Letters to the Editor: Investing in Higher Education, Conservative Asian American Christians, Rick Quan Fired
June 4, 2008
Investing in Higher Education
I was the Student Body President at San Francisco State University (”Young, Broke and Educated,” Beyond Borders, May 23). We drove to Sacramento and Long Beach time and time again to fight the Trustees and the Governor over fee increases. Our fee increases are actually tax increases because the fees we pay go directly to the State’s General Fund, not directly to the CSU, UC or the Community Colleges.
The federal and state government have failed to make an adequate investment in higher education for the last three decades. It is up to us to push for local initiatives to help students and teachers.
I’m running for the San Francisco Community College Board because of students like Eming who are struggling to stay in school not because of a lack of focus or initiative but because our elected official are failing us. By cutting our access to high quality, affordable higher education, our elected officials are cutting our future.
Chris Jackson
San Francisco, Calif., May 27
Conservative Asian American Christians
Bruce Reyes-Chow fails to distinguish between theological, cultural, and political conservatism (”Asian American Christians: Why we tend to be conservative,” Beyond Borders, May 16).
Theologically, Asian American Christians are overwhelmingly conservative (evangelical or fundamentalist) because liberal Christianity has little to no evangelistic drive and Asians are not historically Christian - therefore Asian Americans who are Christian are recent (relatively speaking) converts to a theologically conservative faith.
Culturally and politically, there is a clear conservative or traditionalist pulse within most the Asian American community to begin with. Part of this is traditional Asian values. Another is multiple anti-communist immigration pattern that supports an interventionist foreign policy.
I work in ministry and consider myself theologically conservative, culturally/socially progressive, and politically moderate. I would characterize the Asian American Christian community as substantially more socially, culturally, and politically progressive than their equally theologically conservative white counterparts - and not significantly more conservative in these areas as compared to other Asian Americans.
Calvin Chen
Via asianweek.com, May 27
Rick Quan Fired
I read news of the layoffs on the KPIX website, and Rick Quan was only referred to as a “reporter” while Bill Schechner and Manny Ramos were considered “veterans with decades of experience” (”Rick Quan Fired,” Emil Amok, May 16). I’m not saying they aren’t, but at least put Quan in that category, too - 20-plus years ain’t enough? KPIX has lost my viewership.
Rocky Chau
San Francisco, Calif., May 16
Not trying to make this sound like a eulogy: I remember Quan as being nothing less than classy and articulate, the kind of quality you would want delivering news (especially at this sports-gone-crazy juncture).
I don’t want to fuel the stereotype fire, but you gotta wonder what would happen in the Black community if Martin Wyatt was dropped all of a sudden.
What is the point of marginalizing an anchor who has worked for 20-plus years with a “Dear John” letter? I will not watch Channel 5 again.
Hyon Lee
San Jose, Calif., May 20
Age Ain’t Nothing But a Number
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has a brilliant track record (”Are You Ready for McCain/Jindal?” Emil Amok, May 9). Some raise an issue about his relative youth, at age 36. Actually, by historical standards, 36 is a fairly mature age for a national leader.
Look at some of the greatest politicial/military leaders in history and their ages at rise to power: Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of France at age 30, Emperor at 35; Adolf Hitler, Chancellor of Germany, age 44; Taizong of Tang, Emperor at 27; Elizabeth I, Queen of England at age 25; Alexander the Great, King of Macedon at 20; William Pitt, the Younger, Prime Minister of Great Britain, age 24.
I think McCain-Jindal will rally whites, Asians and Latinos, and crush Obama or Clinton in November.
In-Chul Sohn, J.D.
Houston, TX, May 25
Since I heard Jindal is probably going to be McCain’s running mate, I would totally consider voting for McCain in favor over Obama, seeing as he might bring something to the table for Asian Americans.
However after reading how he’s very conservative, and a believer in “intelligent” design, and white-washed to the point where Obama is even more Asian than him, I guess I’ll continue to stick with Obama’s side. Never liked McCain and conservatives anyways.
Rocky Chau
San Francisco, Calif., May 28
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