Who is Sinking Filipino Vets: Pelosi or Palin?
September 11, 2008
In Denver at the Democratic Convention, Felix Magalong, 89, a Filipino Scout Captain who fought for the U.S. in World War II, was in his wheel chair lobbying any congressman he could find to vote for the current Filipino veterans equity bill on the table, S. 1315.
Magalong, both a former POW and a Bataan Death March survivor, may not survive the incredible politics Read more
The GOP’s Paler Than Ever: From the tainted Bush to McCain’s Sarah Palin
September 4, 2008
The tainted Bush of war and recession is practically a pariah. The more the GOP associates with him, the more his failed policies of the last 8 years indicate the need for a new direction. So it’s disappointing that during the GOP convention little was offered to suggest a new direction for America.
Instead, we get Sarah Palin, the Tina Fey look-alike and virtually unknown governor of Alaska. That is until this week, when more people found out about her daughter’s baby out of wedlock; her alleged use of her Read more
Obama’s Minority Dream
August 28, 2008
And Our Doubts
DENVER — There’s nothing quite like the hot air inside the arena of a political convention. Despite the frigid air conditioning, the rhetoric is so thick and duplicitous, after four days, it’s hard to know what’s true anymore.
But the truth of the Mile High Democrats in 2008 is obvious when you go back to real-life, away from the world-wide TV studio that is the Pepsi Center. Read more
Emil: It’s Barack O’Biden
August 23, 2008
Check out the blog at http://www.amok.asianweek.com for the latest.
Desi Obama’s New Race Cards
August 21, 2008
White and South Asian
At his $8 million San Francisco fund-raiser on Aug. 17, Barack Obama proclaimed to South Indian high donors, “I’m a desi.”
So who’s his running mate — Lucy? Nothing like a generational joke about a pioneering, very public mixed marriage couple (Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz who was not a Read more
The Games in perspective
August 14, 2008
Life, Death and the Olympics
A friend of mine writhes in pain. A tumor the size of a small medal has challenged his life. And only an Olympian effort will defeat it.
As he lies in bed battling the morphine-defying pain, it’s as if he gains strength from the images from Beijing displayed on the screen above his hospital bed. At this moment, it’s the rowers. Stroke, stroke, Read more
ABC’s Naughty Bashir
August 7, 2008
Anchor tells Obama penis joke, fails to lead at AAJA
Martin Bashir, a Brit of Pakistani descent in America, is perhaps the most visible Asian male in U.S. television news. He’s one of three anchors to replace the esteemed Ted Koppel on ABC’s Nightline and is generally noted for being a guy who has risen up, not because of skin color or good looks (Bashir’s no Hari Sreenivasin, let me tell you) but because of journalistic talent. Read more
For Obama, class trumps race
July 31, 2008
CHICAGO — I was curious what language Barack Obama would speak after last week’s “Presumptive Nominee World Tour” that included stops in Germany and the Middle East.
But when he showed up at a last-minute session of the “Unity: Journalists of Color” convention, B.O. looked predictably tired and jetlagged. He could have been sleepwalking.
Maybe Obama took the journalists of color for granted. After all, most of the 7,000 conventioneers were absent themselves, unable to change their plans after Obama delayed his appearance date from Thursday to Read more
Obama: Redefining Politics or Redefining Slime?
July 24, 2008
CHICAGO — This may be known as Obamaland, but I don’t think everyone here is in love with the guy. It depends on when he’s used you. Just read the story inside last week’s New Yorker, with the infamous cover. (You can find a link to it on my blog at amok.asianweek.com.)
Of course, I liked the cover. And it wasn’t even the most tasteless article in that issue. Turn to page 89 and you’ll see what looks like Santa Claus in a particularly giving mode with a woman in drawn red panties who Read more
Where’s the Racism in ‘New Yorker’ Cover?
July 17, 2008
I’ve always been sensitive to media portrayals of people of color, and of Asian Americans in particular. For example, a non-Asian American portrayed in a Mao suit (Hillary Clinton on the cover of the conservative National Review in 1997, satirizing the Clintons’ Asian campaign donation problem) is one thing. But with her slanted eyes and buck teeth, the satirist had crossed the line. Clothing is mere costume; give the caricature genetic traits such as deformities, and there’s your DNA evidence for racism. Read more
Daily Dose: 07/11/08
July 11, 2008
»AsianWeek Market Report
»Asian American Groups Denounce La. Proposed English-Only Commencement Policy
»Maid in Manhattan: A Tale of Abuse
»Scholar Says South Asians Should Not Be So Quick to Embrace Jindal
»Toledo Takes Home Victory From New York City Muay Thai Bout
»Dad Charged With Murdering Reluctant Bride
»Turning Bruce Lee’s Home Into A Museum Read more
Arab Americans as Asian?
July 10, 2008
Why Arab American journalists are boycotting unity
Unity: Journalists of Color was first formed among Asian American, black, Latino and Native American groups to fight discrimination in an industry dominated by whites.
But now, the leader of one minority journalism organization feels Unity is as exclusionary as the industry itself. And he may be right. Read more