02.22.08
Posted in China at 3:06 pm by william_lee
Eating and knowing what we eat is my concern this new year as we ponder the stubborn inability of Americans to understand Chinese food. Chinese dishes are misidentified and misunderstood. Food is routinely declared Chinese simply because it is marinated in soy sauce.
Chinese-American food is unquestioningly accepted as Chinese by an American public that consumes it by the ton. And, while the public bears some responsibility for its love of these sodium-assisted flavors, much of the blame must be placed on those of us who are responsible for interpreting Chinese cuisine.
Authentic Chinese cookery is not so elusive. It can be found in the US - the chefs capable of recreating China’s greatest dishes which are challenged
Permalink
02.19.08
Posted in China at 11:51 am by william_lee
Chinese people have been doing a great deal of business with American corporations, Chinese-made toothpaste and toys came a new breed of allegations of insufficient regulatory practices concerning the production of Chinese goods imported to America. Meyer recently disclosed that it has opened up a manufacturing plant in China, prompting many to think twice about the safety and purity of the meat they have purchased.
This article claims that
- while many people believe eating hot dogs produced under even the strictest sanitary conditions is disgusting, there is arguably a big difference between biting into a certified made-in-the-USA Oscar Meyer wiener, which at least has to be held up to the Food and Drug Administration’s prescribed measures of sanitation, and one that has been made in the Chinese plant under the supervision of a foreign authority which may not necessarily have the best interests of the American consumer in mind.
- China is one of the world’s leading producers of counterfeit and so-called generic pharmaceutical drugs, they have also begun selling component ingredients to established American drug companies, Chinese component parts are technically assembled in the United States by an American-owned corporation, America is largely dependent upon China for trade, the effects of which will become increasingly more obvious to the average citizen in the coming years and decades
I respect the opinions raised in this article, however, it is rather convenient that the article cleverly omits the vast under-staffing of the FDA and the inability of the FDA to sufficiently inspect all of the food available for consuption in the US. Am I wrong?
Permalink
02.15.08
Posted in China at 4:17 pm by william_lee
On Saturday, Lexington ushered in year 4706 in the Chinese calendar, the Year of the Rat, with a party at Minuteman Regional High School.
The Chinese American Association of Lexington hosted the event, and brought dozens together for traditional Chinese meals and entertainment.
The Chinese zodiac features 12 animals, including the dog, horse, dragon, tiger, monkey, pig, and rooster. Unlike the Western zodiac though, each animal is featured for an entire year, and the cycle repeats every 12 years.
Permalink
12.25.07
Posted in Sports, Culture, China at 12:43 am by mark_chang
GOLD
———
Zhou, Shiming CHN
SILVER
———–
Tanamor, Harry PHI
Jongjohor, Somjit THA
Badar-Uugan, Enkhbat MON
Boonjumnong, Non THA
BRONZE (two per weight division)
————-
Ruenroeng, Amnat THA
Li, Yang CHN
Kim, Song Guk KOR
Hanati, Silamu CHN
Yushan, Nijiati CHN
Zhang, Zhilei CHN
Permalink
12.22.07
Posted in Politics, Activism and Empowerment, Community Offenders, Racism, China at 3:11 am by george_lou
So, what do you get when too many Asians put a non-Asian on a pedestal? Well the Japanese tend to do an overabundance of asskissing, but I’ll save that for another article. So let me answer the question. The truth is, when Asians put a non-Asian on a pedestal - or simply give them respect - these non-Asians will respond with the extreme opposite, disrespect.
The best examples come from Asian female/non-Asian male couples. All too often you’ll hear stories of weak-minded Asian women allowing their non-Asian boyfriends to talk smack about Asians. How many non-Asian guys with Asian girlfriends really respect our culture? My best guess is: not enough. Okay, I just had to get that off my chest. Now let’s talk about the news article here - “Spielberg urges China again to help end Darfur ‘genocide’.”
In the article, film director Steven Spielberg, who is currently serving as an artistic advisor for the Beijing olympics, decides to show a bit of disrespect. Apparently, for the second time Stevie appealed to Chinese president Hu Jintao to do something about the situation in Darfur.
I have a few words for Stevie: dont bite the hand that feeds you! They hired you so keep your mouth shut!
During these times of nonstop anti-China news coupled with purebread ethnocentrism, it’s no surprise Stevie, or most people, would jump on the anti-China bandwagon. Can you believe this man, who has been hired by China, shows his appreciation by practially saying, “Thanks for the job, but I will now put you down.”
Unfortunately, this is a subject difficult for many to grasp. So allow me to teach it: if someone hires you, you dont put them down. Why? Because it’s disrespectful. And if your boyfriend/girlfriend talks smack about our culture, ask for respect. Believe me, too many people dont know any better.
Permalink
12.20.07
Posted in Activism and Empowerment, Fun Facts, Racism, China at 9:10 pm by mark_chang
Now William, you should know that tossing out a tasty morsel such as “micro-aggression” is going to get me out of bed to chomp at the bit ; )
So I offer a snippet from the “Communication” chapter of my upcoming book (written from the perspective of a Chinese person, modify nationality as appropriate) which will hopefully get the wheels turning so that others may develop more clever ‘jeu d’esprit’s …
“Where You From?”
You meet somebody for the first time and one of the first things he asks is … “So where are you from?”, probably in front of others.
10. The playful response:
“I’m from an island called Chakalakalaka. It’s in the South Pacific”
9. The surprised response:
“Where am I from? Wow, you just come out guns ‘a blazin’ don’t you?”
8. The coincidental response:
“Ha, I was just about to ask you the same thing, how ironic is that? I’m from China and you? Oh <offender’s country (if they say USA ask “so you’re a Native American?” and keep pressing for their origins>, so tell me, are you intrigued by the mysteries of the Orient?”
7. The questioning response:
“Why is that always the first question I get asked? Do you get asked that? How come my friend Bob Smith never gets asked that?”
6. The professional response:
“China, and where are you from?”
5. The metrosexual response:
“Oh I’m a local (or U.S. city or state or origin), oh do you mean what is my nationality? I’m Chinese, is that ok? And what’s your nationality?”
4. The friendly response:
“China. Hey we’ve all got our flaws right?” Follow up with a playful slap on the shoulder while laughing as if you’ve just made a hilarious joke.
3. The camraderie response:
“Born and raised in the USA baby.”
(when asked about your nationality) “American citizen by birth baby just like you.”
(when pushed to describe your genetic stock) “My ancestors came from China, oh <slight pause> maybe I’m not just like you, <slight reflective pause> aw man, now this is gonna keep me up at night.”
2. The antagonistic response:
“Fresh off the boat from China, yup I’m one of the bad guys. Working for low pay driving down your wages, corrupting your gene pool with our exotic women. Getting good grades and forcing you to spend money on affirmative action programs. Ha ha ha, oh not funny? No good? Aw c’mon lighten up.”
1. The angry response (to a smart ass):
“Your mother’s pussy, bitch.” (the watered down version would be: “why do you want to know (or what does it matter) where I’m from?”
Permalink
Posted in Culture, Health, World News, China at 12:27 am by telly_wong
“I raise you for 35 years and all I get is this flippin’ hat!?!?”
In The Doors classic, “Five to One”, the great Jim Morrison proclaimed “the old get old and the young get stronger.”
In relation to modern China, he would be half-right.
China’s population is getting increasingly older and their kids are becoming more ungrateful, according to a new study by the National Committee on Aging. Unfortunately these changes are having a negative effect on the nation’s longstanding cultural traditions, society and even the mental health of its seniors.
According to the survey, as of June 1, 2006, China had 146.57 million citizens over the age of 60, which accounts for 21.4% of the total number of people in that age group worldwide — that means 1 out of 5 old people on this planet is a Chinese.
But one of the most surprising findings, in my humble opinion, were 49.7% of elderly persons in urban areas lived in “empty nest” families in 2006, while 50.3% stayed with other family members. These numbers reveal a stark deviation from the longtime Chinese cultural tradition of the “extended family” and kids providing for their parents into their old age.
Meanwhile, in rural areas, the tradition is still practiced, for the most part, with 61.7% of elderly residing with family members and 38.3% living alone. However, those numbers are also beginning to even themselves out as experts cite the increasing number of senior “empty nest” households in both urban and rural China.
So what’s causing all this? Modern China turning their back on filial traditions and adopting Western ones? The increasing bachelor population who don’t have big homes for their folks to move into? The lack of space in big city apartments? The increased cost of living? Unfortunately, the study doesn’t provide any answers.
The study does cite, however, some other major socio-economic and psychological changes that go along with the rising number of “empty nest” households, including seniors increasingly relying on on social insurance to support themselves instead of being cared for by their children and rising rates of depression and thoughts of suicide.
This is kind of sad news. After all, I think my parents are pretty cool. Although I’m not personally a fan of the “extended family household” concept (I need my privacy), I do intend to look after my folks if and when they get feeble, senile and/or start uncontrollably peeing on themselves. I would never, ever adopt the Great American tradition of putting them in a “home”.
China is changing faster than I can fully comprehend these days but I seriously hope its culture, values and traditions can withstand the tidal wave of Western influence in these coming years. After all, how interesting is a society of Asian folks who all talk, act and think like the average white American?
And besides, don’t we already have that over here?
Permalink
12.17.07
Posted in Politics, Activism and Empowerment, Community Offenders, Racism, Education, China at 7:44 am by mark_chang
December 17 marks the anniversary of The Magnuson Act being signed into law (in 1943).
Proposed by U.S. Representative Warren G. Magnuson (Washington), it made moot the Chinese Exclusion Act allowing immigration to the United States from China for the first time since 1882
It allowed for 105 Chinese immigrants to enter the United States each year. These immigrants were to be hand picked by the U.S. government.
Coincidentally (or not?) this came at a time when the U.S. sought China as an ally in WWII.
Regardless, a number of us are thankful for the passage of The Magnuson Act.
The Chinese Exclusion Act Of 1882 is the first and only act ever to target a specific nationality unfavorably.
Exclusions were extended to other (non Chinese) Asians via The Immigration Act of 1924.
Although in either a “omitted” or “repealed” status, currently “Exclusion of Chinese” headlines Chapter 7 of Title 8 of the United States Code (http://www.access.gpo.gov/uscode/title8/chapter7_.html).
The Canadian version of the story is The Chinese Immigration Act (or lack thereof) Of 1923 which was repealed in 1947.
Currently, there are small movements to bring back the Chinese Exclusion Act while larger U.S. movements target the boycott of Chinese made goods.
The following incidents provide some insight into the “zeitgeist” of the era of the Chinese Exclusion Act:
The Chinese Massacre Of 1871
An angry mob of Anglos and Latins (over 500 strong) ransacked LA’s Chinatown. Robbing, raping, pillaging and murdering between 18-23 (of 178 total residents) Chinese people. The corpses were hung on display in various parts of the district.
As is the norm when it comes to anti-Asian violence, no one ever spent a day in jail for the crimes (you know “technicalities”, etc. …)
The Rock Springs Massacre Of 1885 (Wyoming)
Several white miners armed with rifles went into mining rooms occupied by Chinese miners and either robbed them first then shot them or shot them first then robbed them (does it really make a difference?) resulting in 28 deaths.
None of the assailants were convicted (that’s the surprise of the century) and received a post “trial” ovation.
The cause was attributed to lower wages paid to Chinese workers (much like today where Asians, specifically Chinese receive the lowest pay for the the same work) driving down the wages of the white workers.
Chinese Massacre Cove (Oregon, 1887)
A gang white men robbed, killed and subsequently mutilated 31 Chinese men.
No one was ever convicted (another chalk mark in the “believe it or not” column).
Washington State riots:
The Tacoma riot (1885)
The Issaquah riot (1885)
The Seattle riot (1886)
Then of course there’s the infamous Anti-Chinese riot of 1880 in Denver where
2000 rioters beat and robbed Chinese residents and hung an elderly man from a lamppost.
The Australian version of anti Chinese rioting would be the Lambing Flat Riots.
With anti Asian sentiment on the rise due to increased immigration for high tech grunt work and unfounded paranoia of rampant disease and an economic takeover, the only question is whether we have learned from our past and are now in a better position to defend ourselves more effectively?
Permalink
Posted in Culture, World News, China at 3:35 am by telly_wong
This isn’t necessarily good news.
China’s population, now estimated at 1.3 billion, is expected to increase by another 200 million by 2033, according to a new study by the People’s University in Beijing.
Zhai Zhenwu, head of a population research institute at the university told the Beijing News, “Currently, China is adding 16 million people a year. By 2012, annual (population increase) will reach a peak of 19 million.”
Obviously the population would be much higher –and perhaps uncontrollable– if it weren’t for China’s one child policy and other population control laws introduced in the 1970s. Unfortunately, it is also due to these same rules that there is an increasing disparity between the number of men and women, which will inevitably lead to other major problems, including a population slowdown and waaaaay too many single dudes, unless China revises their population control system — and fast.
Permalink
Next entries »
