Category Archives: scissors

86 Challenger Disaster

The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28th, 1986. The flight itself lasted 73 seconds before the shuttle disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean killing the entire crew. The main cause of the disaster is due to a faulty O-ring which occurred immediately after liftoff.

So in what way does this disaster correlate with Asian Americans? Many only know of the disaster itself but may not know of Ellison Onizuka, a mission specialist in the crew that lost their lives in the destruction of the Challenger space shuttle. Onizuka was born in Kealakekua, Kona, Hawaii and was of Buddhist faith. He was a lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. air force serving as both a test Pilot and flight test engineer and was selected for the astronaut training program in 1978. In January, 1985 as a mission specialist on the Space Shuttle Discovery, he became the first Asian American to reach space. The Discovery which Onizuka took part in orbitated the earth 48 times before landing. It is amazingly inspirational that only a few decades prior to his reaching space, Japanese American were seen as the enemy by Americans and had to endure years in internment camps during World War II. With his entering space lieutenant Colonel Onizuka made a large step towards equality for Asian Americans, and gave proof that if you work hard and are dedicated you can possibly grow up to become and astronaut which is the dream of so many children, regardless of your race, religion, or color. Sadly the life of this pioneering Asian American was cut short due to the Challenger disaster. He was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor posthumously following the incident.

News & Blues

Paull Shin

I didn’t know who Paull Shin was before searching him up, but I’m glad I know who he is now because he seems like a very brave man. It takes a lot of courage and confidence to come out in the open and talk about his disease, and it takes real gusto to know when to quit. Reading about his accomplishments (like fighting to remove the word “oriental” from state texts and using “Asian” instead) shows that he is not just a beacon for Korean Americans, but for all Asian American communities in general.

Challenger

I grew up hearing all about the Challenger Disaster, but since it happened two years before I was born, my only experience was through pictures and school. However I didn’t really know anything about Ellison Onizuka (or the rest of the crew for that matter), who just happens to be the first Asian American in space. Like Paull Shin, Ellison was definitely a role-model for Asian Americans and it’s pretty sad what happened that day. After looking him up a bit, it seems as though he was very beloved indeed – there’s all kinds of places named after him, from street names in Little Tokyo to museums and centers for astronomy.

World War II Stragglers

Japan declared him the “Paragon of the Japanese Soldier”, a man so loyal that he sacrificed 29 years of his life participating in a war that didn’t exist anymore. This man is Hiroo Onoda and what a crazy story he has, and now all these years later in 2014 he departs this life for good. Onoda’s story really feels like a testament to the strict obedience and discipline found in Japan at the time, and it seems ripe for someone to turn it into a film or something. His story reminded me of The Cats of Mirikitani, mainly because Mirikitani was lost in limbo after World War II just like Onoda was. They both disappeared into jungles for years, the difference being that Mirikitani’s jungle was that of concrete and tall buildings.

How I Met Your Mother

I still can’t believe that after all these years, nobody realizes that when you do blanket stereotypes on television or film, you’re going to piss a lot of people off. I don’t understand why the writers/producers of How I Met Your Mother could really think that an episode like this would be met with…what…applause? I understand why they wanted to do a Kung Fu homage – it’s a great genre that a lot of people enjoy – but there could have been a much better way to go about it. That being said, How I Met Your Mother isn’t a bad show or anything and I think this should be chalked up to a stupid brainfart.

– Connection btw News and our program

-Paull Shin

Paull Shin retired from his position. He was 78 years old and he was a member of the Washington State Senate. He was born in Korea, and orphaned when he was four years old. During the Korean War, one of the U.S. Armies adopted him and took him home. He became a Korean American. He was also a college professor for 31 years, teaching East Asian studies at a variety of schools including the University of Washington, and Western Washington University.

-World War Ⅱ stragglers

Hiroo Onoda died on January 16^th 2014. He was 91 years old, and was a Japanese Army soldier who fought in World War II at the Philippines. In 1945 when the war ended, he decided to stay there and to keep his mission because he didn’t believe the order of going back to Japan. He kept his position for 29 years and finally he returned after taking the order from his boss; however, he couldn’t get used to the modernization in Japan, so he moved to Bedazzle where his brother lived. After he was impressed about the Japanese problem, which was offenses by young people, he also held lecture meetings and camps took advantage of his background.

-HIMYM

“How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM)” got a beating as making fun of Asian Americans. The title of the episode was “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment In Slapmarra.” In the episode, there were some actors as Asian people, but all of them were not real Asian people. Also, they wore odd makeup to look like Asians. HIMYM apologized on Twitter, but the slap against the episode is still available online. Once you saw the pictures, you can understand how different they are competing with real Asians.

In addition, I know another news like this. Katy Perry who is a singer was also given the sever drubbing by medias for her costume.

HIMYM

How I Met Your Mother has created a new costume: Asian! Episode “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra,” Marshall, who is played by Jason Segel, learns a new slap, “the slap of a million exploding suns,” from martial arts masters. These martial arts masters were all portrayed by the all white cast, Alyson Hannigan, Josh Radnor, and Colbie Smulders. These white characters were dressed in silk robes, had Asian accents framed with wind chimes and flute music. The show also did not fail to present the Fu Manchu mustache and “chink fonts.”

The HIMYM executives had apologized over twitter; however, the episode still runs online. What brings the race card into play is the fact that there are no real Asian actors to play the Asian parts. Instead the all white cast plays them and is seen as making a mockery of Asian cultures. Unforutnately, one of the reasons that this happened is because Asians are underrepresented in Hollywood in the first place. Sadly, the industry shoots itself in the foot by not employing people of color. Instead of hiring an actual martial arts master or hiring an Asian for the Asian parts,television has histroically employed white artists to write and portray the non-white parts.

Thought he main reason for this show is purely entertainment, it has failed to take into consideration the harmful images and segways that it has created. Though it is stereotypical to portray Asians as kung fu masters, it is seemed as offensive to have a non-Asian play an Asian part and make fun with it. Thus, “Asian” is not a costume has come to rise. If there must be a stereotype to be made, might as well go with the complete stereotype instead of dressing someone who does not understand the culture up to portray and mock it.

WWII Straggler

Hiroo Onoda

29 years after the end of World War II, Hiroo Onoda comes out from hiding in the jungle in the Philippines and surrender has died at the age of 91. On Thursday, January

16, 2014 in Tokyo, Japan Onoda passed away. On Friday, Yoshihide Suga, Chief government spokesman, expressed his condolences and praised Onoda for his strong will to live and indomitable spirit. He stated, “After World War II, Mr. Onoda lived int he jungle for many years and when he retured to Japan, I felt that finally, the war was finished. That’s how I felt.”

Onoda was an intelligence officer who came out of hiding on Lubang island in the Philippines in March 1974, on his 52nd birthday. His surrender was when his former commander flew there to reverse his 1945 orders to stay behind and spy on the American troops. After emerging from the jungle with another WWII hold out, Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi, in 1972 and returning hom they were welcomed as incredible heroes. They were in hiding for so long because Japanese were taught that complete loyalty to the country is the most respectable thing and that death was better than surrendering. Even when his own family members had called to him over loudspeakers and flights had urged him to surrender, Onoda refused.

Onoda had surrendered to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos with his 30 year old imperial military uniform, cap and sword, in very good condition.

After his welcoming ceremony had died down he ended up buying land in Brazil and later was head of children’s nature school in northern Japan. From his experience Onoda stated, “I don’t consider those 30 years a waste of time…Without that experience, I wouldn’t have my life today.” However, he understood his limited time, “I do everything twice as fast so I can make up for the 30 years. I wish someone could eat and sleep for me so I can work 24 hours a day.”

In Onoda’s earlier years he worked for a Japanese trading firm in Shanghai after finishing high school in 1939 and was drafted three years later. In 1944 Onoda was sent to Lubang, about 90 miles from Manila. Other Japanese troops surrendered when US troops landed in Lubang in February 1945, though hundreds went missing a for years after the war.

On Feb. 20 1974 Norio Suzuki, a young globe-trotter, came in contact with Onoda. They eventually started talking. Suzuki returned to Japan and contacted the government, which located Onoda’s superior, Maj Yoshimi Taniguchi, and flew him to Lubang to deliver his surrender order in person.

Hiroo Onoda did the most loyal, comitted, and honorable act of a soldier. He had an order and he stuck with it until the one person who gave him that order, came to tell him in person. Also, I find it funny how Onoda says that he wants someone to eat and sleep for him so he could work. After years of hiding, and crucial conditions, and survival tactics, he wants to continue to work. He gives meaning in his life and stays an active member of society.

Paull Shin

“If you have a heart for serving it, you can do it.” Paull Shin a state Legislature who had served for more than two decades has decided to step down. On January 7, 2014 Shin had revealed that he was diagnosed with Alzheimers disease. In 1992, Shin had made history as the first Korean American to be elected to the Washington State Legislature.

Paull Shin was adopted during the Korean war by an American soldier. When he was a teenager he learned to read; furthermore, he later on eraned a doctorate from the University of Washington and became an East Asian studies professor. As the first Korean American to be active in the state Legislature, he has inspired many immigrants of the younger generation to enter the political sphere. Metropolitan King County Council canidate Shari Song, Shoreline City Council member Cheryl Lee, and state Representative Cindy Ryu were all inspired by Paull Shin’s service and call themselves Shin’s “political daughters.”

As well as his role as a pioneer for Asian Americans he had also promoted and pushed for trade between Washington and Asian countries. He was a well respected man who had his personal faith still ahead of him, but never bashed opposing views such as same-sex marriage. Also, in 2002 he had succeeded in terminating the term “Oriental” from the state code and his bill became the first law in the country to identify people of Asian descent as “Asian.” The term “Spanish Americans” had elso been changed to “Hispanics” as well.

His stepping down may be a saddening moment because of the things he has accomplished for the country; however, he has created a pathway, or stepping stones of confidence for Asians to be more involved with the country and progress. I find it very interesting that he had been adopted by an American soldier during the Korean war as well as the life that he has come to live. An American soldier adopted one of the “enemies” and that child turned out to be an active member of the United States Government. That is amazing.

Also, the feats. that he had accomplished during his terms shows how there are still prejudices in modern day. He has paved a path for change for all Asian Americans and has inspired many more Asians to take charge.

World War II Stragglers

Famous WWII straggler, Hiroo Onoda, died two days ago at the age of 91. Onoda was a Japanese lieutenant who spent 29 years hiding in the jungle of a Philippine island, refusing to believe that the war had ended. There were several attempts made to contact Japanese stragglers, including dropping leaflets announcing Japan’s surrender, and for the case of Onoda, the Japanese government dropped family pictures and letters. Onoda refused to believe any attempt at communication, claiming it was Allied “propaganda.”

After 29 years, Onoda was finally convinced by a superior officer that the war was indeed over. In all that time, Onoda had been stealing food and engaging in shootouts with local people. Upon his return to Japan he was regarded as a national hero for his refusal to surrender and for holding to Bushido values.

Hiroo Onoda

How I Met Your Mother

A recent episode of How I Met Your Mother titled, “Slapsgiving 3: Slappointment in Slapmarra” caused controversy for the main characters donning yellowface. In a failed attempt at satirizing Kung Fu movies, the all white cast dressed in stereotypical “Asian” attire and yellowface.

Asian and Asian/American actors are woefully underrepresented in Hollywood. While the social acceptance of blackface has faltered, redface, yellowface, and brownface are still all too uncommon. White actors wear demeaning costumes that rely on racist caricatures of brownness, blackness, and Asian-ness. Instead of Asian/Americans portraying their own experiences as actors and screenwriters, white people continue to write about and portray these characters.

Takaki Chapters 10-13

Chapter 10: The Watershed of WWII

In WWII America needed asians to help defend their country. (Those who did decide to help defend America- is that when they decide or became Asian-American?) If Asians did agree to do so, then the US somehow had to “repay” these races. Though Asians were given a “part” in society or accepted (as US citizens &able to lease land) they were still treated unequally. But Filipinos were also stating that they were not Japanese with buttons before the war was over to prevent any confusion.

During this time Japanese students had also been disappearing from school to be sent to internment camps. Not only those in school, but almost all Japanese on the mainland (CA, OR, WA) were sent to these camps. Their land was sold at cheap prices and were treated cruelly. But the Japnanese in HI remaind locals and were not shipped to the mainland since it was too much ship space and costs. In Feb. 6 1943 Nisei were questioned to either 1) enable camp authorities to process individual internees for work furlough as well as resettlement outise of restricted zones or 2) register them for the draft. Nisei, however, that volunteered were seen as “heroic,” even though they did gain a little bit of acceptance, they were still returned to the camps.

In 1940 Alien Registration Act classified Koreans as subjects of Japanese and were “alien enemies.” But in LA about 109 Koreans joined the National Guard ranging from ages 18 to 65 and then gained greater acceptance that way. Koreans also had buttons saying that they were Korean and not Japanese. Koreans, since they were annexed by Japan, were hoping that the US would take Japan down and were eager to help with the war.

In March 1944 legislature considered a bill to have a quota for immigrants from India and naturalization rights for Asian-Indians. 1772 Asian-Indians became US citizens between the eyars of 1947 & 1965. Day after Pearl Harbor bombing China & US become allies. Then US begins to portray Chinee as “saintly”

Chapter 11: Strangers at the Gate Again

In 1941 Pres. Roosevelt outlawed racial discrimination in defense-industry employment and created the Fir Employment Practices Commissions. 6 months later Truman establishes a committee on Civil Rights- courts advanced the civil rights for racial minorities. 407-420 Asians are becomming a part of America. Many more Asians start immigration to the US (2nd wave). These 2nd wave of Asians were into high technology, service ceonom instead of agriculture. During 1960 many Chinese come to US for a higher education. Women had to work as seamstresses at this time and exploited them: thus Chinatown became a big hit for textiles. Many immigrants come to US to either settle & excape the struggles- they are still making low wages, but better than their own homelands. Many Filipinos and Koreans were mostly self-employed. Second wave Indian-Asians had a low percentage in empolyed in services where as they had a high percentage employed as managers and professionals like physicians, engingeers, scientists, professionals in law etc. War was going on in Vietnam many people tried to sail over to US to escape. However, about 41% of the Vietnam populations were soujourners and wanted to return to their homeland someday. Pg. 456 “Don’t have to go home to be home” Vietnamese women all of a sudden were able to have jobs, in Vietnam they couldn’t.

Laos refugee’s also found it difficult to adjust to the American culture. They lived in the jungle, but American culture was like a technilogical jungle (461). Laos wanted to return back home because no matter how long thy stay in american they will still always be asian, never american (461). Hmon and Mien had a hard time being employed.

Cambodians also fleed to America by the threat of death. Most of them were farm folk with some who were educated. Many Cambodians suffered from PTSD (470). Refugees are the “homeless.”

Chapter 12: Breaking Silence

(473) Asians are defended by the government by laws and are slowly being accepted, but still not as equal as whites. Thus they began to exercise their political voices. Though they were slowly getting the same rights as Whites, they still weren’t getting the same opportunities. They had this “glass ceiling” where their oportunity was “seen” but never able to be accomplished. Asians were seen as technicians, not administrators. Asians had a cap on their labor position. As this happens, where asians are more successful in school and are very smart, this is where the new asian stereotype is born as being very “successful.” Because Asians were very successful in the school place therey were antagonized and bullied (479). On page (482) Chin gets killed, Chinese outraged on hate crimes &blame educational system on not teaching the struggles they have gone through to make America what it is. This is the first time &one incident where all the Asians stand together, united. (484). Slowly, here many First wave and 2nd wave asian immigrants come out about their struggles and break the silence of the past.

Chapter 13: One-Tenth of the Nation

Now in current day many Asian-Americans fill classrooms and communities in America.Blacks and Koreans saw each other on an enemy scope becasue of stereotypes on how each others race. (494). (500) balots for no more discrimination between sex, gender, ethnicity/color. There are no Asians in Asia, just national identities. Many cross-ethnic marriages.(504) interracial children are redifining a “race.” Asians trasnform America as America transforms Asians.

Takaki jigsaw chapters

Chaper 7: Struggling With Colonialism

In 1900′s there was a major flux of Korean immigrants. Koreans moved to America because at this time Japan annexed Korea and Koreans felt they werent being treated right so Koreans did not want to move back home. Many Korean migrants were very young 90% were between the ages of 16-44 years old. In 1903 US introduced Korean workers to the plantation. In 1905 Korean government prohibited emigration to HI and cut off labor supply. Because Koreans felt that they were not being treated right by the Japanese and because their land was taken by them (Japanese) the Koreans were willing to lose any last bit of their culture. Koreans were very celibatory and made it clear that they were not Japanese and did not accept any help from them. Koreans also believed that the Chinese and Japanese provoked the US by keeping to themselves. Koreans unlike most races who were farmers, they werer government clerks, policement, uddhist, monks, and other domestic services.

Chapter 8: The Tide of Turbans

Americans are seen to have this “given right” to treat other races like they are inferior. Supreme court states that natives are caucasian but not white so they cannot be citizens of the US. Very little women population in this community so many of them married Mexican women who are also catholic and either spoke english or spanish.

Chapter 9: Dollar a day and a Dime a Dance

Filipinos usually got one dollar a day and would pay dimes to dance with white women for stress. Sometimes they would get ripped off and only have 1 minute instead of 3 minutes when they bought a ticket so they would buy rolls. Filipinos never made their own little town like Chinatown. Filipino men were seen as sexual deviants because they tried to get attention of women (pg. 327). Also, they did not really get into drugs or anything harmful, but they did do cock fights and gambled a lot.

A-POP, Don't Stop

Winter 2014