With April weather being inclement so far (gray, overcasts, occasional showers and thunderstorm popping up out of nowhere), I began to contemplate closet cleaning as a weekend activity.
The unimaginable thought of doing away with a substantial number in articles of clothing is both amusing and daunting.
First, if you don not known this about me, I was/am a clotheshorse. An example, I have two wardrobes which are seasonally focused, and I rotate them between numerous suitcases, plastic bins and the closet. Second, I need to learn to become unattached to what was and is a material expression of my individuality and "middle class-ness" symbols of a certain station in the social order. Do you know of others who own a tuxedo, fur coat, leather pants?
There is the Spring/summer wardrobe of linen trousers and shirts; patterned and vividly colored short and long sleeve button shirts; lightweight layering sweaters and Sport coats (many also in linen). Fall and winter wardrobe, not surprisingly comprise of more sweaters; subdued colors for long sleeve shirts; and trousers bordering on bland (browns, blues, black) mainly lightweight wool with a few that are heavier for those trips to the East Coast.
And of course there are the accessories: kerchiefs, scarves, hats, gloves, shawls, etc. some in leather, most in silk or cotton blended with cashmere. In addition, there are various coats and jackets. I also collect vintage suits (40’s, 50’s, military –Naval) for those occasions that calls for more flair and style beyond the basic black suit. Did I mention shoes? I have to say, that penchant for acquisition is well curved.
My first thought was get rid of “ugly clothes.” What constitutes ugly clothes, I mused, hmmm!:
A) Makes me look fat;
B) Makes me look in poor health because of the object’s color (pasty);
C) What was I thinking!;
D) Clothes that are clearly out of season (years of idleness);
E) Poor or ill-fitting, now in the era of “slim fit;”
F) Its own category pleated pants or pleated anything, but definitely pleated pants –though arguably it can be said this can also make you look fat. For me, who needs to look “hippy” and not the 60’s version;
G) Clothing that are made of unnatural materials (they cling, they itch, they ride up, just all wrong)
H) It cannot be part of an ensemble that would subtly indicate being tasteful or stylish. better yet dapper.
I) Perhaps the hardest of category are items that hold a story.
What to do with these pieces? This is where I falter, save it for the next trip to the Philippines, store it for the next garage sale, or I could get money if I sell it on EBAY! You get my drift, reasons for not doing away with it. I envisioned once to have a clothes swap with fellow sized XS or S, this would mean not ridding myself of clothes, just trading.
This time I resolve to bring it directly to the Goodwill or Saint Vincent de Paul, now that I have a station wagon which can be filled with plastic bins to be expressly dropped off at its next haunts. Wish me luck; I will post updates and pictures (before and after) because this is the another way I will be prompted to get it done. Feel free to check in with me either on Facebook, email, or a comment on this blog.
Friday, April 05, 2013
Friday, April 13, 2012
Casual Carpool: Emblematic of American's Penchance for Less Consumption
I live in the East Bay, Oakland to be exact. Since the rise of gasoline prices well into the $4 a gallon range, I have committed to either using mass transit (BART, MUNI) or to regularly participate in the casual carpool. I also limited use of my personal car as sole driver/passenger.
For the uninitiated, Casual Carpool is mostly an East Bay phenomenon. A driver can pick up passengers at designated locations, access and cross the Bay Bridge using the carpool lane (High Occupancy Vehicle --HOV) and pay a nominal $2.50 toll per car.
Why would someone practice this habit? There are many advantages: from an Ecological standpoint, three passengers sharing one automobile is better for the environment (less gas use, less carbon emissions, get it). From a time management vantage point, you zip pass many single driver autos waiting to cross the toll plaza and the "metering lights" as they approach the bridge. Both are sources of traffic back up, adding upwards of 30 to 60 minutes to one's commute. The third is financial, as a driver on the HOV lane paying only $2.50 vs. the $6 toll charged during commute hours.
Recently, casual carpool passengers donate $1 per person to the driver, thus costing me only .50 cents out of pocket. If you were to do the math, I now spend $2.50 a week to cross the bridge, which otherwise would cost me $30. In addition, if you were to convert the time saved from sitting in traffic and multiply it by your hourly salary, the savings is considerable.
Why then, are there not more casual carpool participation, you ask?
Illustrative of other people's responses and quips, are in order to partly explain my answer to the question above. Upon disclosing I am a casual carpool passenger or driver others would comment: "Isn't it dangerous?" "Why do you do it?" "Wow, I can't see myself doing that."
A little personal history, I have been a casual car pool-er since the mid-80's when I lived in Alameda and would accept a ride on Santa Clara Avenue and Broadway, where the bus bound for San Francisco stopped. From that time onward, to my recollection or knowledge, there have been no news reported (real or virtual) about incidences involving the casual carpool (driver or passenger). No robbery, no kidnapping, no rapes! Dangerous it is not, if you were to compare that to the occasional assaults, robberies involving weapons directed to drivers, or passengers on Muni or AC Transit. I would opt for the casual carpool as a safer bet.
Why do you do it? Perhaps, inherent in the question, is "don't you have a car?" or "you must be having car problems." Truly, I save a lot of time, some money, and I am not angst nor fret to inaction about how much damage to my immediate environment I contribute too. It makes sense, dummy.
"You cannot see yourself doing it?" That is a limitation you have imposed on yourself, certain there are other aspects of your life which you cannot imagine you are able to do. I will steer away from the underlying psychological underpinnings of such behavior and choice. Needless to say, you are less likely to travel abroad, less likely to have an interest in other cultures, and less likely to watch/read NPR/PBS or other such culture elitist practices.
To say, I do not feel virtuous about my practice. It is an effective strategy, time and money saver; minimizes traffic hangovers, and my small contribution to keeping the beautiful skies of the Bay Area blue.
Here are a few observations as to who and why I believe carpool participants are less "consumptive" or challenge the grain on the American need for cars, time is money, and the "private space, or personal bubble" adherents.
Most of my fellow car-poolers are working class or white collar professionals, bound for work in SF Financial District, Downtown businesses, or transfer to local transit systems to their work site. As part of the group, we recognize and accept the cost of living in the Bay being outrageous, nor would we want to live elsewhere. Casual carpool is but one way to support our staying here. There are amongst us avowed recyclers, urban farmers, dwellers in intentional living situations, thus casual carpool is part of our make up as residents in the region.
There are some among us, myself included, when the company albeit mostly anonymous of two is preferred to the company of the masses who ride public transit. Sometimes, a respite from packed-in crowds of bus and train is welcome.
Other sensible reasons for casual carpool, beyond time, money and crowds; if you plan well, rarely are you late, resulting from scheduling or breakdowns of the complicated mass transit systems we use. For others, it is truly more convenient to walk to the designated casual carpool pick up spot, than to walk to the bus or Bart stop, sometimes they are in the same place, you have an option.
The well-worn argument of car ownership as symbol of freedom needs reexamination and perhaps a more nuanced or an adaptive approach to our present day situation. To say, what is effective and wise use of resources available for human beings? Gas prices are going up and will stay in the stratospheric range we Americans dread, once it crosses a certain threshold example $4 a gallon, it is unlikely to go the opposite direction. Air pollution is part of our lives, the insult to the injury of destroying our planet to serve our needs for petroleum, agribusiness/farming/cattle-raising, and “homes.” Fossil fuel and land mass are finite.
Secondly, cars are generally recognized as status symbols whether richer, better looking, smarter, whatever hook advertising and the car industry can use to bring you into the show room to purchase one. They will use it. Am I secure enough to know that a car is purely material, yes.
Third and perhaps most risky to state, cars can be the excuse for being overweight or obese. Think about it, fat Americans driving big cars, needed to haul their mass. Little publicly discussed, whether in polite company or not, a reason to explain the increase in sale in the cross over Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) category. It is not because as a group, we “American” are recreating in the great outdoors with gear and need for cargo space or four wheel drive vehicles. Is there collusion between food producers and auto manufacturers? Perhaps a more specific question is, Are Americans buying bigger cars, or cross over SUV? And is there an epidemic in obesity? Not to say they are correlated, but observation is a powerful tool for examining what is happening.
Truth be told, over sized American populace can barely shimmy their way into “Imports,” I’ve witnessed it first-hand. We have seen Imports also catering to the American heft, by producing over powered, over accessorized and over sized version of their earlier entrants into the American market.
Casual carpool-ers can wear their badge, or wave their flags a little more vigorously. To some degree you are among the vanguard into the realm of redefinition of consumption.
Just saying.
For the uninitiated, Casual Carpool is mostly an East Bay phenomenon. A driver can pick up passengers at designated locations, access and cross the Bay Bridge using the carpool lane (High Occupancy Vehicle --HOV) and pay a nominal $2.50 toll per car.
Why would someone practice this habit? There are many advantages: from an Ecological standpoint, three passengers sharing one automobile is better for the environment (less gas use, less carbon emissions, get it). From a time management vantage point, you zip pass many single driver autos waiting to cross the toll plaza and the "metering lights" as they approach the bridge. Both are sources of traffic back up, adding upwards of 30 to 60 minutes to one's commute. The third is financial, as a driver on the HOV lane paying only $2.50 vs. the $6 toll charged during commute hours.
Recently, casual carpool passengers donate $1 per person to the driver, thus costing me only .50 cents out of pocket. If you were to do the math, I now spend $2.50 a week to cross the bridge, which otherwise would cost me $30. In addition, if you were to convert the time saved from sitting in traffic and multiply it by your hourly salary, the savings is considerable.
Why then, are there not more casual carpool participation, you ask?
Illustrative of other people's responses and quips, are in order to partly explain my answer to the question above. Upon disclosing I am a casual carpool passenger or driver others would comment: "Isn't it dangerous?" "Why do you do it?" "Wow, I can't see myself doing that."
A little personal history, I have been a casual car pool-er since the mid-80's when I lived in Alameda and would accept a ride on Santa Clara Avenue and Broadway, where the bus bound for San Francisco stopped. From that time onward, to my recollection or knowledge, there have been no news reported (real or virtual) about incidences involving the casual carpool (driver or passenger). No robbery, no kidnapping, no rapes! Dangerous it is not, if you were to compare that to the occasional assaults, robberies involving weapons directed to drivers, or passengers on Muni or AC Transit. I would opt for the casual carpool as a safer bet.
Why do you do it? Perhaps, inherent in the question, is "don't you have a car?" or "you must be having car problems." Truly, I save a lot of time, some money, and I am not angst nor fret to inaction about how much damage to my immediate environment I contribute too. It makes sense, dummy.
"You cannot see yourself doing it?" That is a limitation you have imposed on yourself, certain there are other aspects of your life which you cannot imagine you are able to do. I will steer away from the underlying psychological underpinnings of such behavior and choice. Needless to say, you are less likely to travel abroad, less likely to have an interest in other cultures, and less likely to watch/read NPR/PBS or other such culture elitist practices.
To say, I do not feel virtuous about my practice. It is an effective strategy, time and money saver; minimizes traffic hangovers, and my small contribution to keeping the beautiful skies of the Bay Area blue.
Here are a few observations as to who and why I believe carpool participants are less "consumptive" or challenge the grain on the American need for cars, time is money, and the "private space, or personal bubble" adherents.
Most of my fellow car-poolers are working class or white collar professionals, bound for work in SF Financial District, Downtown businesses, or transfer to local transit systems to their work site. As part of the group, we recognize and accept the cost of living in the Bay being outrageous, nor would we want to live elsewhere. Casual carpool is but one way to support our staying here. There are amongst us avowed recyclers, urban farmers, dwellers in intentional living situations, thus casual carpool is part of our make up as residents in the region.
There are some among us, myself included, when the company albeit mostly anonymous of two is preferred to the company of the masses who ride public transit. Sometimes, a respite from packed-in crowds of bus and train is welcome.
Other sensible reasons for casual carpool, beyond time, money and crowds; if you plan well, rarely are you late, resulting from scheduling or breakdowns of the complicated mass transit systems we use. For others, it is truly more convenient to walk to the designated casual carpool pick up spot, than to walk to the bus or Bart stop, sometimes they are in the same place, you have an option.
The well-worn argument of car ownership as symbol of freedom needs reexamination and perhaps a more nuanced or an adaptive approach to our present day situation. To say, what is effective and wise use of resources available for human beings? Gas prices are going up and will stay in the stratospheric range we Americans dread, once it crosses a certain threshold example $4 a gallon, it is unlikely to go the opposite direction. Air pollution is part of our lives, the insult to the injury of destroying our planet to serve our needs for petroleum, agribusiness/farming/cattle-raising, and “homes.” Fossil fuel and land mass are finite.
Secondly, cars are generally recognized as status symbols whether richer, better looking, smarter, whatever hook advertising and the car industry can use to bring you into the show room to purchase one. They will use it. Am I secure enough to know that a car is purely material, yes.
Third and perhaps most risky to state, cars can be the excuse for being overweight or obese. Think about it, fat Americans driving big cars, needed to haul their mass. Little publicly discussed, whether in polite company or not, a reason to explain the increase in sale in the cross over Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) category. It is not because as a group, we “American” are recreating in the great outdoors with gear and need for cargo space or four wheel drive vehicles. Is there collusion between food producers and auto manufacturers? Perhaps a more specific question is, Are Americans buying bigger cars, or cross over SUV? And is there an epidemic in obesity? Not to say they are correlated, but observation is a powerful tool for examining what is happening.
Truth be told, over sized American populace can barely shimmy their way into “Imports,” I’ve witnessed it first-hand. We have seen Imports also catering to the American heft, by producing over powered, over accessorized and over sized version of their earlier entrants into the American market.
Casual carpool-ers can wear their badge, or wave their flags a little more vigorously. To some degree you are among the vanguard into the realm of redefinition of consumption.
Just saying.
Friday, April 06, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Oakland East Bay Symphony's "Notes From The Philippines"
MEDIA RELEASE
March 25, 2012
Vangie Canonizado Buell, National President FANHS
Carlos and Myrna Zialcita, Founders/Directors SFFAJF
Announcing a special concert--the Oakland East Bay Symphony's
"Notes From The Philippines" on Friday April 20, at 8 p.m.
This program features the world premiere of works by Filipino American jazz pianists/composers, Arthur Khu and Victor Noriega. Classical cellist, David Riquero,is also highlighted in this program -- the first of its kind --featuring Pinoy classical and jazz artist, performing in a major symphony orchestra in the SF/Bay Area. Maestro Michael Morgan will conduct.
Vangie Buell states "we welcome you, your family and friends to be a part of a great evening of music. Celebrate Filipino Culture and support our Filipino American Musicians."
Community Partners: San Francisco Filipino American Jazz Festival (SFFAJF)
Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS)
####
Thursday, March 08, 2012
My 15 seconds on the Podium
A 60's icon, Andy Warhol coined the phrase "15 minutes of fame." Fame comes in various forms; celebrity is one most readily identifiable for Americans. Fame can also be the time you are on the dais, as a speaker, on the medal platform, or to be awarded a prize acknowledging your professional/personal/creative accomplishment.
On March 1, 2012, an article co-written with colleagues, which was accepted last Jan 2011 was released on the internet. I saw the manuscript's proof in Feb. and was informed the journal was scheduled for release in March, its spring issue.
When the March 1st email arrived, after clicking onto the publisher's online site and seeing the electronic version, I felt a certain disbelief that it went live. Though previously, I had pre-ordered hard copies for the Project and Management Team.
The paper was a culmination of a twenty year professional journey. For a host of reasons including not continuing to a Doctorate degree, life happening, and a drive to be a "practitioner", made putting pen to paper as something I secretly carved out to do sometime "in the future."
The right opportunity, along with the right group of people, working on a topic we cared about, and publishing something which showed potential for longer term impact had arrived. After 5 years of implementation, data collection and analysis, and almost a year of writing, a paper was produced.
The first publication has to be the sweetest. It allays one's fears of whether you can do it (the intellectual muscle, the writing skills). For me, it validated waiting for the right opportunity, and at times going against the grain. Both instances, allowed for a fuller sense of people and communities I worked with. And more importantly, now and during the period of writing the manuscript, I finally had time.
Time opened as the project wound down, hence giving me the opportunity to ponder, to read articles, to test out various questions using the data on hand and time to edit.
For those who know me, over the years I've been known to say, I am not cut out for academia (because of its constraints), but I enjoy scholarship. The paper exemplifies this very point, there is no question that the methodology was sound, the findings were significant, the process was beneficial for the team, and the writing was coherent and conclusive.
The "elation" I experienced after seeing the e-version held me aloft for a few days, increasing as I shared with friends about the achievement. Privately, I paid tribute to my Aunt Rose who passed away last year, to whom I dedicated my writing. She was my biggest booster, next to my Mom. She along with my mother plotted and made real the opportunity to immigrate and seek out a better opportunity to give their children a future with possibilities. In a sense, I am an embodiment of an immigrant parent's dream.
I am certain when the paper version comes out, a different reaction may arise.
Though, I've stepped off the podium, my 15 seconds could be extended, since there are three other articles submitted for review. Stay tuned.
On March 1, 2012, an article co-written with colleagues, which was accepted last Jan 2011 was released on the internet. I saw the manuscript's proof in Feb. and was informed the journal was scheduled for release in March, its spring issue.
When the March 1st email arrived, after clicking onto the publisher's online site and seeing the electronic version, I felt a certain disbelief that it went live. Though previously, I had pre-ordered hard copies for the Project and Management Team.
The paper was a culmination of a twenty year professional journey. For a host of reasons including not continuing to a Doctorate degree, life happening, and a drive to be a "practitioner", made putting pen to paper as something I secretly carved out to do sometime "in the future."
The right opportunity, along with the right group of people, working on a topic we cared about, and publishing something which showed potential for longer term impact had arrived. After 5 years of implementation, data collection and analysis, and almost a year of writing, a paper was produced.
The first publication has to be the sweetest. It allays one's fears of whether you can do it (the intellectual muscle, the writing skills). For me, it validated waiting for the right opportunity, and at times going against the grain. Both instances, allowed for a fuller sense of people and communities I worked with. And more importantly, now and during the period of writing the manuscript, I finally had time.
Time opened as the project wound down, hence giving me the opportunity to ponder, to read articles, to test out various questions using the data on hand and time to edit.
For those who know me, over the years I've been known to say, I am not cut out for academia (because of its constraints), but I enjoy scholarship. The paper exemplifies this very point, there is no question that the methodology was sound, the findings were significant, the process was beneficial for the team, and the writing was coherent and conclusive.
The "elation" I experienced after seeing the e-version held me aloft for a few days, increasing as I shared with friends about the achievement. Privately, I paid tribute to my Aunt Rose who passed away last year, to whom I dedicated my writing. She was my biggest booster, next to my Mom. She along with my mother plotted and made real the opportunity to immigrate and seek out a better opportunity to give their children a future with possibilities. In a sense, I am an embodiment of an immigrant parent's dream.
I am certain when the paper version comes out, a different reaction may arise.
Though, I've stepped off the podium, my 15 seconds could be extended, since there are three other articles submitted for review. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Case of Jeremy Lin -- an opinion
Jeremy Lin had a sudden celebrity rise as the newest point guard and NBA star for the NY Knicks. He has been the subject of NY Times coverage, including an op-ed by David Brooks, a moderate Conservative. Among the focus of interest of his media coverage is the intact Chinese family he comes from, and his Christian faith.
Along with others concerned about his almost meteoric media ascent, we sensed he needs to be schooled in how other Asian American athletes who preceded him, their fame, not as celebrities but at being top in their game, and the relative impact they have had in sports in the USA.
Before we, the collective body of sport’s fans, crown him to be the next big thing or the “it” of Asian American athletes, presage of younger Asian boys and girls to pick up a basketball and aspire to play professional sports, we need to remember other Asian American and Pacific Islander world class athletes.
Competed as Olympians
Apolo Anton Ohno, short track speed skater. Raised by a single parent, his father. He is an eight-time Olympic medalist (2002, 2006, & 2010); three-time World Cup overall champion (2001, 2003, 2005); seven-time World Cup event champion, and seven-time U.S. short track overall champion (1997, 1999, 2001-2005).
Michele Kwan has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships, and two Olympic medals in figure skating. Her parents are Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong.
Greg Louganis, whose legacy as an Olympic diver earned him a place as the most recognizable Pacific Islander athlete today and perhaps in history. He was born to parents of Samoan and Swedish ancestry, later adopted at nine months by Peter and Frances Louganis.
Tai Babilonia, skating partner of Randy Garner, the pair were five-time gold medalists at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and won the gold medal at the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships. Thai’s father is Filipino and mother is
African American with Hopi ancestry.
Other Sports
Tim Lincecum, World Champion SF Giants pitcher and Cy Young Award winner, is still on the mound with his unorthodox delivery and long hair. He is the son of a great-granddaughter of a Filipino immigrant, a fourth generation Filipino American. His father is Caucasian, his mother’s family dates back to being among the first generation of farm laborers brought to Hawaii.
At 17 years, 3 months old, Michael Chang became the youngest male Grand Slam champion in history by outlasting Stefan Edberg in a five-set thriller and snapped a 34-year-old drought by American men on the red clay of Roland Garros. He won the French Open in 1989. His parents both grew up in Taiwan, and immigrated first to Hoboken, NJ.
Tiger Woods achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfer of all time, winning 14 major professional golf championships, second to Jack Nicklaus with 18. His father is African American, Chinese, and Native American ancestry. His mother is (née Punsawad) originally from Thailand is of mixed Thai, Chinese, and Dutch ancestry.
There is little doubt of the aforementioned athlete’s feats and accomplishments. Clearly they are recognized as “world class,” Mr. Lin, has a long way to go till he can stand shoulder to shoulder on the podium with them.
The subject of the intact family and Lin’s athletic ability rings of “American Tokenism.” He is the first to break into the media ranks of professional basketball. Why is that the case?
He comes from a Christian and an intact family, could this be a perpetuation of the “idealized nuclear family” value of American conservatives and the venerable “model minority” mold. Mr. Lin and his supporters a cautionary note, be wary of this subtext.
Americans of the “dominant culture” uses wedge issues, including, the “successful immigrant family” such as the Chang’s, Kwan’s, and the Lin’s, versus other immigrant communities who have lesser mention in the discourse of American life. To be clear, immigrants are often the scapegoats of for high unemployment, higher cost of education and healthcare, and increasing taxes.
A lesson about America’s unresolved tension and conflicts about race, continuous to play out in the Asian American athlete's story. How does the American Corporate media cover communities of color? Let’s have a cursory look at the shelf life of these Asian American athletes, and what we were told about them in their coverage.
How long was the media limelight focused on these world class athletes? For many, they are nearly forgotten. Further, how much did we see or hear of the multi-ethnic perspective: Ms. Babylonia’s racial admixture is Afro-Asiatic. Her father is of Filipino ethnicity and her mother's is African-American and includes Hopi Indian ancestry. Tiger Woods would belong to the same category, father identified as African American, and his mother Asian, yet they were both of mix ancestry. Linsecum is the son of a third generation Filipina immigrant and a Caucasian father. Is he white or how Filipino does he need to be? Was it omission when the media did not discuss multi-race parents and subsequent multi race children and siblings and the influences it may have had in shaping their progeny.
The athleticism is what counts and matters to the press. We are a race-neutral society, right? Somehow in the narrative of pulling up your boot straps, your ethnic and cultural heritage has no place. Even more so, if you want to be an ongoing story or a bi-line in the media.
Ah, Mr. Ohno is a special case, from the other athletes -being raised by a single parent, his Dad. Mr. Ohno, the father, was the model of stoicism, when seeing him at every race. Moreover, Apolo has cross-over appeal -the cover of Cosmopolitan, being featured on Vanity Fair, and amongst the featured athletes on ESPN body issue. American lore also likes the exception.
For other Asian Athletes worthy of mention and ongoing coverage, and not necessarily media stars or starlet, follow the link below.
http://www.examiner.com/asian-american-sports-in-national/10-best-asian-american-athletes
Along with others concerned about his almost meteoric media ascent, we sensed he needs to be schooled in how other Asian American athletes who preceded him, their fame, not as celebrities but at being top in their game, and the relative impact they have had in sports in the USA.
Before we, the collective body of sport’s fans, crown him to be the next big thing or the “it” of Asian American athletes, presage of younger Asian boys and girls to pick up a basketball and aspire to play professional sports, we need to remember other Asian American and Pacific Islander world class athletes.
Competed as Olympians
Apolo Anton Ohno, short track speed skater. Raised by a single parent, his father. He is an eight-time Olympic medalist (2002, 2006, & 2010); three-time World Cup overall champion (2001, 2003, 2005); seven-time World Cup event champion, and seven-time U.S. short track overall champion (1997, 1999, 2001-2005).
Michele Kwan has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships, and two Olympic medals in figure skating. Her parents are Chinese immigrants from Hong Kong.
Greg Louganis, whose legacy as an Olympic diver earned him a place as the most recognizable Pacific Islander athlete today and perhaps in history. He was born to parents of Samoan and Swedish ancestry, later adopted at nine months by Peter and Frances Louganis.
Tai Babilonia, skating partner of Randy Garner, the pair were five-time gold medalists at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships and won the gold medal at the 1979 World Figure Skating Championships. Thai’s father is Filipino and mother is
African American with Hopi ancestry.
Other Sports
Tim Lincecum, World Champion SF Giants pitcher and Cy Young Award winner, is still on the mound with his unorthodox delivery and long hair. He is the son of a great-granddaughter of a Filipino immigrant, a fourth generation Filipino American. His father is Caucasian, his mother’s family dates back to being among the first generation of farm laborers brought to Hawaii.
At 17 years, 3 months old, Michael Chang became the youngest male Grand Slam champion in history by outlasting Stefan Edberg in a five-set thriller and snapped a 34-year-old drought by American men on the red clay of Roland Garros. He won the French Open in 1989. His parents both grew up in Taiwan, and immigrated first to Hoboken, NJ.
Tiger Woods achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfer of all time, winning 14 major professional golf championships, second to Jack Nicklaus with 18. His father is African American, Chinese, and Native American ancestry. His mother is (née Punsawad) originally from Thailand is of mixed Thai, Chinese, and Dutch ancestry.
There is little doubt of the aforementioned athlete’s feats and accomplishments. Clearly they are recognized as “world class,” Mr. Lin, has a long way to go till he can stand shoulder to shoulder on the podium with them.
The subject of the intact family and Lin’s athletic ability rings of “American Tokenism.” He is the first to break into the media ranks of professional basketball. Why is that the case?
He comes from a Christian and an intact family, could this be a perpetuation of the “idealized nuclear family” value of American conservatives and the venerable “model minority” mold. Mr. Lin and his supporters a cautionary note, be wary of this subtext.
Americans of the “dominant culture” uses wedge issues, including, the “successful immigrant family” such as the Chang’s, Kwan’s, and the Lin’s, versus other immigrant communities who have lesser mention in the discourse of American life. To be clear, immigrants are often the scapegoats of for high unemployment, higher cost of education and healthcare, and increasing taxes.
A lesson about America’s unresolved tension and conflicts about race, continuous to play out in the Asian American athlete's story. How does the American Corporate media cover communities of color? Let’s have a cursory look at the shelf life of these Asian American athletes, and what we were told about them in their coverage.
How long was the media limelight focused on these world class athletes? For many, they are nearly forgotten. Further, how much did we see or hear of the multi-ethnic perspective: Ms. Babylonia’s racial admixture is Afro-Asiatic. Her father is of Filipino ethnicity and her mother's is African-American and includes Hopi Indian ancestry. Tiger Woods would belong to the same category, father identified as African American, and his mother Asian, yet they were both of mix ancestry. Linsecum is the son of a third generation Filipina immigrant and a Caucasian father. Is he white or how Filipino does he need to be? Was it omission when the media did not discuss multi-race parents and subsequent multi race children and siblings and the influences it may have had in shaping their progeny.
The athleticism is what counts and matters to the press. We are a race-neutral society, right? Somehow in the narrative of pulling up your boot straps, your ethnic and cultural heritage has no place. Even more so, if you want to be an ongoing story or a bi-line in the media.
Ah, Mr. Ohno is a special case, from the other athletes -being raised by a single parent, his Dad. Mr. Ohno, the father, was the model of stoicism, when seeing him at every race. Moreover, Apolo has cross-over appeal -the cover of Cosmopolitan, being featured on Vanity Fair, and amongst the featured athletes on ESPN body issue. American lore also likes the exception.
For other Asian Athletes worthy of mention and ongoing coverage, and not necessarily media stars or starlet, follow the link below.
http://www.examiner.com/asian-american-sports-in-national/10-best-asian-american-athletes
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Who is my audience and Thank you for your interest.
Understandably, many of my dear readers are Americans from the US, since I live here. Among European readers, I have a few family members in Germany perhaps those links serve as the stake on the ground from which that countries readership stems.
Readers from other central European nations the Netherlands and France, amuse me, since I have fond memories of my visits to large destination cities from travels early in my adult life.
The Iranians, Russians, Nigerians and the very minute number of readers from Ukraine is perplexing. If I review the various better read post and attempt to associate them with any of these nations, I am clueless as to what may be the attraction.
Is it my American travelogues (specially New York City and New Orleans); witty descriptions of life in the gay mecca as a single man (the hair issue, the unattached among us); or is it my re-distribution of notable articles, essays on topics of interest to me?
On the opposite side, I do not have readers from South America, or India and the Middle East. I will have to think on that and see if I can draw an even broader audience.
In any case, I appreciate being read on the occasions that folks do, especially the more creative output of prose.
I am looking forward to blogging about the upcoming International AIDS Conference, to which I will be a delegate and hope that a submitted abstract will be accepted as a presentation. Similarly, meeting and writing more about Germans and about Germany, since I will be there this summer, with a trip to Berlin on the drawing board.
Happy reading.
The current audience tracker (with over 2,100 page views)...
United States 1,102
Netherlands 223
France 144
Germany 135
Iran 92
Russia 91
China 35
Malaysia 26
Nigeria 26
Ukraine 2
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