VOL 33 NO 28 | JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN?

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VOL 33 NO 28

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN AMERICAN? As the member of Congress representing the 9th Congressional District, to be an American means that we live in a nation that is built upon the founding ideals of equality, freedom and democracy. It means we hold true the values my parents taught me — integrity, hard work, and respect for your community.

— Adam Smith U.S. Congressman Representing Washington’s 9th District

You can be, do, or have literally anything you can dream of, and no one can say you can't do it.

— Thach Nguyen CEO & Founder Thach Real Estate Group

“To be an American” means having the opportunities, freedom, and social support to live the way you dream. There is a huge difference between an “American Dream” and “Chinese dream.”

American dream means quality of living, but it still takes the hard work, dedication, and ‘American Spirit’ to realize it.

— Ben Zhang President & CEO Greater China Industries

Live and learn how to be respectful in a multicultural, open minded, and free-spirited environment.

— Ming Zhang President MulvannyG2 Architecture

It enriched my life in a free and diverse society that allowed me to choose whatever dreams I had and to feel proud of my individual identity.

— Martha Lee President The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce

On July 4, I would like Americans to remember that freedom is not free. Many people have died for it. Someone has paid for it. Many have sacrificed for it. There are people still suffering from the Korean War, lying in hospitals. We have to remember and honor our veterans.

— Buwon Brown Community Volunteer

This ad was sponsored by the men and women in our community.

Being an American has given me the opportunity to pursue life and happiness to the fullest.

America means opportunities. If you work hard, rewards and opportunities will come to you. Look at Washington State Supreme Court Justice Yu and Rep. Cindy Ryu. That's what America is about. I am proud of them and proud to be a Korean American.

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

■ community news Murray addresses crime concerns Mayor Ed Murray called for an ethnic media press conference to introduce Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O’Toole at City Hall on June 25. However, Murray later cancelled O’Toole’s participation “due to a last minute schedule change” two hours before the conference was to begin.

Instead, Murray spoke and took questions about public safety.

About a dozen reporters showed up from various media outlets, including the North American Post, Northwest Asian Weekly, AATV, International Examiner, Northwest Vietnamese News, and others.

“Public safety is more than just about police reform,” Murray stated. Public safety, he said, is also about dealing with homelessness, building trust between police and communities, having appropriate social services in place, and having parks and recreation centers offer programs, particularly to the youth.

“We suggested a number of plans we’re going to develop by neighborhood…[for] public safety,” Murray said. Chief O’Toole will be leading the effort in setting up these plans.

Both Chinatown and the Central District have asked for cameras in their neighborhoods for security reasons, which

Photo by Daniel Ramirez

Esther Kia’aina is on tap for top island leadership role The U.S. Senate on June 26 confirmed Esther Puakela Kia’aina as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas.

Born in Guam to Hawaiian Native Kia’aina parents, has strong connections to Pacific islands and extensive experience on Capitol Hill, said Secretary of the Interior Esther Puakela Kia’aina Sally Jewell.

“Esther will bring considerable expertise to the issues facing the U.S. territories and the freely associated states, and I am pleased the Senate has voted to confirm her to this important leadership post at the Interior Department,” said Jewel. Kia’aina currently serves as the first deputy director of the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Prior to her current position, Kia’aina served as chief advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, which seeks to improve the conditions of Native Hawaiians.

In 2009, President Obama re-established the position of Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas for the first time since 1995.

In 2010, Obama also re-established the Interagency Group on Insular Areas (IGIA), which includes representatives from key federal departments and agencies, consults regularly with Insular leaders, develops initiatives that address territorial needs, and makes recommendations to the president for improving federal policies concerning Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. 

Photo by Daria Kroupoderova

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly

Reporters Andrea Hu and James Tabafunda listen to Mayor Murray talk about public safety.

is something Murray said he wants to explore once it is figured out if cameras would infringe upon people’s privacy.

Murray also mentioned doing “safety walks” with police and council members throughout Chinatown to identify where problems are.

“Compared to most large cities...Seattle doesn’t have the worst crime statistics in the nation,” Murray said.

There have been several recent shootings in Seattle, including in the Central District on June 1, Seattle Pacific University on June 5, and two in the International District, on June 7 and June 22.

Plans for “community policing” is one of the top priorities for Murray. Getting the police officers out of cars and getting to know people in the neighborhoods is one step toward public safety, he said. Other

plans include expanding the community center hours and teen youth programs.

Murray also said that Seattle would not work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

“Our police are not going to be involved in helping the federal government…[and] will not be used to arrest anybody simply because of their legal status,” Murray said.

As for O’Toole and her ability to lead the police department, Murray has full confidence.

In response to Councilmember Kshama Sawant’s doubts about O’Toole, Murray said, “I couldn’t disagree more...I think she (O’Toole) has exactly what it takes to be chief of police.”

The mayor said that Police Chief O’Toole’s introduction to the ethnic media will be rescheduled in the following weeks.  Daria Kroupoderova can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

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■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 6/12 WHAT: Neighborhood cookery celebration WHERE: Danny Woo Community Garden, 620 S. Main St., Seattle WHEN: 4 ¬ 7:30 p.m.

INFO: tim@interimicda.org

SAT 6/14 WHAT: Guzheng Music in the Seattle Chinese Garden with recital by Shirley Wang and students of Seattle Guzheng Studio WHERE: Seattle Chinese Garden, 6000 16th Ave. S.W., Seattle (north entrance to South Seattle College) WHEN: 4:30 p.m.

COST: $5 suggested donation INFO: 206-934-5219, info@ seattlechinesegarden.org

SUN 6/22 THRU FRI 6/27 WHAT: Chinese Language Camp for Families WHERE: NWLA Cultural Center, Langley REGISTER: www. nwlanguageacademy.com/camps/ chinese.php

TUE 7/1 WHAT: Free Job Preparation classes for immigrants, refugees, permanent residents and U.S.

citizens living in Bellevue WHERE: Bellevue College, 3000 Landerholm Circle SE, Bellevue WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

INFO: www.bellevuecollege. edu/prepforwork, prep4work@ bellevuecollege.edu

THU 7/10 WHAT: 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act 1964 WHERE: Northwest AfricanAmerican Museum, 2300 S. Massachusetts St., Seattle WHEN: 5-8 p.m.

Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Grants. gov invite you to attend a webinar “Everything You Need to Know About Grants.gov” WHEN: 4-5:30 p.m.

RSVP: bit.ly/grants-whiaapi INFO: danny.qiao@ed.gov

E., Seattle (rain site: Asian Art Museum auditorium) WHEN: 9 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: www.visitsam.org/deco

THU 7/3

THRU FRI 7/11

SAT 7/19

WHAT: Opening night and curator’s talk on “The Art of Gaman: Arts & Crafts from the Japanese American Internment Camps, 1942–1946 WHERE: Bellevue Arts Museum, 510 Bellevue Way N.E. WHEN: 7 p.m.

INFO: 425-519-0770

WHAT: Asia Pacific Summer Camp WHERE: Asia Pacific Cultural Center, 4851 S. Tacoma Way, Tacoma WHEN: 8 a.m.– 3:30 p.m.

COST: $100/week INFO: asiapacificculturalcenter. org

WHAT: Southeast Asian Cultural Celebration WHERE: Saltwater State Park, 25205 8th Pl., Des Moines WHEN: Noon – 4 p.m.

COST: Discover Pass required to park INFO: parks.wa.gov/calendar. aspx

WHAT: “Furyu” tea ceremony and floating teahouse by Yuri Kinoshita WHERE: Lake Union Park – model boat pond WHEN: Friday 9 a.m.; Saturday 4 p.m.

INFO: urasenkeseattle.org

FRI 7/4

SAT 7/12

WED 7/23

WHAT: Naturalization Ceremony WHERE: Seattle Center, Fisher Pavilion WHEN: 11 a.m.

COST: Free INFO: ethnicheritagecouncil.org or 206-684-7200

WHAT: APIA Vote & APACE Education Fund present the Norm Mineta Leadership Institute WHERE: ACRS Gym, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

RSVP: www.apiavote.org/events

WED 7/9

WED 7/16

WHAT: Forum for social, health, and human service providers who serve Asian American seniors, chronic patients, and family caregivers WHERE: New Hong Kong Restaurant, 900 S. Jackson St., #203, Seattle WHEN: 10 a.m. – noon INFO: 206-957-8518, janicek@ cisc-seattle.org

WHAT: InterIm’s community reception to welcome Andrea Akita and Brad Miyake WHERE: Nagomi Tea House, 519 Sixth Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 5:30 p.m.

RSVP: elaine@hokubeihochi. org, 206-623-0100

WHAT: Support Judge Mark Chow & Judge C. Kimi Kondo WHERE: The Four Seas Chinese Restaurant, 714 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 5:30-7 p.m.

WHAT: The White House

FRI 7/25 WHAT: Yasujiro Ozu’s classic silent film comedy “The Lady & the Beard” WHERE: Volunteer Park Amphitheater, 1247 15th Ave.

FRI & SAT 7/25 & 7/26

2nd & 4th TUES OF MONTH WHAT: International District Special Review Board meeting WHERE: Bush Asia Center, 409 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 4:30 p.m.

INFO: 206-684-0226, seattle. gov/neighborhoods/preservation/ historic_districts.htm

EVERY TUE WHAT: Asian Counseling and Referral Services Employment Program Orientation WHERE: ACRS, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way S., Seattle WHEN: 3–4:30 p.m.

INFO: 206-695-7527, employmentprogram@ acrs.org, acrs.org/services/ employmentandtraining

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

especially people from Japan and Canada.

She also works with U.S. citizens and others living abroad. She has been recognized by clients and peers as an AV Peer Review Rated lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell and Seattle’s “Forty under 40” by Puget Sound Business Journal. 

Walkers deliver food Gary Tang, Karen Jackel, and San Nguyen.

Justice Yu and Aline Flowers march in Seattle Pride

Students come from South Asia to study journalism in Seattle

Photo courtesy of JACL

Interfaith celebration at Rainier Community Center.

On June 8, Sen. Bob Hasegawa hosted an interfaith celebration of the passage of SB 5173, a new law that allows public employees and students to have two unpaid and excused days off per year for reasons of faith or conscience. The Faith Action Network of Seattle was one of the major supporters of the legislation and helped co-sponsor the celebration, which was held at the Rainier Community Center.

The law will benefit workers and students of Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Sikh, Hindu, Native American, Christian, “and in fact, everyone of faith or conscience.” 

From left: Vinod Nazareth, Debadutta Dash, Robert ‘Jojo’ Cambronero, and Diane Narasaki

Seattle Pride marchers Ed Murray, center, Michael Shiosaki, third from left, and other supporters.

Also joining the parade were Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and his husband, Michael Shiosaki.

India Assoc. hosts annual health fair

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Photos by George Liu/NWAW

Photo by Rebecca Ip/SCP

Photo by Daria Kroupoderova

A multicultural victory

JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

From left: Louis Wantanabe, Bruce Harrell, and Zack Hudgins.

Nearly 1,000 people gathered at Seward Park on June 28 for the 24th annual Walk for Rice fundraiser to benefit the Asian

Counseling & Referral Service food bank.

With 814 registered participants, ACRS raised $182,486 with some pledges still uncounted, and was on target to meet its $200,000 goal. In addition, 2,850 pounds of food was donated to the food bank. 

ID Post Office moves The Post Office's International Station in Chinatown moved its location to 409 Maynard Ave. S. on June 30.

Hours are Monday through Friday 8:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m. to 5 p.m. 

Photo by Sue Misao/NWAW

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Photo courtesy of FIUTS

Photo courtesy of IAWW

Send your exciting news to editor@nwasianweekly.c om.

All sale lasts from Friday 7/4 to Thursday 7/10

1221 S. King St., Seattle ∙ 206-720-0969 Monday—Sunday: 8:30 a.m.—8 p.m. lamsseafood.com

Dr. Anusha Iyer and Dr. Vandita Samavedi provided individual physician Consultation to seniors at the health fair.

SUSI students at the Space Needle are, from left, Zulkar Nine (Bangladesh), Labisha Uprety (Nepal), Michael Levkowitz (SUSI Ambassador, USA), Anuja Khadka (Nepal), Mirudhulah Thambiah (Sri Lanka), and Zenisha Gonsalves (India).

Twenty journalism students from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, and Sri Lanka arrived in Seattle on June 22. The students are here for five weeks and will be staying at the University of Washington for most of the period. They will be studying topics related to journalism and the media, along with working on community service projects, leadership workshops, and cultural excursions. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is coordinated in Seattle by the Foundation for International Understanding through Students (FIUTS). 

Notables march in Seattle Pride Parade Justice Mary Yu was the special guest at the 2014 Seattle Pride Parade on June 29.

She rode behind Celebrity Grand Marshal George Takei with a group of volunteers and supporters passing out stickers and holding signs in support of Yu. She is the first openly gay and first Asian female to serve on the Washington State Supreme Court.

The 17th annual senior health fair, put on by India Association of Western Washington (IAWW), was held on June 21 at the Eastside Baha’i Center in Bellevue.

There were about 100 people in attendance.

Screenings were held between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. The screening included help with blood pressure, blood glucose, posture and balance, lipid profiles, and physician consultations. After the screenings were completed, the attendees were treated to opening remarks by Dr. Pran Wahi, director of IAWW Seniors Program, followed by discussions on breast cancer and common sleep disorders, lunch, and a panel discussion and Q & A with four medical professionals. 

Akane Suzuki in Super Lawyers magazine Garvey Schubert Barer lawyer Akane Suzuki of Seattle is on the cover of Super Lawyers magazine, Washington 2014 edition. The feature article profiles Suzuki comAkane Suzuki ing to the United States from Japan as a foreign exchange student in her teens. A big portion of Suzuki’s practice includes working with nonU.S. citizens living in the United States,

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

■ PROFILE

things you may not know about George Takei

By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

1. His name at birth was Hosato Takei. He was born April 20, 1937 in Los Angeles. His mother was born in Sacramento and his father in the Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan. According to his autobiography, his father gave him the name George, after the United Kingdom’s King George VI. 2. Takei and his family lived in an internment camp for four years in Roher, Ark., and Tule Lake, Calif., when he was between ages 4 and 8. In 2012, Takei and other speakers spoke about internment to the Los Angeles County’s board of supervisors. According to the L.A. County blog, Takei said that in 1942, he and his brother saw “two American soldiers with bayonets flashing on their rifles come marching up our driveway, stomped on our front porch, and banged on our front door. My father answered it, and we were ordered out of our house. And I remember seeing my mother carrying my baby sister and a huge duffel bag … and I saw tears rolling down her cheek.”

3. Takei graduated from UCLA with a bachelor of arts in theater in 1960, and a master of arts in theater in 1964. His

Photo by Daria Kroupoderova

George Takei beamed and waved as he served as the celebrity grand marshal at last Sunday’s 40th annual gay pride parade in Seattle. (Seattle Mayor Ed Murray was the parade’s community grand marshal.) Takei is perhaps most widely known for playing Hikaru Sulu on the original “Star Trek” TV series. Beyond his acting work, Takei, a Japanese American, is also an activist for gay rights and is vocal about his family’s history of internment.

In honor of his visit to Seattle, we’ve compiled a roundup of eight things you may not know about Takei.

was the best man at Takei’s wedding.

Seattle Pride Celebrity Grand Marshal George Takei and his husband, Brad Takei.

first acting role was in 1957, when he answered a newspaper ad seeking voice actors. Takei dubbed the English dialogue for the Japanese film “Rodan.”

4. Takei didn’t come out as gay until 2005, in an issue of Frontiers magazine. Then, he revealed that he had been in an 18-year relationship with partner Brad Altman. “The world has changed from when I was a young teen feeling ashamed for being gay,” he told The Associated Press in 2005. “The issue of gay marriage is now a political issue.

That would have been unthinkable when I was young.”

Takei and Altman married in 2008, when Takei was 71 and Altman 54.

5. Takei was cast in “The Green Berets” (1968) and had to miss nine episodes of “Star Trek” due to scheduling conflicts. The character of Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig, was created in Takei’s absence. When Takei came back on the “Star Trek” set, the two shared a dressing room and Takei was reportedly ready to dislike Koenig.

However, the two became close friends instead. Koenig

6. Takei is one of several cast members who has publicly stated that he had a hard time working with co-star William Shatner (Captain Kirk) on “Star Trek.” The issue was brought up again during the Takei and Altman nuptials in 2008. “When the press asked if Bill was going to be invited to our wedding, we said we had to cull the list down to 200,” Takei told Time magazine in 2008. “So the press went on to assume Bill was not going to be invited. But we wanted to be as inclusive as possible, so we shoehorned him onto our list and he was sent an invitation. But we got no response to the RSVP. So we offered his two seats to someone else. Weeks after, there he was ranting and raving that he wasn’t invited to our wedding. I was just aghast.”

7. Takei is particularly known for his vocal talents. He was nominated for a Grammy, along with “Star Trek” costar Leonard Nimoy (Mr. Spock), for the “Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Recording” category. He has narrated documentaries, voice-acted on animated series, and guest-narrated with symphony orchestras.

8. Like his father, he is an Anglophile. On his website, he states, “Those who know me know that I am an inconvertible Anglophile — or more broadly, a Britanophile, which includes my affection for Scotland and Wales as well. I love things British. My car is British. My wardrobe, to a good extent, is British. I even love the food in London.”  Takei’s upcoming biographical documentary “To Be Takei” debuts on DirecTV July 3. It will be in theaters later in the summer, starting Aug. 22.

Stacy Nguyen can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Children’s Recycling Fashion Contest

Saturday, July 12, 2014 — This free event is part of Dragon Fest

Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 1 PM — Lining up • 1:20 PM — Judging begins • 1:40 PM — Parade begins • 2 PM — Contestants appear on stage • 2:45 PM — Results announced and presentation of awards

Sponsors:

Cathay Post 186

• Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (1:50 PM).

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• All contestants will receive a fortune cookie.

• Everyone is welcome to come to Northwest Asian Weekly’s office to pick up old copies of the papers for free.

Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in, or sign up on the day of the contest (Saturday, July 12) before 1:15 PM at the registration table located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/ Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave. S. • Contestants are chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis.

• Contestants must sign in at the registration table 15 minutes prior to parade.

Rules/Guidelines: • Children ages 12 and under can participate in the contest.

• Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the parade.

• Children will be given a contestant number for order of parade lineup.

• Recyclable materials must be used in contestants’ outfits. (Materials are listed online.)

• If you don’t have a recycling outfit, don’t worry. Come in 12 p.m. and our volunteer designer will make you one.

Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria.

• Prizes will be awarded to first ($100), second ($50), and third ($25) place winners, plus there will be many other prizes.

• All decisions made by competition judges are final.

Jade Garden Restaurant

Jim Doane

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Children’s Parade Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104

Name: ________________________________________________________

Phone: ________________________________________________________

E-mail: ________________________________________________________

Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations.

Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ business

■ feature

JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

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Photo by Daria Kroupoderova

Now employers New delights can take their for Dragon Fest workers’ ‘pulse’

More than 25,000 people visited the International District during last year’s Dragon Fest.

By Jamie Sun Northwest Asian Weekly

David Niu, CEO of TINYpulse

By Daria Kroupoderova Northwest Asian Weekly Getting burnt out from work can lead to great ideas.

Meet David Niu, CEO of TINYpulse, a company that helps other companies receive anonymous feedback from their employees by sending out a “pulse” or question on a weekly basis.

The idea for the company came from Niu’s “Careercation,” a word he coined, which is also the title of his book about his journey around the world and what he learned from the experience.

“I sold everything I owned, stuffed the rest of my belongings in storage, bought one way tickets to New Zealand...just started traveling around the world for about six months (with my family),” Niu said.

On his trip, Niu interviewed entrepreneurs ranging from a wine maker in New Zealand to a food trader in China. He asked them a series of questions and always ended with the same one: What one thing do the entrepreneurs have when it comes to managing people that, if it was taken away, they would gladly pay for?

Niu noticed a trend.

“Regardless of geography, regardless of the industry, regardless of the size of the company, one of the most haunting feelings for any business leader is when someone says ‘here’s my two week notice’ out of the blue,” Niu said.

This was the inspiration for TINYpulse.

According to Niu, companies usually have end-of-the-year surveys asking employees to answer tons of questions, but people change throughout the year, so Niu came up with the idea of “dripping out one lightweight question on an ongoing basis to get a continual pulse on people’s emotions, the culture, the environment, and ...continual change in the culture.”

TINYpulse has been officially live for 18 months, and the company has about 300 clients. Every time TINYpulse receives a new client, someone in the office will ring a little gong that is set up on a table.

Clients get to choose to either use a template set up with questions, or create custom questions for their employees.

Some of the template questions include

“How happy are you at work?” and “If your company was an animal, what would it be and why?” Using template questions offers clients benchmarks, showing them how the company is doing compared to others.

The answers to questions are completely anonymous unless the employee wants to give his or her name. “(We) give them the safe harbor to be as direct as possible...we would rather retire a client than compromise anonymity,” Niu said. However, if something criminal is said, such as a threat to hurt someone or damage property, Niu said then anonymity would have to be compromised.

TINYpulse also donates 1 percent of the product to nonprofits. For every 100 clients, a nonprofit can receive TINYpulse for free for one year.

Niu has big plans for TINYpulse. In five years, Niu sees the company being “the Zappos of the Pacific Northwest... we’re striving to be top of the game.”

“We’re going to give tours to reporters, we’re going to give tours to our customers, and we’re going to give tours to our competitors,” said Niu. “This culture is the ultimate competitive advantage and I have no shame in opening it up and sharing it with our competitors, because you’ll never be able to copy us.”

This is Niu’s third company. He cofounded NetConversions, which was sold to aQuantive in 2004, and later BuddyTV. He graduated from UC Berkeley and received his MBA from the Wharton School of University of Pennsylvania.

Niu has a plan to “incubate” companies — basically show them the ropes of how TINYpulse operates, as long as they follow two guidelines: Don’t disclose confidential information from TINYpulse, and “incubate” someone else once the company is successful.

“I view it much less in terms of profit or growth...I’d rather be a great culture company and a great citizen of the community,” Niu said.  To learn more about TINYpulse, visit www. tinypulse.com.

Daria Kroupoderova can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

The 39th annual Dragon Fest is coming to the International District July 12 and July 13, with several new events, including a food walk, performances, a night market, Sakura Con, and a Recycling Fashion Contest.

Dragon Fest, the premier Asian American culture celebration in the Pacific Northwest, brings about 30,000 people to the heart of Seattle’s historic Chinatown International District each year. The festival is free.

The annual food walk features about 35 restaurants in Chinatown, Little Saigon, and Japan Town. Participating restaurants serve “$2 bites” of food from Japan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia throughout the weekend. Drawings from stamps collected at various restaurants will be held for many prizes, including an iPad. The main stage will feature about 30 performances, including Beacon Studio’s Massive Monkeys, martial arts demonstrations, Northwest Kung Fu, Ail-Ku line dances, and Japanese Taiko drumming.

This year’s Dragon Fest is also bringing back the Sakura Con anime costume contest, with prizes, on Sunday night of the festival. A new feature will be Saturday’s night market from 6 p.m. to midnight, with 25 food trucks. There will also be an all-ages outdoor dance party during the evening.

Also new this year is the two-day “International VIP Passport.” For $25 dollars, VIP pass holders can cut in line to trucks, and the first 300 people will receive a Chinatown International District tote bag and an official 2014 Dragon Fest and Night Market poster. Pass holders over 21 can enter the Kirin Beer VIP Lounge.

“This is the biggest pan Asian Festival that

Seattle has,” said Chinatown International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA) Executive Director Don Blakeney. “It is a way of engaging with the rest of Seattle, not only the neighborhood, but also the different cultures that are involved here.”

CIDBIA Program Director Ben Grace noted that Dragon Fest benefits the neighborhood because it brings thousands of people who normally don’t visit Chinatown.

“It gives them an excuse and reason to come to our neighborhood to walk around, and to be exposed to our shops, our restaurants, and everything we have to offer. Hopefully, they will come back after the event,” said Grace.

The purpose of the event, said Blakeney, is to showcase the neighborhood, to showcase the cultures, to promote the local businesses, and also to bring the community together to celebrate. “Not that we need an excuse to celebrate, but it’s nice for all the community to get together to celebrate our heritage and our culture,” said Blakeney. “If you haven’t been to any of the restaurants, you can try five of them for $10, and you know those five, and you can go back to them. Hopefully, this will build habits.”

Recycling Fashion Contest On July 12, Northwest Asian Weekly is hosting a family Recycling Fashion Contest from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. All are invited to come to the newspaper office at 412 Maynard Ave. South to get recycling materials to dress the kids up. Kids who want help making a costume are welcome to come to the Asian Weekly office anytime after 11:30 a.m.  Jamie Sun can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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■ arts & entertainment

June

Some dictators just can’t take a joke.

Meanwhile, Glenn’s Soso brightens up OITNB

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly

Hollywood takes on North Korea A new movie poster and trailer for the irreverent comedy “The Interview” came out this past month to mixed reviews from the public.

“The Interview” stars buddy comedians James Franco and Seth Rogen as media journalists who land an exclusive interview with a fictionalized version of Kim Jongun, only to be enlisted by the CIA to carry out a plot to assassinate the North Korean dictator. Korean American actor Randall Park, who recently made headlines for his starring role in the upcoming “Fresh Off the Boat” sitcom, will play Kim in the film.

One major critic of the trailer was, well, the real North Korea. After viewing the trailer, a spokesman for North Korea’s Foreign Ministry claimed that the release of the U.S. comedy would equate as an “act of war” for undermining the nation.

“If the United States administration tacitly approves or supports the release of this film, we will take a decisive and merciless countermeasure,” a spokesman for its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency. Those are some fighting words, North Korea.

Additional parts of North Korea’s public statement insinuated that the U.S. government had specifically concocted this film to mock Kim, and that the movie had inspired “a gust of hatred and rage” among North Korea’s citizens and soldiers.

Kim and North Korea have long been easy targets for ridicule in Western media, so a mainstream film like this almost seemed inevitable. Though I imagine that,

Beer jazzes up the koto

By Irfan Shariff Northwest Asian Weekly Chris Kenji Beer does not play the koto. He does, however, know the sound of the 13-stringed national instrument of Japan.

The koto is a zither, or a musical instrument with strings stretched across a flat, wooden Chris Kenji Beer body. It can measure almost six feet in length and is played by plucking at the strings with one of three picks attached to the player’s fingers.

Beer grew up listening to the koto playing around the house.

On July 5, Beer will perform classic koto music on the piano and electronic keyboard at Brass Tracks in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood.

“I play a rare and innovative integration of classical Japanese koto music with a Western jazz rhythm,” said Beer. “It presents a long-time, traditional music style in a new and energetic light.”

Beer credits the Shinto reverence to the natural world as his musical inspiration and hopes that these undertones are projected

through his music.

He calls his music Koto Jazz.

Beer differentiates this from jazz koto, which “uses the koto instrument in standard jazz musical performances,” he said.

By the 1970s and 1980s, the koto was introduced into popular Western music.

David Bowie, The Rolling Stones, and Queen have all experimented with the koto in their music.

Beer can’t pinpoint another artist that does what he does on a regular basis — incorporating Japanese koto sounds and chordal structure using Western instruments.

“Masahiko Satoh comes the closest,” said Beer. “He is a jazz pianist and has used the Japanese koto sounds in one of his songs.”

Beer takes his inspiration from jazz artists, such as George Winston, Li Pui Ming, Riley Lee, Scott Cossu, and artists represented by Windham Hill Records, a record label that specializes in New Age Jazz music, he said.

“Winston takes a number of Western classical music like ‘Ode to Joy’ and ‘Canon in D Minor’ and adds jazz and modern rhythm to them. Likewise, I attempt to do the same with classical Eastern koto music,” said Beer.

Beer grew up primarily in Seattle and {see BEER cont’d on page 12}

as a foreign leader, it probably isn’t ideal or easy to see an entire movie dedicated to mocking your existence.

I don’t have any strong feelings about the movie yet, but it has the potential to be overly satirical and tactless. I cringe at the thought. It’s too early to make a judgment call though, so I will reserve judgment after the movie’s release. If anything, North Korea’s condemnation of the movie will definitely give the film some early publicity.

“The Interview” hits theaters on Oct. 10.

The wildly popular Netflix comedydrama series “Orange Is the New Black” debuted its second season to rave reviews in early June. The show, which is loosely based on the memoir “Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison” from American felon and memoirist Piper Kerman, follows the lives of a group of women in prison for various crimes.

“Orange Is the New Black” is widely praised for its representation of marginalization groups in mainstream media due to its

New Asian characters on hit shows

{see A-POP cont’d on page 12}

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■ on the shelf

■ PROFILE

When love doesn’t go

Eric Liu on being a Chinese American

the way it’s supposed to

By Samantha Pak Northwest Asian Weekly

The Ballad of a Small Player

By Lawrence Osborne Hogarth, 2014

wondering what had happened to DaoMing.

In Dao-Ming, we find a strong woman who knows her own mind. She may be a prostitute, but she has her own set of beliefs and has no problem letting people know how she feels and what she’s thinking. Her personality and mysterious ways will have readers rethinking their initial impressions of the seemingly innocent young woman.

With his unethical and criminal past, as well as his gambling addiction, Doyle, on the surface, is not exactly a likeable character. But he is a multifaceted character who is human and flawed. So while Doyle is less likely to take the moral high road, readers will root for him and feel for him as gambling overtakes him. His flaws remind us that nobody is perfect and we shouldn’t be so quick to judge others.

The Case of the Love Commandos

By Tarquin Hall Simon & Schuster, 2013 Meet Doyle — or Lord Doyle, as he comes to be known among the casinos of Macau. Doyle’s not quite the English lord people believe he is. He’s actually a corrupt lawyer who embezzled millions from a wealthy elderly client and fled England once his deception was discovered.

Since his arrival in Macau, Doyle has spent his nights gambling. He spends his days sleeping off the previous night. He doesn’t care whether he wins or loses, since it’s not even his money to begin with, so why should it matter?

But one day, Doyle hits rock bottom and is unable to settle a tab. Coming to his rescue is Dao-Ming, a Chinese prostitute he had spent a night with previously. With Dao-Ming, he feels he forms a connection, something he has not done since his arrival in Macau. For a brief period, she saves him from himself and his gambling addiction.

But when he wakes up one morning to find her gone, he returns to the casinos.

And while his obsession with gambling is overpowering, Doyle also finds himself

Eric Liu

By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly An author, activist, and cultural analyst, Eric Liu teaches civic leadership at the University of Washington (UW), founded the Citizen University project, and hosts the cable interview show “Seattle Voices.” His celebrates the publication of his new book “A Chinaman’s Chance: One Family’s Journey and the Chinese American Dream” with a book launch at Town Hall on July 8. He took some questions over e-mail.

NWAW: Where did you grow up and what are your most important memories from childhood?

Things are not going well for India’s most private investigator, Vish Puri. So {see SHELF cont’d on page 13}

Eric Liu: I grew up in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in the Hudson Valley. My parents were born in China, went to school in Taiwan, and came to the United States to work and go to college.

My strongest memories are of our family, in the midst of suburbia, doing things that were a hybrid of Chinese and American. Like having Hamburger Helper

with stir-fried green beans on the side. Or my dad trying his best to play baseball with me, even though he’d never played it himself. Or the sounds of loud and raucous mah-jongg games in the study, while the cousins were in the TV room watching Christmas specials. Or waiting impatiently for Chinese school on Sunday to end, so I could go home and build forts in the woods with my friends.

NWAW: What were your most memorable experiences writing speeches for President Clinton? What was it like to work with the chief executive behind the scenes?

Eric Liu: By far the most meaningful speeches I worked on for President Clinton were for the 50th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy, France. To be a son of immigrants, a Gen-Xer writing for the first Baby Boom president as he honored the GI generation — that was an experience that made me appreciate how much opportunity this country has created {see LIU cont’d on page 14}

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

■ national news Judge: Bad science led to S. Korean immigrant’s murder-by-arson sentence

By Michael Rubinkam Associated Press The arsonist who killed Ji Yun Lee was especially cruel and calculating, dousing her small cabin in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains with more than 60 gallons (230 liters) of gasoline and heating fuel and setting at least eight fires, ending at the front door to block any chance of escape. Then he watched calmly as the cabin turned into an inferno.

That was the prosecution’s case against the victim’s father, Han Tak Lee, and it persuaded a jury to convict the South Korean immigrant of first-degree murder. He’s serving a sentence of life without parole.

But the arson science underlying his conviction turned out to be all wrong.

In June — nearly 25 years after the blaze — a federal magistrate recommended that Lee should either be given a new trial or released from prison outright. A federal judge must approve the recommendation, and prosecutors are expected to file papers this week arguing that Lee’s conviction should stand.

His case is one of dozens around the United States to come under scrutiny because of entrenched but now-discredited beliefs about how arson can be detected. The Arson Research Project at the Monterey College of Law in California has highlighted at least 31 convictions based at least partly on debunked fire investigations, including that of a Texas man executed in 2004. Experts believe there are many more.

“There was just no science behind” the old assumptions about arson, said Paul Cates of The Innocence Project, {A-POP cont’d from page 10} complex and prominent roles for lesbian and bisexual women, as well as women of color.

Season two saw the addition of a more prominent Asian character played by newcomer Kimiko Glenn. Her character, Brooke Soso, who is of Japanese descent, appears in a supporting role throughout the {BEER cont’d from page 10}

Boulder, Colo., but spent several formative years in Japan. He went on to study abroad at Jouchi Daigaku (Sophia University, Tokyo) during college.

“As a child, I listened to the music of my mother’s heritage,” said Beer. He remembers growing up to koto music playing in the background.

“I didn’t come to really appreciate it until I became a young adult,” he said.

“I took formal piano lessons up to the third grade,” said Beer, “but I really blossomed when I began playing by ear listening to pop and rock. I began experimenting with traditional Japanese koto music.” His first experiment was “Sakura” (Cherry Blossom), a traditional Japanese folk song made for the koto.

“While I loved the simple melody of this famous piece, I had a Western itch about me and I banged it out like a rock tune,” he said. “After much practice, I learned to moderate and temper.”

Beer’s favorite koto piece is “Tori No Yo Ni” (Like a Bird) by legendary koto player and composer Tadao Sawai. Sawai is known to have performed classical

a group that works to overturn wrongful convictions, primarily through the use of DNA. “A lot of this was just guesswork and voodoo.”

Lee, now 79, has consistently maintained his innocence.

A clothing store owner in New York City, Lee had taken his volatile, mentally ill 20-year-old daughter to a northeastern Pennsylvania religious retreat at the suggestion of the family pastor. Early on July 29, 1989, the cabin they shared became engulfed in flames. Lee escaped, but his daughter’s body was found in the ashes, curled in the fetal position.

When firefighters showed up, they found Lee sitting stoically on a bench outside the cabin. Inside the wreckage were clues that led authorities to suspect foul play.

At the time, investigators were taught that unusually hot and intense fires indicated the use of an accelerant and that arson could be confirmed by the presence of deep charring or shiny blistering of wood, as well as “crazed glass,” tiny fractures in windows.

Research conducted in the 1980s debunked these and other notions about arson. By 1992, the National Fire Protection Association had published new standards to guide fire investigations.

But acceptance did not come right away.

“Most arson investigators’ heads exploded, and they just went nuts for the next seven or eight years trying to discredit that document,” said John Lentini, one of the leading U.S. experts in fire analysis and a defense consultant for Lee. At Lee’s trial, a fire marshal and other prosecution experts said the physical evidence overwhelmingly pointed to arson.

In addition to the telltale burn patterns, they said, testing

season and offers a quirky and eccentric personality to contrast with some of the main characters in the show.

Though the show does make occasional references to Soso’s Asian heritage on the show, it is never a primary focus. This is refreshing — to see an Asian character and actor in a popular show, and one that does not rely on token stereotypes to exist Bach pieces on the koto. He will perform “Sakura” and “Tori No Yo Ni,” as well as the famous “Haro no Umi” during his performance at Brass Tracks.

“Haro no Umi” (The Spring Sea) is considered to be one of the best-known compositions for the koto and shakuhachi (a flute-like instrument). It was written

revealed accelerants on Lee’s shirt, pants, and a jug found in the cabin.

Lee’s attorney didn’t challenge the arson finding, arguing instead the fire was set by Lee’s troubled daughter to commit suicide.

The jury didn’t buy it.

A quarter-century later, U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson said scientific progress had invalidated the conviction.

Monroe County prosecutors say other evidence points to Lee’s guilt, including the accelerants found on his clothing.

But that evidence, too, has been “substantially undermined” by new testing, Carlson said. And Lee’s tranquil demeanor at the fire scene — a powerful bit of circumstantial evidence that helped sway the jury — might have stemmed from a cultural taboo against showing emotion in public, the magistrate said, not from a lack of feeling. He said justice dictates throwing out Lee’s conviction and sentence.

“Sometimes, with the benefit of insight gained over time, we learn that what was once regarded as truth is myth, and what was once accepted as science is superstition,” Carlson wrote. “So it is with this case.”

Kyung Sohn of New York City, who heads the National Committee to Free Han Tak Lee, said he got a letter from his old friend about a week after Carlson’s decision. Sohn said Lee, who has been in poor health, hopes to soon reclaim his reputation, as well as his freedom.

“He mentioned that ‘God is with me, that I am innocent,’” Sohn said. “In my thinking, 99.99 percent he will be free.

We pray every day.” 

among the main characters. To further add to the complexity of Soso, the show also sees the character engaged in sexual acts with other women, further shattering standard stereotypes and expectations of Asian female characters on television. You don’t typically see an Asian female character like this outside of indie films.

Although “Orange Is the New Black” will in 1929 by Michio Miyagi, who was known for his skilled koto playing, and is considered his most famous work. His music helped keep the koto tradition alive as Western influences made headway into Meiji-era Japan.  To learn more about Koto Jazz, visit http://

not return for its third season until May or June 2015, I’m hoping that the producers will feature Soso in more prominent storylines next year. We need more diverse and complex Asian characters like this in mainstream media.  Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com. www.kotojazz.com.

Chris Kenji Beer performs at Brass Tracks, 6031 Airport Way S., Seattle, on Saturday, July 5, at 9 p.m. Admission is free.

Irfan Shariff can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{SHELF cont’d from page 11} far this month, he has failed to recover a cache of stolen jewels, his wallet has been stolen, and he has to count on his Mummy-ji to retrieve it — much to his chagrin, as mummies are not detectives — and he has been tasked with tracking down a young man named Ram Sunder, who has disappeared while trying to reunite with his girlfriend Tulsi Mishra, a girl of a higher caste than his own.

The young couple had enlisted the help of the Love Commandos, a group of volunteers working to help mixed-caste couples make it in a still heavily segregated Indian society. But the reunion — among other things — goes awry, and it’s up to Puri to figure out the culprit.

As usual, Hall brings us the adventures of Vish Puri with this latest installment, which is equal parts intrigue and hilarity.

While Puri may be a bit egotistical, big headed, and very set in his ways, he is also very lovable, as his heart is always in the right place. He has a very strong set of personal values that he sticks to. His interactions with and thoughts on his Mummy-ji are particularly entertaining. He loves and respects his

mother, but also believes he knows best when it comes to detecting — even though Mummy-ji can definitely hold her own when it comes to sleuthing.

In this particular Vish Puri story, the argument of arranged marriages versus love-match marriages takes a front seat, as we see how these issues affect Ram and Tulsi. There is also a focus on India’s castebased society, and readers can’t help but question whether the type of community you were born into really matters, or if it’s what you make of your situation.

Crazy Rich Asians

By Kevin Kwan Anchor Books, 2013 Meeting your significant other’s family is a big deal.

Traveling halfway around the world to do so is an even bigger deal. And for Rachel Chu, a 29-year-old college professor from New York, it turns into an even bigger deal when she arrives in Singapore to meet her boyfriend Nick Young’s family. Because it turns out that her boyfriend’s family is not just well off. They’re rich — and not even filthy rich. They’re crazy rich.

Learning that her boyfriend of two years, a fellow college professor working toward tenure, who lives

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in a modest New York apartment, actually grew up riding around in private planes and is one of Singapore’s most eligible bachelors. It is a lot for Rachel to handle. And if that weren’t enough, she has to deal with Nick’s mother, who hired a private investigator to dig up information on Rachel’s background, as well as catty rich girls who are out to steal her boyfriend and a nosy extended family that want to know everything about her. All of this makes Rachel wonder how well she really knows Nick, who seems to have been living a double life.

“Crazy Rich Asians” is exactly what the title implies. It’s a story about how the extremely wealthy “Overseas Chinese” live and all that goes with it, as they try to impress and outdo one another and marry off their adult children. Hilarity ensues from the very beginning, as we witness some of the most ludicrous excesses, such as purchasing an entire hotel after being snubbed by the manager.

But despite Nick’s family’s riches, Kwan shows us that even those who are “richer than God” have their issues and quirks. And if anything, their issues and quirks are magnified to a much larger scale.

This story will have you laughing at the characters’ behavior, but also feeling for them as they struggle with issues we can all relate to.

Kwan has created characters we can identify with on a human level, if not a socioeconomic level.  Samantha Pak can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

■ astrology

For the week of July 5–July 11, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Your expectations have a big influence on what happens next, so try to think positively about the future.

Dragon — If it is important to you, then make the effort to be present. Your absence will speak volumes without a word being said.

Monkey — It is not possible to see every angle from your vantage point, but you should be able to form a pretty good picture with what you have access to.

Ox — Don’t read too much into an offhanded comment. Given the circumstances it was given, it isn’t worth your time to analyze it.

Snake — Be wary of someone who changes their tune too quickly. They may just be telling you what you want to hear.

Rooster — Admitting you made a mistake is not easy.

However, once you do, then you will really be able to leave it behind you.

Tiger — The memory of how you treated someone you love will far outlast any other thing that you might give them.

Horse — A huge shift will reorder what matters to you. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as you have been searching for a new way to go anyway.

Dog — Though the unfamiliar may be daunting, it is still much more inviting than sticking with something just because you know what to expect.

Rabbit — Resist interrupting a speaker with your own response. Instead, listen to all that is said before you respond to the key points.

Goat — The focus on family trumps everything else on your list this week. Be sure to cast attention where it is needed.

Pig — Though you say you want something different, some of your choices don’t reflect that. It is to your benefit to figure out why.

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 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 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.

{see LIU cont’d on page 11} for me — and how much I need to make sure to pass it on. President Clinton was great to work for. He had an avuncular way with me. He also, being a master reader of people, could read my earnest sense of service and civic purpose. The last thing he said to me when I left the White House was “Go forth and do good.” And I took those words seriously.

NWAW: What is the nature of your work at UW? How has your experience here gone so far?

Eric Liu: I’ve lived in Seattle for 14 years and my daughter has grown up a Seattle girl. This is home. I love being a part of this community and in all my national work, I love telling people that Seattle has it all: beauty, diversity, ingenuity, and soul. I love teaching at the UW because I love working with and learning from young people. And the organization I run, Citizen University, does national work, but tries to carry a Seattle spirit of openness and creativity everywhere we go.

NWAW: How have your ideas about Asian identity grown and changed over the years?

Eric Liu: When I wrote my first book, “The Accidental Asian,” in 1998, I was ambivalent about pan-ethnic, panAsian identity. I recognized that the creation of the Asian American identity was a classically American act of communal self-invention. But I worried that it didn’t have enough cultural content to hold it together.

In the years since, much has changed, but two things in particular. First, moving to Seattle and becoming involved in the Asian community here. One of my earliest mentors in Seattle was Kip Tokuda. Kip brought me into the board of the Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF), and more than that, he helped guide me in politics and civic involvement, and just life.

I miss Kip a lot. Through ACLF, I made good friends. And by the example of people like Uncle Bob Santos and Ruth Woo and, of course, Assunta Ng, I came to see the power of pan-ethnic Asian community identity.

The second big thing was the birth of my daughter. As she’s gotten older (and I have too!), I’ve valued more than ever my

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Chinese-ness and have worked to keep her exposed to Chinese language, ideas, culture, and values. I suppose it’s the oldest second-generation American story, but it’s true. I now embrace my heritage more strongly than ever.

NWAW: What are the major ideas you explore in your new book?

Eric Liu: First, what it means to be Chinese American in this age of China versus America. I reflect a lot on the mix of perceived threat and opportunity that accompanies China’s rise, and how those perceptions influence how we Chinese Americans are understood — either as people with enviable and sometimes mysterious power (Tiger Mom, anyone?) or as people with menacing and perhaps dangerous influence (Wen Ho Lee, anyone?).

The second idea is that no matter how big China’s GDP gets, America will remain indispensable if we maintain our openness to immigrants. To put it simply: America makes Chinese Americans, but China does not make American Chinese. And it doesn’t want to. That’s America’s advantage. The third idea is to unpack what Chinese-ness is, in values and language and social norms.

I believe that there is a Chinese American way, found in people like Maya Lin or Gary Locke or Tony Hsieh, that can fuse the best aspects of each culture. And it’s up to America to identify and reward this way if this country is to fulfill its potential.

NWAW: How did you get into hosting “Seattle Voices”? What approaches do you take to hosting?

Eric Liu: My hosting of “Seattle Voices” grew out of the research I did for my 2004 book “Guiding Lights.” I’d spent many months traveling the country and interviewing lifechanging mentors and teachers. And when I came back, I didn’t want to stop. So I proposed doing a show in the same spirit, but one focused on the people of our city — leaders and innovators who you may never have heard of, or whose names you see in the news, but you don’t know their backstory. By asking them who influenced them and how they pass it on, I could unlock stories that could inspire and teach others. We’ve been doing the show for over 10 years now and I feel like we’ve created a collection that expresses a certain sense of the kind of city we are.

NWAW: What are your plans for the future, after promoting this book?

Eric Liu: My plans for the future are to expand the work of Citizen University, whose aim is to revive a culture of powerful, engaged citizenship in our community and country. We work with immigrants, veterans, students, artists, innovators, activists, and educators from across the political spectrum and across ethnic and regional lines.

Whether it’s my writing, teaching, speaking, or organizing, it’s all about the same goal: to create a bigger, more inclusive story of who is American, and who gets to have a real shot at an American Dream.  Andrew Hamlin can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JULY 5 – JULY 11, 2014

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