Featured Job: APIAVote.org

This came up on our job bank, from our friends at APIAVote.org. Some long-time Villagers have seen the excellent, free, nonpartisan contributions they've made to our site in the past, especially around elections seasons. This is a terrifically worthy group that provides (honestly) nonpartisan education and support to Asian American voters, from the early season activities such voter awareness drives, to instructional material translation annd phone help, to monitoring and publishing detailed information about community turnout, and more.

They told us they're looking for top-notch organizer who's deeply knowledgable in diverse Asian American community concerns. If you're that kind of people, take a look:

National Field Organizer and Trainer - Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
APIAVote.org
Washington, DC

National Council of Asian Pacific Americans Statement on VT

April 18, 2007

Washington D.C. - The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) joins the rest of the nation in sending our heartfelt condolences to the families, and friends of the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech and the campus community. We would also like to express our concern for the well being of the entire student body and all those impacted by this senseless loss of life.

NCAPA is a national coalition of organizations that serve Asian Pacific American communities around the country, with expertise on a range of issues - from mental health to inter-ethnic student dialogue and civil rights. We stand ready to commit our resources and support and to work with the administration and student body at Virginia Tech in the days and months to come to begin the healing process and provide a safe atmosphere for the entire Virginia Tech campus community.

Attached is a letter that we are sending to the President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

NCAPA Member Organizations
www.ncapaonline.org

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development
Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
Asian American Institute
Asian American Justice Center
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO
Asian Pacific Islander American Vote
Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment and Leadership
Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Hmong National Development, Inc.
Indian American Center for Political Awareness
Japanese American Citizen League
Korean American Coalition
Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics
National Alliance of Vietnamese American Service Agencies
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
National Association for the Education and Advancement of Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese Americans
National Federation of Filipino American Association
National Korean American Service & Education Consortium
Organization of Chinese Americans
Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Sikh Coalition

Additional readings will be posted at Asian-American Village in both its main content departments and its news headlines section

On Imus' Heels, OCA Slams Power 105.1 FM Radio Segment as Racist

OCA Condemns Power 105.1 FM Radio Segment as Racist
The ink was barely dry on Imus' pink slip as the latest release to come our way again demanded an apology and meeting station officials for another tired, stereotype-ridden radio "shlock jock" segment.

The release, by the Organization of Chinese Americans, specifically targets the "Are You Smarter than an Asian?" segment on the Ed Lover Show with Egypt and Ashy.

I don't know -- if there's anyone on the program's staff or in its audience who still finds that any humor can still be squeezed out of the same tired old "Hung Lo" jokes and sing-song broken English accent gags, maybe they've answered their own question in abundance. Maybe it's just me, but I am finding it harder and harder to get too bent out of shape about these types of shock jock offenses, because they announce themseleves to be the products of people who are not as smart as Asians -- even dumb Asians.

If I listed all the readings and releases we've run over the past few years on the Rosies and Corollas and Jersey Boys and Sarah Silvermans of America, my wrist would fall off.

There Must Still be Something Out of Kilter
By Lloyd Williams
Commentary: Either it’s ovah for Imus, or, as sister Sojourner Truth said so many years ago, there must still be something out of kilter.
Asian Americans Take Action against Offensive Radio Remarks in Toledo, Ohio
By Theresa J. Mah, Ph.D., Department of Ethnic Studies, Bowling Green State University
Coalition seeks removal of DJ "Lucus" on Tower 98.3 FM for prank call segments ridiculing Asians
N.J. Radio Station Hosts Accused of Hate, Anti-Asian Sentiment
By LYNDA LIN, Assistant Editor, Pacific Citizen
Among other comments, 101.5 FM’s ‘Jersey Boys’ call APAs ‘fringe people’ and stir up debate about free speech and hate media
HOT 97’s Miss Info’s Future Still Unknown
By the Pacific Citizen Staff
March 2005- The Asian American radio host who objected to the tsunami parody song says she will not return to hostile work environment

...ad nauseum...

And, before we allow ourselves to get all holier-than-thou, it's worth a reminder that some of these racist shock-commentators are in fact dumb Asians (Kenneth Eng, anyone?), who are and should be targeted for our protests as well.

But, as the editors and many contributors have observed in the past -- and the Imus and Eng firings partially show -- the remedy to these sorts of incidents is to act up. Sure, make noise, protest, meet with stations, demand apologies, but above all flex the muscle of your pocketbook. Using financial pressure to voice your protest and communicating your displeasure to a station's sponsors and advertisers is not censorship, or an infrignement on free-speech. Shock jocks have the right to find humor in cliched racist jokes and get their lame thrills out of feeling they've gotten away with something naughty and so-not-P.C. and express it on the air or in print. The station has a right to employ them. And you have a right to loudly refuse to buy the products and services of anyone associated with them, and to actively discourage everyone else you know from buying them.

But first, in all cases, it's also worth giving a listen to judge for yourself. Here's the link to the online version of the show where you can hear the stream, see who's sponsoring the program, and determine what you might want to do.

U Penn Screening My Life Disoriented, Americanese Preview

A note from Chinese American filmmaker activist and frequent AAV contributor, Eric Byler:

Byler will be appearing this week at a series of talks and screenings in the Philadelphia area, discussing both his works for the silver screen and tube, and his more recent forays into producing guerilla public service and community politics videos.

Public screening tonight gives Philly folk a chance to see a screening of My Life Disoriented, and Asian American family drama he created for PBS' series Independent Lens, and bits of Americanese, a new feature-length film starring Chris Tajima, Allison Sie and Joan Chen, adapted from Shawn Wong's classic American Knees.

Eric Byler Talk, Screening of My Life Disoriented
April 18, 2007
University of Pennsylvania
402 Logan Hall
249 S 36th Street
Philadelphia, PA

Byler will also be appearing on April 19th at nearby Swarthmore College.

Dean Frank Wu Resigning 2008

Michigan's Wayne State University Law School Dean and author of Yellow--Race in America Beyond Black and White Frank H. Wu announced his resignation as dean, effective May 2008. Wu, who has been dean of the Law School since 2004, gave family reasons, specifically the health concerns of his wife, as the reason for his resignation and need to return to Washington DC. Wu plans to focus on several initiatives before his departure, in particular the continuing progress on the fundraising for the Damon J. Keith Classroom Building & Center for Civil Rights at the Law School.

Frank Wu has been a friend of Asian American Village for many years, as well as a prolific former columnist. As the first Asian American law school dean, he has been an incredible role model for our community. He has also been at the forefront of our battles for affirmative action and diversity at Michigan.

We at the Village wish you and your wife, Carol Izumi, the best. We know we will still hear from you in Washington DC. But Michigan will miss you! Check out his blog and if you haven't read Yellow--Race in America Beyond Black and White yet, read it now, it's brilliant!

Weekend in Paradise - @ AAV News

Asian American Village News: "Weekend Focus: Hawai'i Culture"

As regular Villagers know, the editors have been spending a lot of time in the islands over the past few years, a series of readings from the AP got us in an island mood this weekend. Many of them are following up on the Merrie Monarch festival, the annual fest for "the perpetuation, preservation, and promotion of the art of hula and the Hawaiian culture through education." But another one got us to thinking -- the good, thorough article by the AP's JAYMES SONG, "Once near extinction, Hawaiian language making strong comeback".

Richly annotated with a historical timeline sidebar and list of "fast facts," the piece gives a good sense of how community, academic and public partnership can work to preserve what would otherwise be lost.

It's an important lesson. Very, very often, preparing the news for our sister site, The Native American Village, we see disheartening reports of indigenous languages fizzling out with the passing of elders -- usually an especially long-lived woman -- known to be the last speaker of various tribal languages. Across the country, dedicated linguists and academics are working at saving such languages, but the efforts are likely doomed without the support and particpation of local families.

As Song observes, for example, the parents of children in an immersion school for Hawaiian language must out of necessity actively participate in their kids' study: "With very few children's books available in Hawaiian, parents paste translations on top of the English text. So, for example, Shel Silverstein's popular book, The Giving Tree, becomes O Kumula'au Aloha."

Of the criticism that such immersion schools will put students at a disadvantage because their focus on an "unviable" language would presumably detract from their learning English, Song cites studies that suggest that "highly bilingual students tend to have higher cognitive abilities."

More at the article here.

More resources elsewhere at:

Ulukau, the Hawaiian Electronic Library
Hawaiian Dictionary
'Aha Punana Leo language program
University of Hawai'i at Hilo's College of Hawaiian Language

Asian American Activists Call White House Immigration Paper ‘Anti-Family’

Asian American Activists Call White House Immigration Paper ‘Anti-Family’:

Newly leaked White House immigration draft could be as devastating as the Chinese Exclusion Act, according to Asian American community leaders

New America Media, News Report, Eugenia Chien, Posted: Apr 06, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO -- Asian American community leaders called a newly leaked White House immigration draft “inhumane” and “un-American” because it calls taking away the right of legal immigrants to sponsor their relatives to join them and breaking up families as a result.

The document containing “a set of principles” for immigration reform drafted by key Republican Congressional representatives was circulated in Washington last week. The plan creates temporary visas for undocumented immigrants and new workers, but it also puts more limits on American citizens’ ability to bring their parents, children over age 21 and siblings to the United States.

“This plan attacks families and offers false hope for those seeking to legalize,” says to Karen K. Narasaki, executive director of the Washington-based Asian American Justice Center. "

More...

ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining

According to the American Newspaper Editors Association 2007 survey on the representation of minorities in U.S. news media, the percentages of minority and women journalists working in America’s newsrooms both declined in the past year. According to ASNE, it is only the second time since the survey started in 1978 that the percentage of minorities has declined.

In a year marked by news organization layoffs that were headlines in themselves, ASNE’s annual “census” found that the percentage of minorities fell to 13.62 percent, down from 13.87 last year. The percentage of women also dropped from 37.70 to 37.56 percent.

The percentage of minorities in supervisory roles at daily newspapers dropped to 10.9 percent, equal to the percentage from two years ago. The downward trend holds true for student and entry-level employment as well. According to ASNE’s release, the percentage of minority interns stands at nearly 27 percent, “a number that has continued to fall as newspapers cut back” on internships.

The one silver lining in the report seemed to come from online media. ASNE’s census of daily newspapers for the first time counted full-time staffers who work entirely at online publishing activities by their companies. Among online media staffs, the percentage of minorities on staff was an estimated 16 percent, which helped make the drop in overall employment numbers seem less severe than they might have been.

See a fuller report at IMDiversity, ASNE Report Finds Percentage of Minorities in Newsrooms Declining, or view detailed data tables from the census at the ASNE website.

Frances' Japanese Pop Culture Experts on BBC

You can hear Frances Kai-Hwa Wang’s daughters, Margot and Hao Hao, interviewed on the March 27, 2007 “Japanese Culture Report,” on BBC Radio's “The World.” The report is about the increasing influence Japan has on American pop culture. Japanese superheroes are popping up in Super Bowl commercials and manga novels are preferred reading for many young Americans. The BBC was interviewing Roland Kelts, the hapa author of JapanAmerica--How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US, and some other Japanese pop culture experts at a bookstore in Boston, and the girls just happened to be in the bookstore, sitting on the floor, reading a stack of manga as tall as they were.

Margot is the first child's voice listing all her favorite manga. Hao Hao isn't identified by name, only as "Margot's friend" (she's really mad about that), but she's the second child's voice talking about why she likes manga...they're pretty cute...future Asian Pacific American culture critics perhaps?? Here's the link.

Assocation for Asian American Studies in NYC

In New York City at the Park Avenue Grand Hyatt, April 4-8, 2007, the AAAS annual meeting will attract Asian Americanists from all disciplines and different regions of the country. The annual meeting will highlight current scholarly research and developments within the field and bring together experts and professionals with an interest in the field. The theme of the 2007 AAAS Conference is “Crosstown Connections: Asian American Urbanism and Interracial Encounters”.

Ramayana Across Asia at UM

The Ramayana, or Rama’s Journey, is a foundational epic tale in many South and Southeast Asian cultures. Over two thousand years old, the story spread along trade routes throughout the South Asian subcontinent and on to Southeast Asian empires, where it was carved into the reliefs of temple complexes such as Angkor Wat. But the story is not a relic; it remains vibrant and widely known across Asia today. This series explores and presents the Ramayana from diverse cultural and performance traditions in India, Thailand and Indonesia. Includes performances (gamelan concert, classical and contemporary dance, contemporary theatre, more), lectures, and demonstrations. All events are free and open to the public. For tickets and/or more information, please email cseas@umich.edu or call 734.764.0352. Check out the University of Michigan Center for Southeast Asian Studies for schedule, March 28 to April 14, 2007, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Follow up on Coalition 121 "Comfort Women" Resolution Action

This is from one of the organizers:

Based on preliminary analyses by the organizers, Coalition 121's lobby day, a number of U.S. legislators appear to be favorably viewing Congressman Mike Honda's resolution calling on Japan to recognize and apologize to former WWII "Comfort Women". During the Coalition's lobbying day on March 23, activists and volunteers visited some 130 offices on Capitol Hill to urge legislators to support the resolution by signing or cosponsoring it.

The Coalition reports that four representatives -- James McGovern, Jesse Jackson, Linda Sanchez, and Bobby Rush -- have already confirmed their cosponsorships of the resolution.

---

Also, in an only somewhat related item, we've posted a new Secret Asian Man strip, "The Abe Interview," by cartoon satirist Tak Toyshima, a fresh take on the issue for this year's Women's History Month.

Bright Sheng’s Threnody for Pipa and Orchestra, "Nanking! Nanking!"

The University of Michigan Center for Chinese Studies presents as part of the Arts on Earth Initiative and China Theme Year:

Bright Sheng’s Threnody for Pipa and Orchestra, NANKING! NANKING!
Panel Discussion with Video and Film Viewing
Friday, March 30, 2007, 4:00pm
Schorling Auditorium, School of Education (SEB)
610 E. University, Ann Arbor, Michigan

U-M MacArthur awarding-winning composer and music director Bright Sheng’s symphony Nanking! Nanking! was created in memory of Chinese victims of the 1937 massacre during the Sino-Japanese War. The composer tells the story “through the ‘eyes’ of one person (the pipa) who is not only a victim, but a witness and survivor… it is also a story of humanity’s spirit…” Why have issues of Japanese war nationalism and denial surfaced in this 70th anniversary of the Nanking Massacre in Japan, China, and the United States at a time when these nations reflect on issues of war and war memory? The NM is one of the most explosive metaphors for the still contested Pacific War, and the nationalist ambitions that drive that war and contemporary wars.

Historian Mark Selden of Cornell University will begin the session with an overview of the Nanjing Massacre (40 min), followed by a DVD viewing of Bright Sheng’s Nanking! Nanking! score played by the U-M Symphony Orchestra (18 min), and a panel discussion with Bright Sheng, Mark Selden, music critic Sheila Melvin, and Stanford University conductor Cai Jindong. Nicholas Howson, U-M School of Law, will moderate the panel (50 min). The History Channel’s “Rape of Nanking” documentary film will conclude the program--please note that the video contains graphic film footage of the conflict in Nanking.

A related lecture by Mark Selden is scheduled for Thursday, March 29, entitled “Bombing and the American Way of War: From the Pacific War to Iraq” at 1014 Tisch Hall at 4:00.

PANEL:
Bright Sheng, Leonard Bernstein Distinguished University Professor of Composition, University of Michigan
Cai Jindong, Director of Orchestral Studies, Stanford University
Sheila Melvin, music journalist and a frequent contributor to The Wall Street Journal, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times
Mark Selden, Research Associate, East Asia Program, Cornell University
Moderator: Nicholas C. Howson, University of Michigan School of Law

Statement by 121 Coalition Supporting H.Res. 121

Call to Action from 121 Coalition
support121.org

About H.Res. 121

Japan's Imperial Army enslaved 200,000 girls and women of Asia during WWII and exploited them as "comfort women."

But there was no comfort and many were not yet sixteen.

These girls and women were victims of gang rape and brutal torture organized by the Japanese military that resulted in death, dehumanization and disease.

It's terrible enough that this atrocity was committed, but the suffering continues because despite testimonies from survivors and official documentation, Japan has not fully acknowledged responsibility for the crime. Their past attempts at apologies were equivocal and vague. And the truth is not taught in schools.

In fact, Prime Minister Abe and the Japanese government are now denying that the government played any role in raping of these women. Now they want to maintain that these girls were well-paid prostitutes at brothels. These women have evidence on their bodies: the knife wounds, broken bones, the diseases, removed uteruses. This is a moral outrage and a threat to global peace.

H.Res. 121, proposed by Congressman Mike Honda, calls upon the Japanese government to make an unequivocal and official apology for committing this war crime. Support H.Res. 121 and stand on the side of human rights, women's rights, global peace, truth and reconciliation.

For a list of organizations in our coalition, to join, or to learn about events and actions, go to: support121.org

Take action now!

-----


For more info:
House Resolution 121 : http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ca15_honda/COMFORTWOMEN.html
Mike Honda's statement at the Feb. 15th hearing: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/hon021507.htm
Mindly Kotler's testimony: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/kot021507.htm
Dr. Ok Cha Soh's testimony: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/soh021507.htm
Testimony of comfort woman, Lee Yong-Soo: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/lee021507.htm
Testimony of comfort woman, Kim Koon-Ja: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/kim021507.htm
Testimony by comfort woman, Jan Ruff O'Herne: http://internationalrelations.house.gov/110/ohe021507.htm
Dai Sil Kim-Gibson: Silence Broken film and book
Japanese War Crimes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_war_crimes_in_mainland_Asia
Comfort Women News Archive: http://comfortwomen.wordpress.com/archived-news-articles/

Also: On "Comfort Women" by Secret Asian Man

While we're at it -- looking at Mike Honda's Resolution and the Japanese PM's response, that is:



We dug this out of the archives from a previous Asian-American Village Women's History Month edition. By the wildly popular, ever-controversial Secret Asian Man creator Tak Toyoshima, the strip tackled a similar theme a couple of years back -- this one in reference to the positioning of "voluntary comfort women" in Japanese school textbooks. We called the strip, "Why Japan Needs a Women's History Month".

Yul Kwon weighs in on Comfort Women

Reality TV star Yul Kwon has joined in the movement in support of CA Rep. Mike Honda's call for Japan to accept responsibility for the wartime treatment of "comfort women".

Kwon, who won the competition on last season's Survivor: Cook Islands, is featured in a new video by filmmaker and frequent Asian-American Village contributor Eric Byler now circulating on YouTube, Yul Kwon Supports Resolution Calling on Japan to Apologize.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe remains dug-in in his insistence that there was no forced recruitment of Asian sex slaves by the Japanese military during World War II. The growing clamor on this side of the Pacific, as well as by members of the opposition, is certainly embarrassing to the PM.

Check out the Yul Kwon video

Chinese politician wins in N. Ireland

A fitting story following up on International Women's Day, and for our Women's History Month edition, moving toward St. Patty's Day -- this reported by By SHAWN POGATCHNIK of the Associated Press:

Chinese politician wins in N. Ireland

Anna Lo being called the first Chinese elected lawmaker in Europe

"Lo, a Hong Kong native who has lived in Northern Ireland for 32 years, on
Friday became the first ethnic minority to be elected to political office in
this almost exclusively white British territory. Chinese media reports also
described her as the first Chinese person to be elected as a lawmaker anywhere
in Europe."

and this...

"Lo, the 56-year-old chief executive of the Chinese Welfare Association in
Belfast, said many of the approximately 10,000 Cantonese-speaking residents of
Northern Ireland have lived here for more than three decades — and had never
voted before her candidacy."

Featured Job with JACL - Japanese American Citizens League

It's come to our attention that our friends at JACL posted a job in our job bank looking for someone to direct Development activities in their San Francisco headquarters. The position was posted on Jan 13, and will expire soon. But if you or someone you know might be interested in working with JACL in its civil rights mission, please check it out and make a copy of the posting right away. So far, JACL has not removed the posting to indicate that the search is closed, but check with them directly.

Membership/Fund Development Director
Japanese American Citizens League - San Francisco, CA

A/PIA High School Conference at University of Michigan

Each year, the University of Michigan United Asian American Organizations (UAAO) is proud to present the Asian Pacific Islander American (A/PIA) High School Conference, a daylong event of learning, empowerment, and action. Historically, over 200 high school students come from different Detroit and metro-Detroit area high schools to participate in the conference, which features A/PIA-issue workshops, small group sessions, special guest speakers, and performances. The planning and execution of the conference is a collaborative effort from University of Michigan undergraduate students, faculty and staff, graduate/medical/law students, and members of the A/PIA community. Through careful budgeting and planning, this conference is offered completely free to the high school students.

This year's conference, to be held on March 24, 2007 at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor, will journey through the Asian/Pacific Islander Americans' identities by exploring issues in a multicultural world. "Completing the Puzzle" addresses our cross-cultural identities through workshops that tackle issues of representation in the media, pop culture, history, gender and sexuality, and much more.

Japanese Pop Culture Experts on BBC

On Friday, March 9, 2007, you can hear Frances Kai-Hwa Wang’s daughters, Margot and Hao Hao, interviewed on “The World,” a BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) radio program. The BBC was interviewing Roland Kelts, the hapa author of JapanAmerica—How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US, and some other Japanese pop culture experts at a bookstore in Boston, and there were the girls, sitting on the floor, reading a stack of manga as tall as they were. The BBC asked them what they liked about manga. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what they said. I’ll be listening too.