Korean New Year

Happy Korean Lunar New Year!!!

May you stay healthy and be well.

May you prosper in the year ahead.

Ok, I'm done sounding like a fortune cookie. However, I do truly wish these things for you. In the coming year, I believe you can achieve your goals or at least take another step closer to achieving them. I'm currently reading The Greatest Salesman in the World by og mandino. It contains truths which could be applied to any goal, not just being a great salesman. The first pearl of wisdom or the one I am clinging to at the moment is "Form good habits and become their slave." I'm realizing that some habits I've acquired aren't conducive to the goals and dreams I want to achieve. Now it's time to start anew and do things differently in my life. Here's to a new start (raises imaginary glass and takes a drink).

angry Asians

Article featured in New Demographic e-newletters:

Why are Asian-Americans so damn angry all the time?

I was thrilled to be a part of a panel discussion about Asian-American media activism at the Museum of Chinese in the Americas (MoCA) in New York City on July 23rd titled "WHY SO ANGRY ???"

We discussed some of the major media incidents of the last ten years, including Miss Saigon, Hot 97's Tsunami Song, Rosie O'Donnell, and Kenneth Eng.

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jeff Yang moderated the discussion. The panelists included Andrew Hsiao (WBAI, New Press), Albert Lim (Fallout Central), Beau Sia (Def Jam Poet), Minya Oh aka Miss Info (HOT 97 FM), and Phil Yu (AngryAsianMan.com).

One of the main points I made during the discussion was that we need to ask ourselves where the impulse to protest is coming from.

Are you opposed to the Long Duk Dong caricature because as an anti-racist you believe all racist stereotypes are demeaning and dehumanizing? Or are you opposed to it because it is personally inconvenient to you? e.g., makes it harder for you to get laid.

Are you opposed to the "me love you long time" stereotype because it is racist and sexist? Or are you opposed to it because it personally inconveniences you? e.g., makes every man think you will give it up for "one dollah one dollah!"

If you're Asian-American and you are moved to protest an offensive Asian-American stereotype because of your anti-racist beliefs, then you should be just as likely to protest an equally offensive African-American, or Latino, or Arab-American stereotype.

But I just don't see a whole lot of that coming out of the Asian-American community (or any other communities, for that matter). Which makes me think that for many people, activism is not truly about anti-racism or anti-sexism, but more about consolidating their own power base in society.

I hope that more people will take up no. 3 of New Demographic's core beliefs:

We go beyond the concerns of the specific community to which we belong and recognize that when one group is discriminated against, it is an affront to us all.

For more about the panel, check out Kai Chang's write-up on Zuky.net.

Yellow Rage

one word: Wow!

Def Poetry Jam

"ching chong"

More recent than Michael Richard's rant was Rosie O'Donnell's "interpretation" and the consequences of her "comedic" act on The View.

Beau Sia responds to Rosie O'Donnell's "ching chong" comment on The View with "An Open Letter to All the Rosie O'Donnells".

Margaret Cho: Asian Chicken Salad

So, this clip is soooo funny! I crack up every time I watch it. The awkwardness of people; dang, it's funny.

Alvin Lau: Asia-America, Where Have You Gone?

Lau's poem/spoken word really hit me and I appreaciated it for articulating some of the frustrations I have.