AML: Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas | annarbor.com

from ACJ Advisory Board Member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang at annarbor.com:



The Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) National Convention was held in Detroit this month. I really wanted to attend, since it was home, but unfortunately I was not able to make it. Still, I watched from afar via Twitter, I saw my friends smiling in Twitpix, I connected people to each other via Facebook and email, I read newspaper articles online, and I even received a cellphone call that would have allowed me to listen in on one of the panels (if only I had not been driving at the time).



It was a little surreal seeing a photograph in the Detroit Free Press of my real-life friends together with my virtual friends, not to mention hearing about the conversations they had because of my virtual introductions.




href="http://www.annarbor.com/passions-pursuits/showing-off-our-many-local-treasures/#.TmOBlShd-4E.blogger">Showing off our many local treasures, the power of sharing our ideas

AML: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities | annarbor.com

from ACJ Advisory Board member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang at AnnArbor.com:



At the annual Band Camp concert at Interlochen a few years ago, my friend Shih-yi joked, “This would be a good day to rob Ann Arbor. Half the town is here.”



After a summer of family time, it is quite the plunge back into the cold refreshing waters of school life up at Interlochen where (some configuration of) the Huron, Pioneer and Skyline bands, orchestras, and choirs perform every year after a week of band/orchestra/choir camp — not only for the children who are summoned by the bugle call at 6:30 every morning, but also for the parents and siblings who have not seen all the other parents and siblings all summer.



The Huron Music Association has a bus for folks to ride up to Interlochen so that we do not all have to drive, but I sort of like the drive. I load up Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra songs in my CD player or iPod and I sing at the top of my lungs for four hours up and four hours back.



Driving long distances alone makes me nervous (I am always — justifiably — worried that my car is not going to make it), but once I manage to make it there and back successfully, I find that I am recharged, revitalized, renewed.



There is something about going someplace new to see things from a new perspective.



click on link for more: From Band Camp to Ramadan - finding strength, skinniness and similarities

Adventures in Multicultural Living: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer

from ACJ Advisory Board member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang:



A girlfriend who attends St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church once told me how invaluable that one hour a week every Sunday morning was for her, to sit, reflect, pray, and be alone.



To hear her describe it, I wanted to go, too.



(I remember when my children were babies, the only time I was ever alone was three precious minutes a day in the shower — only the first half of the shower, mind you — before they invariably poked their heads in looking for me again.)



However, during the school year, I often find that temple is simply one thing too many for me to manage. During the school year, the children and I are so exhausted all the time, the roads are so long, the snow is so deep — that we never quite make it all the way across town to temple.



I know, I know, if I were a better person, I would find time to do it year-round like normal people. If it were higher on my priority list, I would make time for it like everyone else. Going to temple only once or twice year on holy days only (and late at that) is flimsy, tenuous, lame.



click on link for more: Finally finding time for church/temple in the space of summer

AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention:August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : Through the Lens: Vincent Chin

"Join New York-based Photojournalist Corky Lee and Filmmaker/Director Curtis Chin ("Vincent Who?") for an intimate talk about their documentation surrounding the 1982 Vincent Chin Case. Lee will be on hand to discuss his gallery of photographs that are housed at the Chinese American Community Center which documents the movement sparked by the case that brought Asian Americans together in protest. Concluding this event will be Chin's 2009 documentary film "Vincent Who?" which questions 80 young Asian Americans about a landmark case that has become unnoticed among today's generation."



AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : Through the Lens: Vincent Chin



Update: From Saturday's Twitter Stream, including some photos from jozjozjoz.com:



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

Met Roland Hwang after the VINCENT WHO? screening and he said, "Oh YOU'RE Joz! @fkwang told me abt you!" (Uh oh!)

21 minutes ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

#aaja was appropriately in Detroit, a great city. Journalists have more in common w/the town and its autoworkers than we think.

1 hour ago



fkwang Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

@jozjozjoz #AAJA more on the Vincent Chin plaques …ericancitizensforjustice.blogspot.com/2010/12/plaque…

56 minutes ago



ACJ_AACJ AmericanCitizensJust

@jozjozjoz @curtischin across street "Post Bar" (formerly Golden Star) is where all Vincent Chin organizing took place. Did u go in? #AAJA

27 minutes ago



fkwang Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

@jozjozjoz across the street "The Post Bar" (formerly Golden Star) is where all the Vincent Chin organizing took place. Did you go in? #AAJA

57 minutes ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

Getting to see old Detroit Chinatown w/ Curtis Chin. #AAJA. (Thx @Buick for providing the driver & sweet ride!)

1 hour ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

PIC: #AAJA folks take an impromptu trip to see the new Vincent Chin memorial marker twitpic.com/65iuqf

2 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply



GilAsakawa Gil Asakawa

RT @jozjozjoz: PIC: Legendary photog Corky Lee shows us his photo exhibit. #AAJA http://twitpic.com/65gg8n Wish I could be there!

4 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

PIC: #AAJA folk who aren't at The VINCENT WHO? event are missing the delicious dim sum! twitpic.com/65gj45

4 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

PIC: #AAJA Conference attendees at Corky Lee's Rights & Sites photo exhibit at the Chinese American Community Cent twitpic.com/65ghwn

4 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

PIC: Thx to #AAJA sponsor @Buick for the private drivers to take us to the VINCENT WHO? event! twitpic.com/65gcmw

4 hours ago



updated.

What people are saing at AAJA – Detroit, Michigan

What people are saying at the Asian American Journalists Association Convention about the Vincent Chin case. Check out #AAJA and @ACJ_AACJ on Twitter.com.



AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan



AAJA, Detroit remember Vincent Chin « AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan



Vincent Chin's beating death recalled at AAJA conference | Detroit Free Press | freep.com



Activist Boggs tells Asian-American journalists to 'grow our souls' | Detroit Free Press | freep.com



Selections from Thursday's Twitter feed:



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

I've watched "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" at least a dozen times & I always cry when I see Lily Chin ask for justice for her son. #AAJA

6 hours ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

"I wanted to make a film for 5th graders," Christine Choy on why she left out critical witness tampering facts in her Vincent Chin doc.#aaja

4 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Loved persistence of director Christine Choy in getting interview with Vincent Chin's killer. Choy congratulated him on his acquittal. #AAJA

4 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Choy told Chin's killer, You're going to be pissed if you don't talk to me for this documentary. A week later, he agreed to talk. #AAJA

5 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Then Choy accepted an offer to have drinks with him. She said yes, ordered a drink (vodka and gin, I think) and said ... #AAJA

5 hours ago



LoriMatsukawa Lori Matsukawa

Vincent Chin Case 29 Years Later: Director Christine Choy says journalists must tell Asian- American story "from beginning to end." #AAJA

5 hours ago



janetcho Janet Cho

.@AAJA attendees who skipped tonight's "Who Killed #VincentChin?" film missed an inspiring testimony on why media #diversity matters. #AAJA

5 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

Post-screening discussion w/ the Vincent Chin panel. Questions by @emilamok very enlightening.

6 hours ago



laarnid1 Laarni Rosca Dacanay

Just finished "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" screening & learned more about Asian-American civil rights -- impactful story #AAJA

6 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

"No civil rights trial happens w/o a massive amount of protest." --Helen Zia

6 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

Dunno if I can watch "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" again. Already wanna cry @ #AAJA Helen Zia, Christine Choy, Ti-Hua Chang, Roland Hwang panel

7 hours ago



DorisTruong Doris N. Truong

Just heard powerful words from childhood friend of Vincent Chin. Be courageous. Be yourself. #aaja

7 hours ago



Cr8tiveStream Creative Streamline

#aaja "Rembering Vincent Chin" "He swung the bat as if a baseball player would swing for a home run" witness said of how Chin was killed.

7 hours ago



laarnid1 Laarni Rosca Dacanay

At "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" doc screening and Q&A at #AAJA with Richard Lui from @msnbc yfrog.com/h8e8yfkkj

7 hours ago



jozjozjoz jozjozjoz

Ok. I am crying. Childhood friend of Vincent Chin remembers his memory and their friendship. #AAJA

8 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Director of "Who Killed Vincent Chin?", when pitching film idea, was asked, "How can you be objective if you are Asian American?" #AAJA

8 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

In 1980s some members of Congress pulverized Japanese products over economic despair. Racial tension was high, Ti-Hua Chang says. #AAJA

8 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Vincent Chin struck in head with four blows by a baseball bat. Brain matter was found on sidewalk, Roland Hwang says. #AAJA

8 hours ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

Attys for vincent chin family renew pursuit of civil suit award from Ronald Ebens who has surfaced in Nevada, 29 years after Chin murder.

8 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Helen Zia says part of reason why Detroit's Renaissance Center is so confusing is it was built during racial riots in the '60s. #AAJA

8 hours ago



ronlin Ron Lin, LA Times

Big story in 1980s: Asians do live in America, and, yes, they are American, says Helen Zia at #AAJA screening of "Who killed Vincent Chin?"

8 hours ago



aajanewyork AAJA New York

Robust attendance at the #aaja Vincent Chin panel!

9 hours ago



GilAsakawa Gil Asakawa

Detroit is a very nice city, what we're experiencing @ #AAJA convention. We've only known it via Michael Moore's & media perspective.

9 hours ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

Grace Lee Boggs,96,has seen every movement come and go, says the next Am. revolution will be local, individualistic,spiritual.#aaja detroit

10 hours ago



bettymliu betty ming liu

vincent chin activist helen zia, revisits scene of the infamous detroit trial. #aaja http://twitpic.com/64h3il

13 hours ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

#aaja Touring east side of Detroit after talking with Grace Lee Boggs. Vacant lots, yes. But also big houses, lots of hope still.

14 hours ago



emilamok Emil Guillermo

#aaja Grace Lee Boggs says it's time to end politics as we know it. Jobs are not the answer. Time for a humanistic revolution.

14 hours ago



fkwang Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

@ACJ_AACJ roland hwang and @emilamok called me so i could hear the #aaja panel on Vincent Chin remotely and i didn't hear my phone ring!

1 hour ago



ACJ_AACJ AmericanCitizensJust

Thanks all for coming to meet the American Citizens for Justice folks at #AAJA!! @fkwang sends her regrets.

1 hour ago



updated

AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention:August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : In Retrospect: "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"

Tonight at the Asian American Journalists Convention! Richard Lui, Christine Choy, Roland Hwang, Ti-Hua Chang, Helen Zia



AAJA : Programs : 22nd Annual National Convention: August 10-13, 2011 : Community Programming : In Retrospect: "Who Killed Vincent Chin?"



check out this picture of the panel from JozJozJoz Wang http://twitpic.com/64kscc



check out this picture of Helen Zia from Betty Ming Liu http://twitpic.com/64h3il



one more picture of the panel from Laarni Rosca Dacanay http://yfrog.com/h8e8yfkkj



and here are some interesting resources about the Vincent Chin case from June: American Citizens for Justice: On the 29th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin

AAJA, Detroit remember Vincent Chin « AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan

Remembering Vincent Chin events at Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) Convention:



“The legacy continues,” Hwang said. “There’s a lot of substance one can gain from it.”



AAJA, Detroit remember Vincent Chin « AAJA Voices 2011 – Detroit, Michigan

Blog: Bad Deal, Still Bad Economy - AALDEF

Emil Guillermo goes Amok on the economy:



Blog: Bad Deal, Still Bad Economy - AALDEF



Blog: "Downgrade pain" courtesy of our political class - AALDEF

AML: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway

From ACJ Advisory Board member Frances Kai-Hwa Wang:

Two weeks after the Obon Festival, a Buddhist holiday to remember and celebrate one’s ancestors, during which spirits are said to come home to visit the family for two weeks, comes the Toro Nagashi, a Buddhist ritual to send our visiting ancestors back on their way to the realm of the spirits.

It is a beautiful ceremony, held at sunset at water’s edge, with Japanese American ladies in purple robes chanting, a Buddhist priest saying prayers, younger folks performing taiko drumming and song. Individual paper lanterns are dedicated to family members, lit, then towed out to sea by a small boat.

The ancestors who have been home visiting their families in the world of the living follow the bobbing lanterns down the river and out to sea, which helps them find their way back to the land of the spirits.

One could make a bad joke here that although we all like our relatives to visit, we do not like them to stay too long.

click here for more: Thinking of peace at the Buddhist Toro Nagashi after the terrorist attack in Norway:

ICE’s Shredding of “S-Comm” Agreements: A Stunning Display of Bad Faith

via Asian Law Caucus who writes: "Amid a growing chorus of national criticism of the flawed “Secure” Communities or S-Comm program, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) earlier today unilaterally canceled memorandums of agreement with 39 states over the program (including California) and announced that those states would still be forced to participate in the program without any sort of local oversight or accountability:



ICE’s Shredding of “S-Comm” Agreements: A Stunning Display of Bad Faith



More from NAKASEC who writes: "Today's SComm announcement continues to ignore the concerns of the community ":



Ignoring the Masses, Changing the Rules As They Go - NAKASEC

chinese workers "excised" out of amc's transcontinental railroad drama hell on wheels | angry asian man

While Glenn Beck protests the new Hispanic/African American Spiderman, Asian American history continues to be written out of the storyline in this Civil War/Restoration/Western about the building of the Transcontinental Railroad...east of Utah? with no Chinese people? Amazing. via AngryAsianMan.com:



chinese workers "excised" out of amc's transcontinental railroad drama "hell on wheels" | angry asian man

[ACTION] 10 Year Anniversary of DREAM Act Petition

via the Asian American Justice Center: [ACTION] 10 Year Anniversary of DREAM Act Petition