and worry about food waste. We all worry about eating too much as we all simultaneously worry about food going bad over time. That’s why it’s a Nguyen-Nguyen situation, whenever I start loading up plastic containers with the food at the end of meals. My hosts are over the moon that the food they lovingly obsessed over is going to a good home, and I’m happy that I have tomorrow’s breakfast and tomorrow’s lunch. Maybe also tomorrow’s dinner.
10
Leave places imbuing people with the sense that this is all going to happen again.
I like to make my parting announcement sound like a vague threat, as well as a compliment. “This was really fun, and the food was so amazing! Let’s do it again, please! I’ll reach out to you after the holidays to see what your schedule is like, okay?” ■ Stacy Nguyen can be reached at stacy@nwasianweekly.com.
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(CRAPSER from 4) abused him and other adopted children, his Seattle attorney, Lori Walls, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. ICE spokeswoman Rose Richeson told AP in an email that the 41-year-old Crapser arrived in Seoul, South Korea, on the morning of Nov. 17 aboard a commercial airline flight escorted by ICE deportation officers. Richeson said Crapser was arrested by ICE on Feb. 8 after serving a 60-day sentence for menacing constituting domestic violence and attempted coercion. He had been held in an immigration detention center in Tacoma, Wash. since then. A judge could have allowed Crapser to stay in America but decided on deportation. Crapser’s supporters said he waived an appeal because he couldn’t stand to stay in the detention center any longer. Walls said she is astonished that the fact that Crapser “was adopted, abandoned and abused ... carried relatively little weight in the decision that the immigration court made.’’ “The U.S. government facilitated the adoption out of Korea,’’ she said. “No one followed up to make sure he was safe. When that first family abandoned him to foster care he was not visible — there was no follow-up.’’ No one ever sought U.S. citizenship for him. He and his older sister were adopted by a family who lived in Michigan and who later abandoned them after they moved to Oregon, Walls said. Brother and sister were split up. Crapser (BARBER from 11) We’ve received countless support via social media and phone calls. Please forgive us for we have failed to mention so many names as I tried so hard to keep up with YOU. We seek our Heavenly Father’s blessings upon each and every one of YOU as our family cannot repay YOU for all the sacrifices and services rendered for Robert
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was eventually adopted by parents in Oregon who assaulted him and other children in their care. His adoptive parents were convicted of multiple crimes. Crapser eventually left the home and was arrested after he broke in to retrieve some of his belongings from his orphanage in South Korea, Walls said. Crapser later got into further trouble with the law. He came under the scrutiny of federal immigration authorities after he applied for a Green Card and they saw his criminal record. “I’m hopeful Adam figures out how to make a life in that country, where he doesn’t speak the language read the language or know anything about the culture,’’ Walls said. His birth mother in South Korea, who had put her son and daughter up for adoption because she couldn’t afford to keep him, is learning English so she can communicate with him when they’re reunited, The New York Times reported recently. “His birth mother, because of publicity in South Korea, came forward,’’ Walls said, adding that a DNA test proved the relationship. Walls noted that the mother is disabled, has a low income “and can’t be much help for him.’’ “I spoke with Adam a couple of days ago,’’ Walls said. “He was trying to stay positive, but I mean it was clear talking to him that he was scared. He’s going to a country where he can’t even read the street signs.’’ Walls said there might be legal remedies for Crapser to return to the U.S. but that it would be “an uphill battle.” ■ (even if it cost you your job or reputation). On behalf of our mother and family, from the depths of our souls, we leave with YOU our love and gratitude. In our beautiful Samoan language, we proudly say “Fa’afetai Tele, O La Outou Pule Lea!” GO COUGS! ■ — Barber Family
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EMPLOYMENT
Outdoor Research is hiring experienced fulltime sewing operators, especially Flatseam, Coverstitch, and Single needle machine operators. This position will be eligible for medical insurance and paid vacation benefits. Day and night shifts. Please come apply in person at 2203 1st Ave S. Seattle, WA 98134 or fax resume to 206467-0374 or email jobs@orgear.com
NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
EMPLOYMENT
Looking for server. Tokyo Japanese Restaurant. P/T or F/T. Max Kang. 425-351-0539 tokyojr@hotmail.com
Associate Planner/GIS Analyst PSRC is seeking an Associate Planner/GIS Analyst position for the Growth Management Planning Department. Please see our job announcement at www.psrc.org. PSRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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34 YEARS
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KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON NOTICE TO BIDDERS Sealed bids will be received by the King County Procurement Services Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 2:00 PM of bid opening date for the following listed bids. To download a document, go to our web page at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/procurement. King County encourages minority business enterprise participation. King County does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and employment opportunities 1420-16-JDH OPENS: 12/08/2016 Printing and Mailing of Jury Summonses, Notices of Hearings and Related Items for District Court 1431-16-PLR OPENS: 12/08/2016 Tarps, Vinyl and Canvas and Related Items 1448-16-RLR Ammunition
OPENS: 12/08/2016
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SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.
(BLOG from 10) called to do things every day that put them in proximity of dangerous situations and dangerous people. They are the people we call when we are most vulnerable and in need of help. They run towards danger to serve their community. And they stand for everything that is good in our community and all that is good in each of us. Honor, integrity, safety, a helping hand.” SPF board chair Mark Pinkowski said the event “has been a visible sign of support, for the women and men of the Seattle Police Department.” More than 860 people attended the banquet. Mathers said the officers enjoyed the event — “an awesome
event capped off with a chance to stay and celebrate. One of the signs of a successful event is when the formal program is over….. to still have several hundred people in the ballroom visiting with each other and enjoying each other’s company.” The amount of funds raised has not been announced. Mathers said under O’Toole’s leadership, the money raised will be used on connecting with the community and professional development for officers in community partnerships-programs, employee advanced training, and cutting-edge and specialized technology and equipment. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
YOUR VOICE
■ ASTROLOGY
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Predictions and advice for the week of November 26–December 2 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Striking a balance between what you want and need to do can be difficult. A few adjustments will be necessary to find a combination that works.
Dragon — There are many pieces in play right now. You are in control of the next move, so proceed cautiously.
Monkey — Gliding in at the last minute, you arrive just in time. Settle in as soon as you can, for there is much to be done.
Ox — Someone is waiting for you to set the wheels in motion. Don’t start down the road until you are ready to go.
Snake — Resist the inclination to tinker with too many things at once. A well-considered, targeted approach should prove to be more fruitful.
Rooster — While it may not be exactly what you had in mind, it is definitely a vast improvement over what was there before.
Tiger — A pause in the action is the perfect time to assess where to go next. When you resume, the pace is likely to pick up.
Horse — Although the surface may appear still, there is much activity underneath. Be ready to react quickly.
Dog — Charting a new path can prove to be quite an invigorating process, especially if it is outside your comfort zone.
Rabbit — Have you overlooked some details in an effort to focus on a big project? Now that the latter is complete, it is time to address the former.
Goat — A bit of reshuffling could leave you with an interesting arrangement. Whether or not you approve, it will probably be temporary.
Pig — A small spark could turn into something much bigger. It all depends on how much energy you devote to it.
What’s your animal sign? Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007
*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.
(LANGUAGE from 4) illustrate the value of multilingualism for families and society. In the classroom, this means recognizing a student’s home language as an asset to learning. Parents should be encouraged to support their children to read or speak in their home language first in order to build upon the competencies they already possess. “[This] reaffirms for students the value of their home language [and] builds confidence which aids educational achievement,” said
(SAVUSA from 7) classroom. Kids are even more successful when the education system partners with the community in a real way that impacts the way education reform should happen,” she explained. Savusa makes sure her daughters and son don’t forget where they came from, even if they don’t speak the native language perfectly. “These basic things that we value as people of color, letting kids hold on to who they are and not to let anyone take that away from them. Our dreams are valid and you need to
Veronica Gallardo, director of ELL and International Services at Seattle Public Schools. The Seattle School District serves 6,450 English language learners who contribute 108 languages to the total of 143 spoken by families across the district. The Kent School District is home to over 5,300 English language learners representing 93 of the 138 languages spoken district-wide. Highline Public Schools serves nearly 5,500 English language learners speaking 93 different languages. ■
surround yourself with people to help you make sure your dreams are still intact. That’s what I would want for any child, to help the younger people not lose sight of what’s important — which is how you take care of each other in the long run.” ■ Sili Savusa will be honored on Dec. 2 at the Northwest Asian Weekly’s annual Top Contributors Awards Dinner, held at the House of Hong Restaurant in Chinatown. Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
TEAM DRIVERS WANTED
(NORDSTROM from 4) hire a Nazi designer?” on Nordstrom’s Facebook page, demanding apologies and asking for the company to take down the article. “We have removed this item from our site and updated our process, so that this type of item isn’t offered in the future,” the company said in response to an angry post on its Facebook page. Emblazoned across the back of a black hoodie, the still shot shows a scene from the movie with added flourishes, such as red bars across the eyes of the victims and soldiers and the message “Why indifference?” scribbled across the top of the image. In the foreground, a woman has been superimposed sitting
(DALAI LAMA from 5) of hard currency to repay foreign debts and is seeking help from a neighbor that accounts for roughly 90 percent of its exports. Mongolian Buddhism is closely tied to Tibet’s strain and many in the heavily Buddhist country revere the Dalai Lama, who made his first visit in 1979. Mongolian religious figures say the visit could be the last for the 81-yearold spiritual leader, and some of his followers traveled hundreds of miles to see him while braving the coldest November temperatures in a decade.
on a bench, staring into the distance indifferently. “Nordstrom, please take down this disgusting cloth,” one Facebook user wrote. In response to yet another indignant message demanding an explanation, Nordstrom offered “our sincerest apologies for the disappointment.” The Nordstrom Rack website offered it for sale under the label “Happiness” by Andrea Hoodie. The Nanjing Massacre, often called the “Rape of Nanjing,” refers to the mass murder and rape committed by Japanese troops after the fall of the Chinese city of Nanjing in 1937. China says 300,000 people died in a six-week spree of killing, rape, and destruction after the Japanese military entered Nanjing. ■
Daritseren, an ethnic Mongolian from Russian Siberia, said she heard only the day before that the Dalai Lama was visiting and traveled with 40 other people for 15 hours overnight to make it just in time for the sermon. Boldbaatar, a 75-year-old herder, said he rushed from 125 miles away. “I’m an old man,’’ he said. “Maybe I’m seeing His Holiness, the incarnation of Lord Buddha, for the last time.’’ Religious scholars said the Dalai Lama is expected to offer input on the search for the 10th reincarnation of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu, a top-ranked lama in Buddhism. ■
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NOVEMBER 26 – DECEMBER 2, 2016
34 YEARS