President Obama spoke at the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies Annual last Tuesday and explicitly mentioned how important it is to recognize the diversity within Asia America to honor its peoples and to better target policy for each demographic.
And I know it can be tempting — given the success that’s on display here tonight — for people to buy into the myth of the “model minority” and glance over the challenges that this community still faces. But we have to remember there’s still educational disparities like higher dropout rates in certain groups, lower college enrollment rates in others. There’s still economic disparities like higher rates of poverty and obstacles to employment. There are health disparities like higher rates of diabetes and cancer and Hepatitis B. Those who are new to America — many still face language barriers.
I am still processing the speech. I was in tears when I heard him understand that Asia America is diverse and that each experience is valid. I can’t explain how much it means to me that there is someone not Asian American who understands this, that there is one person for whom no explanation is needed.
I also can’t explain how much it means to me to have that person be the President of the United States of America.
Virtual Republic created a beautiful visualization of 1st violin of the 2nd symphony, 4th movement by Ferdinand Ries as performed by the Zurich Chamber Orchestra. The video is not a representation of synesthesia, but this mingling of sound and visuals so perfectly illustrates the movement expressed in music.
When I saw the video for Rep. Giffords’ resignation, I couldn’t even cry. Her smile is wide and her spirit is strong, but the space between her words is much too familiar. In them, I hear her struggle to speak, to communicate with the outside world. I hear also the frustration with her new limitations, of being trapped with a body or mind that would not work as it once did. This is the tragedy of a traumatic brain injury. For those of us who are lucky enough to be present, you will forever know what you have lost.
Last night, when I saw her enter Congress for the State of the Union, I burst into tears. There was so much love from her peers, so much pride in her face. We citizens criticize Congress (sometimes rightfully so), but that moment should be congratulated. It is one of pure grace.
Dan Savage wrote: “The growing civil equality of gays and lesbians—from marriage equality in Canada and New York to the end of DADT in the USA—is revealing a lot of things.” Among them, just how non-existent a threat it all was, he says. And I think in retrospect that THIS is what the right was most afraid of. Not that society as they knew if would crumble, or that God would damn everyone. But that things wouldn’t change at all. That their story about hellfire and damnation would be revealed for what it was: pure fiction. And that in large measure, their authority (moral or otherwise) would be diminished.
And it is.
The Occupy movement has reached my hometown. I’m not surprised, given the demographic. I wonder where else these protests are happening and who are going. It will be interesting to see who are the people who believe in this movement.
