China: Learning From the BestYes, China has plenty to learn from the world’s leading democratic free countries (“Post-Game Wrap on Tibet,” Emil Amok, April 18).
China should take a page from the United States on how to treat unruly natives and start a military campaign to kill as many fighting age Tibetans as possible, like Uncle Sam did to the Indian tribes. Then China should round up the remaining Tibetans and march them to barren wasteland called reservations. Who knows, maybe in a couple hundred years, the Chinese will allow what’s left of the Tibetans to operate casinos on their reservations.
David Yeh
San Diego, Calif., April 21
‘Forbidden Kingdom’ Sounds Familiar?
This unfortunate plot sounds like a cross between Gremlins and The Never Ending Story, where a mystical object is found in Chinatown then we’re magically teleported to a mystical land (“Jackie Chan, Jet Li Enter ‘The Forbidden Kingdom,’” Reel Stories, April 18).
What also bugs me about the film is that we have two stars who should be the protagonists — not another white protagonist with the Asian girl love interest. Cliché!
James Chu
San Francisco, Calif.,
April 18
One-Liner Asian American History
That same one-liner of Chinese laborers working to build railroads was also the single bit of information I learned growing up as well (“My People’s History,” Voices From the Community, April 11). And it saddens me that it took so long to even learn that there was more to it than just that tidbit. I agree that they need to teach/incorporate more Asian American studies/history from K-12 — the younger, the better.
Jennifer Liang
New York, N.Y., April 16
Not Folding Over ‘21’
If we continue to allow Hollywood to pull this routine, they will never cast Asian leads (“‘21’ Not the First Film To ‘Whitewash’ Our History,” Reel Stories, April 4). They’ll always use the excuse that an Asian lead won’t generate enough box office revenue.
The catch is that Asian actors will never gain enough popularity to draw big revenues if they’re never cast in lead roles in the first place. Will Smith does draw big revenues these days, but 30 years ago, he would never have been cast in a lead role. The black community eventually was able to break through the Hollywood mold with its activism.
Allan Wong
Davis, Calif., April 16
As a Korean American filmmaker, I think it’s kind of flattering, actually. It’s normal for human beings to claim ownership of traits that are deemed noble or good, and disown those traits that we deem beastly. In this case, white actors imitated real-life brainy Asians. They wanted to claim this as their own trait. Some of you say it’s insulting. I say it’s flattering.
Insung Hwang
Los Angeles, Calif., April 20
China and the Olympics
The Western media outlets finger-pointing to China range from involvement in Tibet, un-involvement in Darfur, military threat, trade, lead in toys, pollution and abortions (“An Asian American Viewpoint On China, Tibet, and the Olympics,” Editorial, April 4). Napoleon once said, “China is sleeping giant. But when she awakes, the world will tremble.” Deng Xiaoping opened China for modernization with an impressive double digit growth rate with items from dollar store to computer and airplane parts.
An American politician 20 years ago made this crystal ball quote: “China is rising. If we do not improve human rights in south side of LA, Detroit and East St. Louis, China will impose economic sanctions on the U.S.” Does it now sound close to reality?
Walter Ko
San Lorenzo, Calif., April 17
Do Better
I am writing to encourage you to do better. Often times AsianWeek includes amateurish and seemingly unedited articles. In particular, I am disappointed with the quality of writing of Arthur Hu’s article in the April 4 issue (“Obama’s Right Wing Conspiracy,” Hu’s on First).
Mr. Hu’s article ranges from hyperbole to incomprehensibility. Witness the first sentence where he compares random historical phrases to a recent news snippet that “will live forever in infamy.” His assertions that Korean Methodists don’t drive out corner grocers, and Abraham Lincoln wouldn’t “throw his grandmother off a bus” are nonsensical and outlandish. I encourage you to discourage and edit such poorly composed ramblings.
Chris Nelson
San Francisco, Calif.
I’m a 40-year-old Black woman who has developed a major attraction to Asian men in the past decade (“Talking Shop: ‘BlAsian Exchanges,’” Dec. 7). I can’t say just when I discovered just how gorgeous, intelligent, and masculine some of them are, but since my eyes were opened there has been no turning back.
The problem is that it seems that race relations between blacks and Asians are reminiscent of that between whites and blacks back in the ’50s. At my age, I just don’t know if I have the patience to deal with a middle-aged man who still needs his parents approval concerning his love interest.
K.B.
Houston, Texas, April 19