Letters to the Editor: Nov. 30 - Dec. 6, 2007
November 30, 2007
Hypocrisy by The Numbers
I was taken aback by Dr. George Koo’s calling American criticism of Chinese human rights abuses “hypocrisy” (“Yahoo Takes Hit Meant for China,” Voices From the Community, Nov. 23).
By any objective measure, China’s human rights record is much worse than America’s. Look at rankings of freedom of the press, a basic human right as defined by the United Nations. Reporters Without Borders ranked the U.S. as number 44 in terms of press freedom; China was number 159, the eighth worst in the world. The difference with the U.S. press is like night and day, or tian and di, as the Chinese would say. Similar “bottom of the world” rankings apply to China when it comes to religious freedom and other civil rights.
Defending China’s human rights record by drawing some kind of moral equivalence between the human rights situation in the two countries is a willful denial of reality.
David Gleit
Via Web site
Shear Ignorance
If Margaret Tse has been working in hair salons for a quarter century, I find it impossible to believe that she was not aware of the profession’s laws (Editorial, Nov. 16). In order to safeguard public health, these laws are strictly enforced. Those who circumvent them should expect to be penalized.
Stop playing the race card here. Tse had ample time to learn both the regulations governing the hair care profession and English.
Christian Simonetti
Via Web site
All the World’s A Stage
As an 18-year-old Asian male and struggling actor, there is no doubt that typecasting will always be present — that is the nature of the beast (“Is Hollywood Giving Asian Men More Love?,” Reel Stories, Oct. 19)!
Has there been progression? Yes. Do I believe it will continue? Certainly! I strongly believe that talent will get you places, no matter whether you’re Asian, Latino, black or white.
Gentlemen, the problem is present and there’s no denying it, but actions speak louder than words. If you have this dream, get it done, don’t hold back, let your face be known and carry a strong heart. Only time will tell.
Danny Hyon
Via Web site
Editor’s Note
Rodel Rodis responds to last week’s Letter to the Editor about his Nov. 9 column: “Given the article’s space limitations, I could not provide all the facts of each case. The fact that the homeowners’ stepson was struck by a bat was not mentioned because it is not clear who struck him or how he was struck, whether it was deliberate or accidental. What is indisputable is that Renato Hughes never set foot inside the house and had nothing to do with that injury.”
Clarifications:
In a Nov. 16 article about philanthropy in the Asian American community, Pronita Gupta was the lead researcher for the Asian American/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy report on giving trends of the top U.S. foundations to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.
In a Nov. 23 article about the San Francisco Public Library’s Unsung Hero Awards, Anh Lê currently works at the Network for Elders in San Francisco.
Correction:
A Nov. 23 article about the 25 most infamous “yellow face” performances ran an image of Anthony Quinn, not Harold Huber.
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