some interesting stuffs

here are a couple of intense posts that have caught my eye recently…

via bastard.logic, on ted kennedy and recognizing the woman whose life he was responsible for losing, Mary Jo Kopechne.

via propublica and NYT, on what happened at Memorial Memorial Medical Center the days after Hurricane Katrina the what some call the euthanization of patients. This calls into question medical ethics in times of disaster.

wtf!

via angryasianman:

Blech. Melissa sends me this gross-out Craigslist posting written by some fetishizing fool in Chicago going on about this cute Asian girl he spotted walking down the street, and his ignorant-ass fantasy about “reserved and mysterious” Asian women:

Cute Asian Girl – 35 (Lincoln Park Area)

Walked past you, you wearing jeans, black top.

Looked like you worked in Food Service, maybe a Chinese or sushi restaurant?

You gave me a double take, smiled and walked away.

I was so dumbfounded that a beautiful asian girl (my dream girl) admired me, what is it about asian orientation that makes you irresistable to most white guys? Me anyway. Do asian girls, when they get together as friends ever talk about White guys or are you supposed to stick to your own race?

Maybe that’s why asian women are such a fantasy to us, because you’ll never let us know, you’re very reserved and mysterious! Is it shyness?

I want to be the guy walking down the street with you, the envy of every guy walking down the street, cause you know what they’re fantasizing about.

Maybe that would be the beginning of other asian girls becoming more assertive and going after what they really want.

If it was you, or you read this, reply! I don’t want another day to go by not knowing you.

I shudder to think that someone else gets to experience you, your laugh, your smile. Can’t wait to hear from you.

Any asian girls want to answer any of these questions, i’d love to understand.

Black loafers, jeans, white button down, blue oxford blazer, white pocket square. Do you remember me? Cause I can’t think about anything else but you!
Carrying my Northwestern Plastic Surgery Center Blue Duffle Bag, yes, i’m a Doctor, but that shouldn’t matter.

Yeah, I know. Gross. Asian girl, you just had a missed connection with the lonely Lincoln Park doctor. It seems the guy didn’t have to the balls to do anything about it… Hey! Just like Asian girls who should be “more assertive” about “going after what they really want.” 

A handful of the reply posts are pretty pathetic or just downright inappropriate. But here’s a really great response posted by Melissa’s friend, an “absolutely exasperated and angry neighborhood Asian” who’s not putting up with this guy’s fetishizing nonsense:

Dear Sir,
I’d like to go through your post with you step by step, and perhaps it will become clear to you exactly why no confident, self assured Asian girl will likely ever become interested in you.

Firstly, you make the assumption that, simply because she’s Asian that she works at an Asian restaurant. Wow. Really????????????

Then, you make the assumption that Asian women are shy, submissive, reserved, mysterious, and that they rarely “go after what they really want.”

As an Asian- American woman myself, I can’t say that I am any of the above, except perhaps reserved, since it’s fairly common that ignorant men make passes at me, and so I have learned to become much less socially forward than I was in my youth. It isn’t shyness, it’s annoyance. It can be incredibly frustrating to know that you view me as some sort of curiosity to be satisfied, like some sort of strange new animal or conquest that you feel you need to pursue. I realize that you make assumptions about me simply because of my ethnicity and appearance, but I am not interested in being an ambassador into your exotic sexual fantasies and inquiries.

As well, I’d like to ask the following question:
Are you assuming that most Asian women, given that oh-so-rare chance to, as you put it “go for what they really want,” will immediately pursue some supposedly rich, opportunistic American man with a larger penis than her Asian counter part? How very flattering in your favor, but again, incorrect. Bordering on asinine, really.

My eyes are not almond shaped so that you can tell me how pretty they are.
My hair is not silky and black so that you can say “You people always have such nice hair!”
I was not put on this earth to be your latest trend in ethnic obsession.
No, I don’t think that Margaret Cho or Ms. Swan impressions are funny.
I get tired of having men try to speak my “native language” to me when most often, they guess incorrectly.
I don’t ask you what ethnicity you are, and when you answer “I’ve got a little Irish in me,” I don’t ask you if you know any Gaelic.

Clearly it does NOT matter one bit that you are a doctor because all of that education has done very little for your ignorance.

Would you really like to know why no intelligent, self respecting Asian woman in her right mind will ever become involved with you? Because we all know better. And THOSE are the things we discuss when we vent about the men who hit on us EVERY DAY!

At the risk of sounding redundant, how DARE you assume that she works in an Asian restaurant.

You fucking moron.

Signed,
Your absolutely exasperated and angry neighborhood Asian

Well said, Exasperated and Angry, on behalf of all of us. So, my Chicago friends, if you happen to be hanging out in Lincoln Park, and spot a lonely doctor dude afflicted with a serious case of Yellow Fever, carrying around a Northwestern Plastic Surgery Center Blue Duffle Bag, you know who you’re dealing with. You’ve been warned.

this is dope

7TH MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF WOMEN AGAINST MILITARISM

Resistance, Resilience, and Respect for Human Rights
CHinemma’, Nina’maolek, yan Inarespetu para Direchon Taotao

Location: University of Guam, Mangilao, Guåhan
Dates: September 14-19, 2009

Women across the globe have endured tremendous struggles to protect their families and survive during times of war and unrest. It is from these struggles that women have gained the strength to fight for peace. This September, they will gather on the island of Guam for the 7th Meeting of the International Network of Women Against Militarism themed, “Resistance, Resilience and Respect for Human Rights”.

The five-day conference will bring together women from Japan, Okinawa, South Korea, Hawaii, Philippines, Australia, Republic of Belau, Marshall Islands, Guam, United States, Puerto Rico and Saipan – all of whom have felt the tremendous impacts of US military bases in their homelands.

The International Network of Women Against Militarism has been meeting since 1997 to share information and strategize about the negative effects of US military operations. These effects include military violence against women and girls, the plight of mixed-race Amerasian children abandoned by US military fathers, environmental contamination, cultural degradation and the distortion of local economies. They focus on how military institutions, values, policies and operations impact communities, especially women.

The United States has had a strong military presence on Guam for more than a century, and occupies nearly one-third of the island. Guam, which has been dubbed “the tip of the spear” by the US Department of Defense, is in the midst of an unprecedented military build-up as the US plans to move 17,000 Marines and their dependents from Okinawa to the island. The conference comes at a critical time in Guam’s history, and aims to bring international attention to the concerns being raised about the proposed build-up.

The conference will feature workshops and public forums on human trafficking and prostitution; political arrangements with the United States; rethinking peace and security; exploring alternatives for economic sustainability; environmental contamination and toxicity; and much more.

There will also be a historical tour of the island; a community vigil to honor the past and heal for the future; a public art event featuring local and international artists; and many opportunities to network and establish goals for the future.

For more information please contact: Dr. LisaLinda Natividad at lisanati@yahoo.com or (671) 735-2962.

Sponsoring Organizations: Conscious Living; Famoksaiyan; Fuetsan Famalao’an; Guåhan Coalition for Peace and Justice; Guåhan Indigenous Collective; GUAHAN Project; Global Fund for Women; Office of Minority Health Resource Center; Sage Project, Incorporated; Women and Gender Studies Program, University of Guam.

sad. annoyed.

it’s been a while – heres some news to brighten your day! i’m in a shitty mood.

From Marie Clare magazine: The New Trophy Wives: Asian Women

From the OC Regiter: 12 arrested in prostitution raid in Garden Grove

 

On a brighter note, I’ve started watching THE WIRE  who some call the best show on television. i’m into season 3 and i know that it ends in season 4. then what am i supposed to do? i must say tho, between the wire and BSG, there is some really good television out there. too bad both shows ended! at least i still have the office. and btw, 2 of the actors in the wire have also had spots in the office! haha…

what the…

Sodomayer. what the hell is this.

this is telling…

the ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ policy is wacked. Clinton’s policy back in the day said that if anyone in the military identified as LGBT, they should stay in the closet, no one ask their sexuality and no one tell their sexuality. And if you disclose that you are gay, that is grounds for being discharged. 

Earlier this month, Rachel Maddow had Asian American Dan Choi on as a guest, a member of the US military. He was recently kicked out the military for saying his is gay. He has gotten a lot of press. But did you know that one LGBT person who was discharged before Dan Choi was Asian American Sandy Tsao. The press is critical to repeal the DADT policy, and I am amazed at the power and visibility that Dan Choi has to put this issue in the media forefront. And also my gender lens is asking – why is the press going all crazy for Dan when Sandy was also outspoken about the issue? Apparently the only press that was interested was ethnic media. Give a sister some airtime!

This is all a surprising to me because they are both Chinese American! And in the military! And queer! I’m letting it all marinate now.

And the other question – i am trying to wrap my head around the framework of justice, being queer, and being in the US military. It’s a lot for me to think about right now…

the party test

register here

catching up

life has been coming to a head these past few weeks with a car accident, no car, doctors, large conference (all in addition to my LIFE). but wanted to give you a heads up on my friend taz’s blog on Sepia Mutiny about Deaf Desis!!! check it!

f-u.

via http://www.chron.com:

AUSTIN — A North Texas legislator during House testimony on voter identification legislation said Asian-descent voters should adopt names that are “easier for Americans to deal with.”

The comments caused the Texas Democratic Party on Wednesday to demand an apology from state Rep. Betty Brown, R-Terrell. But a spokesman for Brown said her comments were only an attempt to overcome problems with identifying Asian names for voting purposes.

The exchange occurred late Tuesday as the House Elections Committee heard testimony from Ramey Ko, a representative of the Organization of Chinese Americans.

Ko told the committee that people of Chinese, Japanese and Korean descent often have problems voting and other forms of identification because they may have a legal transliterated name and then a common English name that is used on their driver’s license on school registrations.

Easier for voting?

Brown suggested that Asian-Americans should find a way to make their names more accessible.

“Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?” Brown said.

Brown later told Ko: “Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?”

Democratic Chairman Boyd Richie said Republicans are trying to suppress votes with a partisan identification bill and said Brown “is adding insult to injury with her disrespectful comments.”

Brown spokesman Jordan Berry said Brown was not making a racially motivated comment but was trying to resolve an identification problem.

Berry said Democrats are trying to blow Brown’s comments out of proportion because polls show most voters support requiring identification for voting. Berry said the Democrats are using racial rhetoric to inflame partisan feelings against the bill.

“They want this to just be about race,” Berry said.

UPDATE: the AZNs are pissed. check out sepiamutiny, angryasianman, racialicious, racewire. And here’s some video too. 

fix you

one of my most favorite songs in the world. one of a handful that can make me cry when i hear it! this song even has its own wikipedia entry! genious!!!!