ASIAN ROLES IN THE MEDIA TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN 9 A CLIMB FOR A CAUSE ARTS: HEALING TACOMA S ANTI-CHINESE HISTORY HAPPY HOUR SERIES:

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1 Celebrating 35 Years First and Third Wednesdays each month PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SEATTLE, WA Permit No FREE EST SEATTLE VOLUME 36, NUMBER 15 August 5 - August 18, 2009 The newspaper of the northwest Asian American Communities. Find your inspirasian. 5 HEALING TACOMA S ANTI-CHINESE HISTORY 9 A CLIMB FOR A CAUSE ASIAN ROLES IN THE MEDIA TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN 8 13 ARTS: DANCE THIS COLLABORATION HONORS CULTURAL TRADITIONS 7 HAPPY HOUR SERIES: A FUSION GETAWAY Our Humor Columnist Goes to Vietnam 2 Stadium Relationships 6 Where s the Stimulus Money? 6 Little Saigon Takes a Walk with the Mayor 5

2 IE EDITORIAL IE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Sian Wu, President Gary Iwamoto, V.P. Carmela Lim Arlene Oki Ammara Hun Angela Garbes Cindy Domingo Heather Villanueva EDITOR IN CHIEF Diem Ly ADVERTISING MANAGER Jon Crispala ARTS EDITOR Alan Chong Lau BUSINESS MANAGER Ellen Suzuki DEVELOPMENT OFFICER Bely Luu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Ryan Catabay PRODUCTION DESIGNER Abe Wong Jagged Noodles Columnist Jagged Noodles Goes to Vietnam, Part 1 BY HUY X. LE IE Columnist Photo credit: North Vietnam Tours Jameelah and I have arrived in the city of Saigon after an actually rather pleasant 20-hour trip from Seattle. Before the trip, we had used the Nintendo Wii to weigh the luggage because the bathroom scale was too small. We were snapping at each other and were in unpleasant moods due to packing and cleaning and the general pervasive existential pains. But the free-flowing wine on the airplane, along with food served in tiny containers really helped. You d be amazed how potent four one-ounce cups of wine could be at 36,000 feet. We had no problems at the Saigon airport, so I will save my usual rant about dirty, rotten, corrupt, good-for-nothing, ugly, halitosis-ridden, un-hygenic, cruel and infantile airport customs officers whose souls are nothing more than lightless cesspools swirling with unveiled contempt for the common person and whose faces resemble cobblers aprons. These past few days have just been incredible, filled with so much action, fun, and above all, MSG. The locals here use MSG like we might use salt and pepper. Whenever we get something that does not contain MSG, we go into withdrawal symptoms. Nha Trang is an awesome city, filled with nice people who walk barefoot to the ocean to do tai-chi, sparkling aquamarine water, and drunken Western tourists. Jameelah has been having a great time here. We went to the beach, where she had her first bowl of steaming hot, silken tofu with caramel ginger sauce, served in a barely rinsed bowl, for 20 cents. Overall, she has liked the food. I was somewhat disappointed, though, when I presented her with a chilled young coconut and her reaction was basically It s a ight. And fresh-pressed sugarcane juice? It s OK. It s better than the coconut. That really stings. It s just like that time I risked life and limbs to bring fresh cherries to the relatives over here, only to get lukewarm reactions. I will never wear my culinary heart on my sleeves again. Yesterday we went to a salon to get a shampoo and a facial massage. The stylists were all fascinated by Jameelah, who has started using more and more Vietnamese. There were twenty of them, and while I had random vegetables pasted onto my face, they had a lottery to see who would get to work on her hair, the likes of which had apparently never been seen in that salon before. The whole shop gathered around to observe. After that, we went to Dad s oldest brother, Uncle Hai s house to pay our respect, and he affectionately punched her in the face. He does that sometimes to people he likes. She was slightly bewildered, as you can imagine. But as my grandmother used to say, When the rock hits the hay, there goes the weasel. I never really quite understood her sayings. We are now in my home village, where pine trees are prevalent and where the clouds hover at the base of mountains in the mornings. Jameelah has won over all the relatives, who are very impressed with her Vietnamese. Of course, the bluntness has set in. You have a cute face, said one aunt, but your thighs are too big. They too were fascinated by her hair, and somehow, they were able to carry on an entire conversation about hair in Vietnamese. Then they started making fun of me. When Huy was little, said an aunt, he was always spacing out. We used to call him Dreaming Chicken. Gifts have mainly been dispersed, with everyone ecstatic over Peptol Bismol, Tylenol, and lotions that smell like food ( Warm Vanilla Sugar ). We got here late so didn t get to meet everyone in the village. I bet they will stare and whisper. This is the first time someone brought home a foreigner as a girlfriend or boyfriend, and news will spread like crazy. She has fluffy brown hair, they ll say, and she s Black. But at least she likes MSG. We ll report more after we ve had a chance to stroll about the town, buying fruit. So far, everyone has been very nice and friendly, and Jameelah has won them all over with her charm and language skills. We ll see what the villagers think. Like Grandma used to say, You can roll more incense sticks if a well-fed goat is in your yard. CONTRIBUTORS Huy X. Le Caroline Li Shauna Nuckles Kevin Minh Allen Rohan Paramesh Larry Yu Nina Huang Chris Parades Judith van Praag Hollis Wong-Wear Amy Lee Quang Nguyen Irene Aguilar International Examiner 622 S. Washington St. Seattle, WA Tel: (206) Fax: (206) Web site: Interior Design Cabinetry & Installation FEATURING InspirAsian Youth Corner What have I done? BY AMY LEE IE Youth Contributor In January, authorities caught a shoplifter who stole six packs of gum. That person was Amy Lee. As I left QFC, two security guards stopped me. It was lunch period and I skipped school to hang out with some friends to get some gum. I had five dollars in my pocket but decided to steal. My friends were at a nearby store and I was alone. I was thinking of where to put my gum so I can walk out normally. I decided to put them in my shoe, which was a bad idea. While I was putting the stolen gum in my shoes and pockets, two men who I thought were customers, passed by. Once I stepped out of the building, the two men said, Stop, you re under arrest for shop lifting. I was shocked that I got caught and was scared. My friends witnessed this and their jaws dropped to the ground. I found myself in the upper level of QFC. One security guard told me to pull out all of the gum I had in my shoes and pocket. I took everything out but I still had two chocolate bars in my inside shirt that they didn t know I took. As I sit in the room, a camera is pointed directly at me and my face is on a TV screen. The guards wanted to call the police but I explained that I am not over age 18 so they d have to take me back to school. The police came anyway and drove me This space is reserved for the young people of our community to share their thoughts, stories, talents, and hopes. In this installment, young writers from the youth council of the Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse (WAPIFASA) share their story. back to Franklin High School. When the police car pulled over to the high school, my classmates saw and asked me what happened. I didn t answer them because I was embarrassed to tell them why. In the Vice Principal s office, she expressed her disappointment that I would do such a thing. I told her that I didn t have money to buy anything I wanted, so I started stealing. The police appeared shocked when I said that. The Vice Principal was so mad that she ShyAsian Guy called for the translator who I think didn t explain the situation correctly to my mom. What I did was wrong but the only thing the interpretor didn t say right was that I never before had skipped school to steal. I went to sixth period which was Wood shop. People came up to me asking What happened? Why are your eyes so red and teary? I didn t tell anyone because I didn t know what to say. At two thirty, the bell rang. Time to go home. While I was on the bus heading home, I was thinking about how my mom would take the whole situation. It didn t turn out good but my mom forgave me. Now I get nagged by my mom everyday not to steal whenever I leave the house. The International Examiner does not endorse nor promote the messages suggested in the ShyAsian Guy comic.

3 COMMUNITY NEWS DENSHO AWARDED FEDERAL JAPANESE AMERICAN CONFINEMENT SITES GRANT Photo credit: Densho: the Japanese American Legacy Project. Densho: the Japanese American Legacy Project has been awarded a $112,500 grant in the first-ever cycle of the Japanese American Confinement Sites program, administered by the National Park Service. From fall 2009 to fall 2010, Densho will conduct 40 video oral histories that will preserve underdocumented stories from confinement sites that held Japanese Americans during World War II. Interviews will be conducted primarily in western states and in Hawaii. They will be added to the free online Densho Digital Archive ( During WWII, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were detained in internment camps under President Roosevelt s Executive Order For more information about Densho s national interview campaign, or to suggest a potential interviewee, contact Densho at (206) or info@densho.org. OneAmerica And leaders meet with Homeland Secretary Department of Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano. The Department of Homeland Security Sec. Janet Napolitano met with a group of community, business, faith and labor leaders, including OneAmerica Executive Director Pramila Jayapal, in a closed-door listening session to discuss the administration s immigration policy and the future of comprehensive immigration reform. The first such session for the Secretary since President Obama named her as his point person on immigration reform, the visit was the first of several sessions the Secretary intends to conduct around the country to hear directly from stakeholders on what issues are critical for them to see in the bill. Although it was a very short meeting, it was a good first step, said Jayapal. The Secretary certainly understands that for comprehensive immigration reform to succeed, there has to be a groundswell of support around the country. It was clear that the Secretary is engaging actively in carrying forward the President s intention to move forward immigration reform legislation this year. Napolitano said in the meeting that a lot has changed since the last efforts to reform immigration and that part of the previous obstacles to reform stemmed from not engaging the public or listening enough. She hoped the listening sessions would be a first step to a new approach that solicits ideas and suggestions and acknowledges that D.C. does not have all the answers. Jayapal says they continue to be concerned about the negative impact of expanded enforcement policies. INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER SIKH AmericanS reject Teacher Garb Law The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) rejects what it calls Oregon s antiquated and immoral teacher garb law and demands an immediate repeal. On July 22, the State of Oregon recently enacted a law called the Oregon Workplace Religious Freedom Act (WRFA), which has generated enormous protest among Sikh Americans. SALDEF says the problem is that Oregon s WRFA does not apply to public school teachers who wear religious clothing in private adherence to faith. Although Oregon s WRFA undoubtedly expands workplace religious freedom for most Oregonians, the public school exemption was designed to preserve what it refers to as an archaic law enacted with the support of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s which forbids public school teachers from wearing any form of religious clothing. In effect, observant Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and others who wear religious clothing in private adherence to faith are shut out of the teaching profession in Oregon. With the possible exception of Pennsylvania, no other state in the country restricts public school teachers in this manner. Critics say Oregon s teacher garb law was enacted nearly a century ago by sympathizers of the Ku Klux Klan for the purpose of suppressing Catholics. August 5 - August 18, County Council funds $1.2 million TO family planning clinics The doors of family planning clinics at the County s public health centers will be able to stay open through the end of the year, thanks to a supplemental appropriation for public health programs today from the Metropolitan King County Council. Thousands of King County residents rely on these services every year, said Councilmember Julia Patterson. The County plays a strong role in providing quality and affordable health care to our most venerable residents to ensure the overall health of our communities. I am pleased that this appropriation will allow us to offer these important services for the remainder of the year. RALLY CALLS FOR SUPPORT SERVICES, NOT MORE JAILS Real Change hosted a political & cultural rally on July 22 at Seattle s City Hall. Performers such as the Massive Monkees, DJ Vital, Amos Miller, Hollis Wong-Wear; speakers Jim Street, Willie Austin, Trish Milnes Dziko, Roberto Maestas, City Attorney candidate Peter Holmes, and King County Councilmember Dow Constantine were at City Hall to celebrate Initiative 100, a city proposition that would require studies and a public vote, before building a jail. Thousands of people came to support the Initiative, believing it emphasizes supportive services rather than jails. Religious Leaders Support Domestic Partnership Law More than 85 clergy, religious leaders from faith communities and faith-based organizations from all across Washington state, released a joint statement to announce their strong support for the Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill of 2009, which is being threatened with repeal by Referendum 71. Although people have the right to believe what they re called to believe, this right does not include the permission to impose those beliefs on others, said the Rev. Michael Denton, Conference Minister for the Pacific Northwest Conference of the United Church of Christ. In July, Washington Families Standing Together (WAFST), the statewide coalition supporting the domestic partnership law, announced that more than 40,000 individuals and over 115 organizations of all types have joined WAFST to oppose any attempt to repeal the law. The Domestic Partnership Expansion Bill of 2009, adopted by the Legislature this past session, claims it ensures that all Washington families are treated equally by providing the same rights and responsibilities to domestic partners (including heterosexual domestic partnerships where at least one partner is age 62 or older) as are provided to spouses under state law.

4 4 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER AROUND THE NATION JUDY CHU FIRST CHINESE AMERICAN WOMAN ELECTED TO CONGRESS Congress member Judy Chu Judy Chu, a Democrat, has claimed the vacant Los Angelesarea House seat in July 14 s special election, becoming the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress. With 80 of 209 precincts reporting, the former state Assembly member had 60 percent of the vote. Republican opponent Betty Chu Judy s cousin by marriage trailed with 34 percent. Chu s victory makes her Southern California s only Asian American in Congress. The seat was left vacant after Rep. Hilda Solis was named U.S. Labor secretary to the Obama administration. Most residents in the 32nd Congressional District are Hispanic (64 percent Hispanic, 20 percent Asian), but Judy Chu supporters say she assembled a diverse coalition and stressed her ability to work across racial and ethnic lines. WORST HUMAN RIGHTS PROFESSOR IN THE WORLD? According to the Asian Pacific American for Progress blog, Dr. Li-Ann Thio, a visiting professor from Singapore, was supposed to teach human rights law this fall at New York University. However, her hiring apparently drew protests from student activist groups for her past comments on homosexuality and her strong advocacy for its continued criminalization in Singapore. Dr. Thio reportedly withdrawn her acceptance of the offer to teach at NYU on July 22. Individual students, student groups, LGBT organizations, and other activists signed a petition and written letters condemning Thio s hiring. According to a university press release, in a memorandum to the law school community announcing Professor Thio s withdrawal, Dean Revesz expressed his view that the core principles of academic freedom and intellectual diversity on the one hand, and non-discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation on the other, were in conflict. HIS HEART AND SOLE Sinh Tho Nguyen on July 18 in Greggton, Texas. Photo credit: Squishyray and courtesy Flickr. Sinh Tho Nguyen, 40, an Army and National Guard veteran, has made it his personal mission to walk across the United States to honor America and its troops, reports the Dallas Morning News. Nguyen, who moved to Texas after growing up in Vietnam, is about 1,000 miles into his journey and arrived in Dallas-Forth Worth on July 22, before resuming his walk across America. He says he s not getting paid or raising money for a cause, but is his way of saying thanks to America and its troops. He started his 2,600-mile journey in Atlantic Beach, Florida, and hopes to make it to San Diego by Thanksgiving. Nguyen always carries an American flag and has a sign strapped to his back displaying the message: Shore to Shore: A Walk Across America to Honor Those Who Serve. FORmer Philippines Pres. Passes Away, LEAVES behind Influential legacy Former Philippines president Corazon Aquino. Photo credit: Yahoo News. According to the BBC, former Philippines president Corazon Aquino, whose People Power revolution toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy to the nation, died August 1 after a battle with colon cancer. Cory Aquino was propelled into the political spotlight in 1986, when she led millions of Filipinos in protest against the corrupt regime of Marcos, who jailed thousands of dissidents during his brutal 20-year regime. As people across the nation woke to the news, President Gloria Arroyo declared a 10-day period of mourning and ordered a state funeral for Aquino, whom she praised as a national treasure. Coincidentally, Aquino repeatedly demanded that Arroyo, a former protege, whose nineyear presidency has been marred by scandals, step down. Aquino, who always dressed in yellow, was the widow of assassinated opposition leader Benigno Ninoy Aquino. Corazon Aquino was 76 years-old. AMERICAN-BORN CHINESE CHILDREN TRAUMATIZED UPON DISLOCATION The New York Times reported about a growing concern for social service agencies who report that among American-born Chinese who are sent to China as children, are returning to America with developmental disorders. Chinese immigrants, facing mounting financial and cultural pressures, temporarily send their American-born children to live with relatives in China, bringing them back when the parents are more established, around pre-school age. But many of the kids who return to the US are traumatized by the shock of displacement, and suffer developmental problems. Some act out by banging their heads on walls, refusing to speak, or wandering aimlessly in the classroom. These signs have often been misunderstood as symptoms of autism. A spokesperson for University Settlement said that while family separations are a feature of migration in many ethnic groups, the satellite-baby phenomenon seems rare outside the Chinese community. CHINA S GAY COMMUNITY PETITIONS TO GIVE BLOOD Lesbians in China have organized an online petition calling for gay people to be allowed to donate blood, reports the Associated Press. The petition, asking the government to remove a law enacted in 1998 banning the gay community from donating blood, has drawn 540 signatures from lesbians and aims to reach 1,000. A vast majority of China s gay and lesbian population face discrimination and stigmatization, and most remain deeply closeted in a highly conservative society. China apparently bars potential donors from giving blood once they have ticked the gay and lesbian box on the application form. A spokesperson for the Beijing Red Cross Blood Center says the law is practical because the gay community has much higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases. The government remains sensitive about STDs and AIDS, regularly cracking down on activists and patients who seek more support and rights. MAN SENTENCED FOR HATE CRIME ON ASIAN MAN A Los Angeles Superior Court judge sentenced 28 year-old Aaron Mark Duggan to 22 years in prison for a vicious hate crime attack on an Asian man in 2008, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. The attack occurred on April 22, 2008 on the track of a junior high school in San Dimas, Calif. Duggan stabbed Yoon Sun in the back and ear shouting racial epithets and White Power during the attack. Duggan was arrested shortly after the attack and held on a probation violation stemming from an assault conviction Duggan was charged with attempted voluntarily manslaughter, with additional enhancements because it was a hate crime: he used a knife and personally inflicted great bodily injury on the victim.

5 IE NEWS Little Saigon takes a Walk with the Mayor BY QUANG NGUYEN Quang H. Nguyen is a community advocate and the executive director of the Washington Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce On July 27th, something happened in Seattle s Little Saigon that never happened before. On that hot July day, Little Saigon received its first official visit by the Mayor of Seattle. No doubt, election year politics played a role in this historic visit. Election year aside, the visit by the Mayor will have a significant impact in raising the political awareness and involvement of the Vietnamese American community in the greater Seattle Area. Mayor Greg Nickels, left, meets with Viet Wah grocery store owner Duc Tran, right. In the 30-plus years since Vietnamese refugees first settled in this area, politics and political involvement in this community has been almost exclusively about anti-communism. When it manifested itself at the local level it was usually about issues related to the South Vietnamese flag or protests against official visitors from Vietnam. However, a shift has been taking place during this decade. It started in 2000 with small business owners along the Rainier Valley s MLK Jr Way organizing to voice their concerns about the impacts of the light rail construction on their livelihoods. That effort was key in sparking the creation of the $50 million Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. The community began to organize once again around the issue of the Goodwill/Dearborn Street development in This campaign represented a next-level approach to community organizing by extensively involving partners from a broad array of groups and organizations outside the Vietnamese- American community. The combined effort of this coalition succeeded in winning for the community a historic Community Benefits Agreement that included affordable housing guarantees and funding to support Little Saigon s business district. The Dearborn Street development eventually wilted on the vine due to the current recession. Regardless, the awareness and capacity this campaign created constitutes a solid platform for more sophisticated campaigns to be launched by the Vietnamese-American community in the future. There is a cultural aversion in the Vietnamese American community to get involved politically because it is often associated with rancor, antagonism, and bitterness due to the emotional nature of the anti-communism discourse. However, there is also a strong countervailing cultural impulse in this community to organize and fight injustice. This impulse stretches back two thousand years with Viet tribesmen fighting the mighty Han Dynasty of China to retain their sovereignty; and it manifested in the 19th and early 20th century, in the campaigns against the French Colonialists. As the political discourse within the Vietnamese-American community move Mayor Nickels meets with a group of Vietnamese community and business leaders at Saigon Bistro. beyond anti-communism, this impulse will play an important part in getting people involved in the political process. Issues that will likely get traction in this community are: land-use and development, economic development (small business support), and social services (elderly and youth programs). There is little doubt that the Vietnamese American community will become more involved in local, state, and national politics in the near future. The biggest challenge however is whether, as a group, they can develop a common vision and platform. Vietnamese are notoriously consensusaverse. Look at the Vietnamese community and you ll find a dizzying array of groups and organizations. These groups and organizations were started because many of their founders had disagreements and could not reach a compromise with their previous associations. Whatever happens, Mayor Nickels visit is like drinking a political double tall espresso it will kick-start the political awareness of many in this community. INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER Photo credit: The Washington State Historical Society. August 5 - August 18, Healing Tacoma s Anti-Chinese History Tacoma seeks to mend a damaged history between the city and its Chinese residents, the first steps toward reversing a 120-yearold issue. BY SHAUNA NUCKLES Shauna Nuckles is a student in the University of Washington Department of News Laboratory.) On a fateful day over 120 years ago, Tacoma s entire Chinese population was expelled from the city limits. In November 1885, the mayor, who also had proclaimed himself police chief, along with other city officials, ordered the Chinese out. They were first given warning to leave or else, and those that did not leave were forcibly rounded up and marched to the rail lines and sent off to Portland, said Bill Baarsma, the current mayor of Tacoma. Even those who were baptized Christians were labeled heathens (and much worse). Their homes and businesses were burned to ashes. This is the main reason why Tacoma does not have a Chinatown, as other major West Coast cities do Amid the yellow peril and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, the country was going through periods of boom and bust, Baarsma said. People were out of work, starving on the street. In this kind of situation, people were looking for scapegoats, Mayor Baarsma said In Tacoma, and across the entire country, the Chinese were blamed for the economic downturn. However, Tacoma was the only city that expelled its entire Chinese population, said Theresa Pan Hosley, president of Tacoma s Chinese Reconciliation Project. This mass expulsion, later named the Tacoma Method, made the city notorious for its actions. Thousands of Chinese had come to America to help build the railroad and city residents began thinking that they were taking away job opportunities. What they didn t realize was that the Chinese people were taking the jobs that white people did not want, Pan Hosley said. The 27 ringleaders responsible for the expulsion were tried and found innocent of all charges, Baarsma said. In 1885, Tacoma had a population of 6,000 while nearly 600 Chinese residents were driven out of the city. According to the 2000 Census, Tacoma currently has a population of nearly 200,000, while the number of people claiming Chinese ancestry has rebounded to only over 700, accounting for just 0.5 percent of the population. Other Asian populations, such as Koreans, with a population of nearly 3,000, and Vietnamese, with a population of over 3,500, have flourished. As a way to recognize the reprehensible acts of 1885, the city council declared in November 1993 that Aug. 19 was Chinese Reconciliation Day. Mayor Baarsma says the event is intended to be a way for people to come together, appreciate history and the Chinese culture and to be reminded of the effects these events have had on Tacoma. In 1994, Tacoma s Chinese Reconciliation Project was founded to continue the effort and to address and reconcile the events of A $6 million commemorative park along Tacoma s waterfront is one way the city and the Project are observing the city s history. This is one of the gestures the city can do, Pan Hosley said. We would like to tell [the Chinese people] that they are welcome to come back to Tacoma. Of the small Chinese population in Pierce County, very few families live in Tacoma, Pan Hosley noted. Responses to the project have been uniformly positive, according to Baarsma and Pan Hosley. Phase one of the project was just completed, and two more are planned without an official projection date for the final two phases. It all depends on the funding. Personally, I would like to see it done in two years. She began working on the project when her daughter was in first grade; now she just graduated from college. Baarsma has taken other steps to improve the culture of the city, such as setting up trade offices and partnering on projects with officials in China. It s been said that we ve lost investment opportunities because of this [history]. People in China still have a sense that there s something wrong with the city, Baarsma said. It s my hope that we ve been taking the steps to correct that.

6 6 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER IE NEWS Stadium Relationships It really has become an age-old dilemma in cities across America in regards to weighing corporate interests against community interests. Ten years after Safeco Field was built and seven years after the opening of Qwest Field, what, if any, improvement has the Chinatown/ID neighborhood experienced following the rise of the two landmark Puget Sound attractions? Photo credits: Kevin Minh Allen. Understandably, the neighborhood has had a less than ideal relationship with large sports stadiums, starting with the Kingdome. Not only were community leaders and residents worried about the spillover from the large crowds and all of the unintended consequences that come with them, but also with the threat of gentrification and lack of economic benefit to area businesses. Since the demolition of the Kingdome and openings of Safeco Field and Qwest Field, Chinatown/ID s most pressing concerns still remain public safety, parking and traffic congestion, and how to get people to frequent businesses in the area. Realistically, tackling the parking situation in one fell swoop with the funds provided was not going to happen, according to Paul Mar, Acting Executive Director of the Seattle Chinatown/International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda). Parking is one that started out to be a big one. But, we figured out very early on that with $6 million we were not going to get very far if we were to use that money to build a parking garage. With three neighborhoods, where would you build a garage?...we were not going to use that money to build a parking garage. There has been the long-running perception that on game days, far from injecting a steady cashflow and generating solid foot traffic into shops and restaurants in Chinatown/ID, people generally skip them on their way to either one of the sports stadiums and end up spending most of their money at these facilities. Last weekend, while standing at the corner of S. Jackson Street and Sixth Avenue waiting for the crosswalk light to turn, Qwest and Safeco Field are massive landmarks and attractions for people across Puget Sound, but what are its impacts on its surrounding neighborhoods? BY KEVIN MINH ALLEN Born Nguyen Duc Minh in the Gia Dinh district of Saigon on December 5, 1973, Kevin Minh Allen was adopted at 9 months and flown to the U.S. in August Kevin s poems, book reviews and news articles have been published in numerous traditional media and online venues. I personally witnessed the mad dash of cars searching for open parking spots and streams of people wearing green Seattle Sounders shirts with scarves dangling from their necks as they headed for Qwest Field. Unfortunately, no survey has been done to gauge what effect game days have on businesses in Chinatown/ID. According to some people I talked to, in order to record better sales at businesses in the area, more direct advertising campaigns and more numerous signage are needed to direct people s attention into stores and restaurants before and after game days. But despite these concerns, the Chinatown/ID has been given large doses of financial support by the former South Downtown Foundation, which was formed by Paul Allen s First & Goal development group after Qwest Field and the Event Center were built in The foundation was given a total of $10 million $4 million of which was first spent on an environmental impact statement. The other $6 million was to be distributed in the form of grant awards among the three neighborhoods surrounding the stadium (Chinatown/ID, Pioneer Square and SoDo) in order to mitigate against any major negative aftershocks set off by the completion of the sports complex. Paul Mar who was the vice chairman of the foundation at the time, remembers that there was collaboration amongst the three neighborhoods, so that the dollars went further. Also, that within a single neighborhood, collaborations were formed between organizations within that neighborhood. For example, in the International District, the SCIDpda would not compete with another C/ID organization, such as InterIm, on going after some funds for a specific project. We would pool our proposal together, or one would agree to go after one project and the other organization would go after another, says Mar. According to Ceil Erickson, the director of the Community Grantmaking Program at the Seattle Foundation, and Jim Diers, former Executive Director of South Downtown Foundation, organizations like International Community Health Services and Wing Luke Asian Museum, and projects such as King Street Station, ID Village Square II and Nihonmachi Terrace, as well as the International Examiner itself, have been recipients of the mitigation funds from First & Goal. Funds were also allocated to clean up alleyways and install light fixtures in the... on game days, far from injecting a steady cashflow and generating solid foot traffic into shops and restaurants in Chinatown/ID, people generally skip them on their way to either one of the sports stadiums and end up spending most of their money at these facilities. neighborhood. The Chinatown Gate and the dragon sculptures that circle light poles near the Uwajimaya grocery store are further examples of projects funded by the Foundation. Erickson explains that the South Downtown Foundation was dissolved in 2006 because almost all of the funds from the $6 million pot had been allocated and the Seattle Foundation was charged with overseeing the few remaining funds, some $200,000. [The Seattle Foundation] established an Area of Interest fund to support the International District, Pioneer Square and North Duwamish communities. It s just broader, [concerning] revitalization efforts in these communities. The impact of Safeco Field on Chinatown/ID has not been reported much because it did not have a formalized agreement with the surrounding neighborhoods unlike what First & Goal offered. Diers remarked that he felt Safeco Field has been left off the hook altogether. Like First & Goal, they impact the neighborhoods and benefit from the work of the Chinatown/ID Business Improvement Association (CIDBIA). He also emphasized that First & Goal should continue to pay for cleanup and security for the impacted neighborhoods in connection with their events. It usually takes years to know whether or not both groups interests generally become symbiotic or predatory. In the case of Chinatown/ID and Safeco Field and Qwest Field, nothing appears to have gotten worse, nor essentially better in the neighborhood as a direct result of the stadiums proximity to it. The fact that these two public entities must coexist means that they might as well be on speaking terms in order to remain good neighbors. Where s the Stimulus Money? Who has gotten their share, who hasn t, and where to get it. BY CHRIS PAREDES On February 17, President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to try and stimulate the economy and assist Americans in this economic crisis. The bill included federal tax cuts, expansion of unemployment benefits and other social welfare provisions, as well as domestic spending in education, health care, infrastructure, and energy. The government launched a website, ( to provide updates on stimulus spending. According to the website, the different government agencies (for instance, the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, and Energy) decide who will receive award grants and contracts. The money may then go to the state government or they may go directly to a school, hospital, contractor, or other organizations. Bert Caoili, past president of and current advisor for the Filipino Community Center, said that when it comes to the stimulus package, those at the center usually read about it in the paper. We haven t had anyone come tell us how to access the benefits; that would be valuable, Caoili said. Onvia, which is a company that tracks government spending, has launched a website to track stimulus dollars ( According to Onvia, there are 769 active recovery projects in Washington, with an estimated value of $6.6 Billion. In King county, there are 113 projects ranging from improving the Seattle monorail to providing youth employment services funding. As an organization, the Filipino Community Center has not seen the benefits of the stimulus package, according to Caoilli. If the Filipino Community Center was expected to receive money from the government, we haven t yet. The Asian Counseling Referral Service center received stimulus money through their Vocational Services and Nutrition Programs, according to Diane Narasaki, the executive director. In the Vocational Services Program, we received funding for case management and job placement STIMULUS, Continued on Page 7

7 IE NEWS Happy Hour Series: Eateries, Dive Bars, and Everything Else Saigon Palms restaurant in Renton. Photo credit: Nina Huang. Andy Au, a first-generation Chinese- Vietnamese American, opened up Saigon Palms restaurant in a small Renton strip mall just off the IKEA, 167-highway exit. The practical location undermines the surprise you ll find in the restaurant. The former Vietnamese eatery, Lemon Leaf, used to stand where Saigon Palms is today. Having lived in California for several years with 15 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Au introduced his new restaurant, Saigon Palms, to the community with a soft opening on April 25 this year with a grand opening a month later. Although his establishment has seen more traffic than its predecessor, Au says he expects even further growth. He hopes to have various car clubs meet there and host other events. The restaurant boasts a banquet room in the rear of the restaurant that fits up to 70 people a recent hotspot for many parties and celebrations. Au originally had the idea to open up a lounge elsewhere but his uncle knew the landlord of the Lemon Leaf restaurant and suggested they try it out. It chose me, Au says referring to how the restaurant was a surprise opportunity for him. Au hopes to draw in younger crowds with the modern ambiance of the restaurant, and focus on entertainment and great authentic fusion food. He aims to meet today s younger crowd s taste by playing house music and top 40 remixes. He also plans to build a stage where local jazz musicians can perform. The restaurant s going through a lot of changes, he says of his evolving vision. In the meantime, Saigon Palms is becoming known for its grilled pork and hip, easy atmosphere. A variety of menu choices offer patrons an unlimited gastronomic experience. I opted for the spring rolls with mango in them, which had a surprising crisp texture that worked well with the soft, sweet mango inside. As for the entrees, we stuck to traditional Vietnamese dishes, such as banh xeo a Vietnamese crepe-like pancake made out of rice flour and ca chien, which are fried tilapia fish in a special tomato sauce. I also ordered the famous Vietnamese café sua da, otherwise known as iced coffee, to swallow it all down. The portions are generous, with many dishes able to serve two diners. Their happy hour is from 3 to 6 p.m. and again from 9 p.m. to closing, convenient for INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER A Fusion Getaway A new, south-end Vietnamese restaurant experiments with southeast Asian cuisine in a modern, hip atmosphere. From the Au family that brought Tacoma their first taste of bubble tea, comes a new Vietnamese restaurant in Renton. BY NINA HUANG Nina Huang recently graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in journalism. She has a passion for writing, loves watching movies and her favorite animals are dogs and pandas. those returning home from work and looking for flavorful cuisines in a quietly chic restaurant. Prices are reasonable and dishes will leave you full and satisfied. Au is confident that his customers will enjoy his cuisine but mentions that the menu is still evolving. He says that having a variety of dishes entices customers to keep coming back for more. The wait staff is friendly and helpful but what makes the atmosphere inviting are the frequent patrons, who treat the restaurant as the local haunt. Patrons are a mixed bunch, Au says, who tries to attract both the young, hipster crowd along with families, encouraging people to share dishes. In addition to experimenting and fusing Asian cuisine, Au is currently working on creating a new drink menu with Sean Klos, a mixologist for notable Seattle eateries such as Pearl s and Joey s. Au believes that a bar is similar to a kitchen. Just as people will come back for a specific dish, patrons will come back for a particular drink, he says. Au wants Saigon Palms to also be known for great, unique drinks and is motivated to learn more about how alcohol can generate income for a restaurant. Part of Au s vision is to provide a source of nightly entertainment for the South Sound community and a great place to hang out and experience a quality menu, offering a taste of far-away Asian cultures in the local south Seattle area. For more information, visit com/saigonpalms. Saigon Palms restaurant is located at 101 SW 41st St., Renton, Wash., Call (425) for reservations. August 5 - August 18, To Whom It May Concern Before you hit Craigslist to fill that next open position, look to community agencies offering disadvantaged people a second chance. BY Irene Aguilar Irene Aguilar works for the Center For Career Alternatives (CCA). In this special partnership with the Center for Career Alternatives (CCA) and in support of community people at all levels of the socio-economic spectrum, we will periodically profile an individual, who is a part of the CCA program, and seeking employment opportunities. Nga Nguyen arrived from Vietnam three years ago, working as a registered nurse for the Children s Hospital for seventeen years, in the burn unit where she cared for children from newborn to 15 years of age. Nguyen dedicated most of her adult life caring for children treated there for prolonged periods of time. After meeting her American soonto-be husband when he visited Vietnam, they married in She says it was difficult living in Vietnam being Nga Nguyen. married to someone who was not of the same culture. The couple lived in Vietnam for three years before moving to California, agreeing that they could have a better life in the United States where their two cultures would be more accepted. But being accepted as a health care worker in the US with skills acquired in Vietnam requires new and updated training. Nguyen studied in the American Healthcare System at Trinity Occupational Training in California. CCA, Continued on Page 8 STIMULUS, Continued from Page 6 and direct support to client for things like tuition, books, tools and other job related expenses, Narasaki said in an . In our Nutrition Program, we received funding for two summer events for seniors site enhancements and database installment to strengthen the program. The Seattle Chinatown/ID Preservation Development Authority has also received stimulus money, according to Paul Mar, the acting executive director. Mar said that they have not tapped into the money or have not spent any of it yet, but have earmarked it for capital expenditures to modernize the Assembly Hall in the Bush Hotel in the Chinatown/ID. Among other things, the legislation is a $780 billion package, with roughly 35 percent of the package devoted to tax cuts. According to Caoili, Filipino Community Center members have individually benefited by receiving a portion, which he said helped, but it s just direct money. Most of the Filipino Community Center members are senior citizens, according to Caoili, which may make them eligible for funding, but Caoili said many don t have access to information from their own perspective. Normally, people will come give a presentation (for a new program). Caoili says presentations are the most effective way to reach the community he serves, but that so far, no one has approached the Filipino Community Center to ask about making a presentation. Mar said that from what he has heard from other entities that have received stimulus money, it is having a positive effect and believes his organization will continue to have access to the funds in the future via the City of Seattle Department of Human Services. In Seattle, the 4Culture program announced that Current Sustained Support program recipients are eligible to apply for American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding (through 4Culture) to support job preservation and artist contracts. The University of Washington, is accepting early applications to new jobs provided by the ARRA on their website, though they caution funding won t be received until the fall.

8 8 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER IE NEWS Early Chinese American starlet Anna May Wong. William Hung and Tila Tequila have a lot in common. American Idol brief breakthrough star William Hung. On the surface, these media stars seem like polar opposites. Hung is the stereotypical, asexual geek, with his awkward mannerisms, dress, and questionable singing talents that first gained him fame on the American Idol competition. Tila Tequila is the stereotypical hypersexual bimbo, displaying her flamboyant sexuality for the viewers on her MTV reality dating show. Both are media icons of dubious skill and notoriety, profiting handsomely from America s voracious appetite for un-reality television. Both have achieved their fifteen seconds of fame by parlaying a kind of freakish cult status into a voyeuristic following from fans and media shills alike. And, it goes without saying, both are Asian. The Not-So Perfect Couple William Hung and Tila Tequila arecaricatures, clowns, or even freak shows. But they are freaks created by and for the amusement of mainstream America. As such, they are significant more for what they symbolize than their own accomplishments. In particular, these two are the latest incarnation of how the US media presents a warped vision of Asian American masculinity and femininity. White, racist stereotypes of Asian American men and women have a long and perverse tradition dating back to the days of historical, cultural icons like Charlie Chan and Suzie Wong to their modern day spawn like Long Duk Dong (of the movie Sixteen Candles ), Miss Saigon, or innumerable Love Me Long Time geisha clones. The underlying logic of these media portrayals? Reality star and MySpace icon, Vietnamese American Tila Tequila. Asian men are asexualized nerds, while Asian women are hypersexualized dragon ladies. As activist Julia Oh explains, these two stereotypes are inextricably related. Asian Roles in the Media: Two Sides of the Same Coin Asian American breakout stars reveal that the perception of Asians has changed little and has only magnified pervasive stereotypes. BY LARRY YU Larry Yu works with the Portland-based organization Thymos, as well as the Asian American Movement E-Zine blog. He is a secondgeneration Chinese American who grew up in the midwest and now resides in Oregon. The emasculated, demonized Asian man is but the flip side to the same racist coin that portrays Asian women as helpless, exotic, sexually-adroit lotus blossoms. Suzie Wong is Charlie Chan s counterpart, as the Dragon Lady is Fu Man Chu s counterpart. For Asian Americans with even a shred of awareness, these tired media portrayals are nothing new. But that doesn t make them any less relevant or corrosive in terms of their impact and even on how Asian Americans see themselves. Living the Stereotype in High Def Over thirty years ago, in his essay Racist Love, pioneer writer Frank Chin explained how racial stereotypes operate on the hearts and minds of the people they impact: The stereotype operates as a model of behavior. It conditions the mass society s perceptions and expectations. Society is conditioned to accept the given minority only within the bounds of the stereotype. The subject minority is conditioned to reciprocate by becoming the stereotype, live it, talk it, embrace it, measure group and individual worth in its terms, and believe it. Live, talk, embrace, and believe the stereotype. For many Asian Americans, this is the reality of how they experience themselves and other Asian people. One damaging effect of this phenomenon is the gender division found in what some people call the third rail of Asian American cultural politics: interracial dating and marriage. Because society often depicts Asian women in a highly sexualized manner, they are deemed more attractive than Asian men by mainstream America. This dynamic manifests itself in the higher numbers of Asian women who date/marry outside the race than Asian men an imbalance that generates significant friction between the genders. Another issue is the curious lack of Asian couples portrayed on the big or small screens. In fact, you are probably more likely to see the stereotypical White Male/Asian Female couple in the media than an Asian couple. The former has become a colorblind cliché, and something like the pairing of Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim on ABC s Lost is notable for breaking the mold of how America likes to depict Asian American romance (or lack thereof). Shattering the Image Though not always obvious, media images are not just about images. They are about manufacturing reality itself: how you perceive the world, how you experience it, and how you live it, including your very sense of identity in all its forms. Consuming these ubiquitous images is sometimes like being trapped in somebody else s dream that is a nightmare in everything but name. To live in someone else s world, and their vision of who you are, is never good. For Asian Americans, there is a crying need to reject these White media images, to shatter them into pieces. And then throw these images back in the faces of the people who spawned them. ENROLLING NOW for the Fall School Year FREE Part-Day Preschool in numerous locations in SE and SW Seattle CCA, Continued from Page 7 PAYMENT ASSISTANCE Available for F u l l -Day Preschool CALL FOR INFO After completing the program, the couple moved to Washington state in order to live closer to her husband s family. Unfortunately, doctors recently diagnosed her husband with colon cancer and heart problems. Now as the primary caregiver and relying on social security, Nguyen has begun studying to be a phlebotomist so she can be certified to work in the medical profession. Nguyen discoverd the Center for Career Alternatives (CCA), which provides education, employment, training and career development services to a culturally diverse population of disadvantaged youth and adults. CCA s programs lead to individual self-sufficiency and self-worth for clients. Nguyen made an appointment to meet with Irene Aguilar, a CCA case manager. She now comes in regularly to work with Aguilar conducting her job search. Nguyen is studying but still wants to work and has filled out countless applications. Although under a lot of pressure, she is optimistic that she will find something if she persists. Nguyen s skills expand beyond a medical background. She has very good administrative and computer skills, including Microsoft Word, Internet Explorer, data entry, , answering phones, new client intake, scheduling appointments and taking messages. If you would like to reach Nga Nguyen for a job interview, please call Irene Aguilar at the Center For Career Alternatives (CCA) Kent office at (253)

9 IE NEWS Rohan Paramesh at Granite Mountain near North Bend, Wash. Photo courtesy Rohan Paramesh. A Climb For a Cause A 16 year-old plans to make the dangerous trek to the summit of Mt. Rainier for a cause. BY ROHAN PARAMESH Rohan Paramesh, a 16 year-old senior from Lakeside School in Seattle, has embarked on a fundraising campaign centered on his summit attempt of Mount Rainier in August. Mount Rainier, a 14,400-foot-tall mountain and the tallest in the Cascade Mountain Range, is the most glaciated peak in the lower 48 states and is an icon of the Pacific Northwest. It has long been regarded as offering superior climbing as well as being famous for its pristine wilderness. Rohan is trying to raise funds for two different charities in two different parts of the world: Seattle Children s Hospital in Seattle (another iconic institution) and AID India, which addresses children s issues in India. Training and preparations for the trip are fully underway says Rohan, who also successfully climbed Mount Baker two years ago as part of a school-organized program. Just being sixteen is not enough, he continues. I have to work very hard. Every week he does a strength circuit with free weights, lots of cardiovascular exercise, and grueling sessions on the Jacobs Ladder. He also runs stairs and hills with a loaded pound pack and goes on at least one long hike every week (6-9 miles) with up to 45 pounds. In fact, these days, he says, I don t walk for an extended period of time without a heavy pack. Though his schedule is daunting, he is confident and pushing hard. When I need motivation to push forth with my workouts, I simply imagine the inimitable feelings of pride and thrill and humility that ll come from a successful summit attempt. INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER Rohan also draws motivation from his fundraiser, raising money for children who aren t as privileged as he is or whose economic situations aren t as great. The money he is raising for Seattle Children s will go to the Foundation s Uncompensated Care fund. This fund, which provides grants to cover the costs of care for which the hospital isn t compensated, is expected to pay out more than a staggering $100 million in 2009 alone (up from $42 million in 2007). Due to the unpredictable nature of such care, the Seattle Children s is unable to plan for it, yet it cannot compromise on the quality of treatment that it provides to those seeking help. Nancy Senseney, a Trustee of the Seattle Children s Hospital Foundation said in an that it s fantastic that [Rohan] thought of the kids at Children s. Kristin Peterson, Development Coordinator at the Foundation, said, [Seattle Children s is] very grateful to Rohan and encourages support from the community and individuals to help make this successful. The funds for AID India will go to the Vinobhaji School in Trichy in South India, a public school for orphans that s being developed as a model school for others to follow. Rohan worked with AID India last summer and helped their leaders develop a games-based math curriculum, which would help in making school both interesting and fun for the students. When I visited India last summer, I contacted Mr. Sampath with the intention of volunteering at AID India, said Rohan. My first role was helping to survey several public schools, evaluating Image is from a July 27 Camp Muir hike, on Mount Rainier. Photo courtesy: Rohan Paramesh. August 5 - August 18, the mathematical level of all children in first through sixth grade. The results were astonishing, he continues. Apparently, second graders had trouble identifying two-digit numbers and sixth graders were struggling with multi-digit subtraction. In fact, some children go to school only in order to secure at least one hot meal every day (just like some do to secure supervised day care here in the US). The failures of the public school system include the lack of properly trained teachers applying a properly designed curriculum and a dearth of parents interested in sending their kids to school. Rohan found a desire to also raise funds for AID through a personal visit. He worked with Sampath and others in designing a number of different gamesbased math lessons which are now being adopted in Indian public school curricula today. Funds raised for AID by Rohan with go towards the costs and tuition of the orphaned students at Vinobhaji School in South India. This school, in addition to three others, will use the new curriculum with a more holistic approach to education: the success of this model school of 115 children can be copied and replicated throughout the system. I want all children to have a chance at living a quality life, unhindered by financial worries. Donations to Seattle Children s Hospital can be made at rainierforchildrens. Donations to AID India can be made at com/rainierforaid. You can also follow his progress on Facebook at facebook.com/pages/mount-rainier-for- Childrens-Hospital/

10 10 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER Take Back Your Time A US/Canadian initiative combines politics with personal time, challenging the epidemic of over-working and encouraging all to stop and smell the roses. BY CAROLINE LI Caroline Li is a freelance writer and founder of EarthwalkersMagazine, The idea of taking back time may seem impossible. We can t turn back time. We can t freeze time. We can t exchange time with others. It just goes on whether we keep up with it or not. We may not be able to physically hold it but those that are able to acknowledge the power of time will be able to take control of their lives and influence the lives of others. Today, we often wish for more time so we can get more work done or squeeze some more sleep in because we ve been working long hours. Some of us, like myself, take for granted the true benefits and importance of it. At age 26, I ve grown up in a generation of fast movers, quick fixes and dinners in front of the television. Time only equates to more production, money and luxury. Take Back Your Time and the Paid Vacation Act of 2009 reminds us of the real value and life benefits of time and gives us a chance to take back time we never realized we had. Take Back Your Time is a major U.S. /Canadian initiative to challenge the epidemic of overwork, over-scheduling and time famine that now threatens our health, our families and relationships and our communities and our environment. It is lead by Seattle-based journalist and activist, John De Graaf. After hearing about the Take Back Your Time movement, Congressman Alan Grayson introduced the Paid Vacation Act of 2009 in May. Grayson believes that the bill will dramatically improve productivity at American companies and provide a much-needed spark for the U.S. travel and tourism industries. The Paid Vacation Act will require at least one week of paid vacation for employees at companies with at least 100 employees. Three years after enactment, companies with at least 50 employees would be required to offer at least one week of paid vacation, and companies with at least 100 employees would be required to offer at least two weeks of paid vacation. TIME, Continued on Page 11

11 IE ARTS TIME, Continued from Page 10 Many employers already guarantee vacation. The Paid Vacation Act would just hold more employers accountable. It is by no means the answer to our country s health care and economic woes. It is just the beginning of a bigger movement with hopes to engage citizens to start thinking about the value of time and the positive effects it could have on society. From an international perspective, we are behind. At least 147 countries have a paid vacation law, including all developed countries. The U.S. is the only industrialized nation without a minimum annual leave statute. Many people assumed that one week of vacation is already standard in the U.S. and surprised to learn that it is possible for an employer to offer no vacation at all. This is often the case for blue-collar workers, many of which come from immigrant communities. They are folks working in the service and labor industries and probably the ones most likely to get sick but less likely to have sick leave or vacation available to them. For immigrant communities, where parents work long hours and multiple jobs at once to provide for their families, the quality of their lives and their children s lives suffer. Children grow up watching television instead of real life role models. They lose or never learn their native languages and family values and become disconnected from their parents and heritage. Currently, about 28 percent of Americans receive no paid vacation and only 69 percent of lower-wage workers get any paid vacation leave. Take Back Your Time is for any citizen that is interested in a better future for the next generation- a generation that is more compassionate because they have time to learn from their neighbors; a generation that is healthier because they have time to practice good eating habits; a generation that is politically active because they have time to read, to think and travel to other parts of the world; a generation that finds the value in time rather than in materialistic things; a generation that recognizes is important for ones own growth. This August the first-ever National Vacation Matters Summit will be held at Seattle University from August 10 to 12. For more information about the Summit and TAKE BACK YOUR TIME, visit or right2vacation.org. Also look for our Facebook group online. INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER August 5 - August 18, Sweet Sixteen A Vietnamese social service agency celebrates and looks back on its years of service. Helping Link is hosting a networking event on Saturday, August 22 from 6-8 p.m. to benefit the organization s many programs and services that assist Seattle s Vietnamese community. The event will be held in a 5,382 square foot dream home offering a view of Lake Washington through three-story glass windows, many pieces of fine Asian and modern art, and a spacious patio with a lakeside bar. The event is designed to attract professionals in the community and will provide the opportunity to meet business contacts and potential employers in addition to celebrating Helping Link s many years of success. Activities include a silent auction, learning to speak Viet (with a twist!), spring roll-making class, and boat rides on Lake Washington. Don t forget dessert. Several dessert trays from local bakeries will help you ease into the evening. The enthusiastic Lily Jang of Q13 Fox News will be our M.C. for the evening and Thach Nguyen, a prominent figure in the business community, will be one of our guest speakers. Helping Link is a grassroots organi- zation formed in 1993 geared towards easing the transition of the Vietnamese community into the American culture and lifestyle while preserving Vietnamese values and traditions. The agency offers many classes including ESL, computer literacy, Vietnamese as a second language, U.S. citizenship, youth leadership programs and after-school enrichment activities. The benefit will begin at 6 p.m. with appetizers generously provided by Saigon Bistro including flash-fired tofu with tamarind sauce, duck confit rolled in rice paper with organic baby spinach and plum, cubed New York steak sautéed in house magi sauce, and a fish canapé-fresh snapper ceviche. Beverages will be provided by Red Hook brewery and several wineries. You can be a part of this wonderful event. Tickets are $75 and all proceeds go to Helping Link organization. Take the opportunity to meet with many other community professionals and mingle a bit. Tickets are on sale now at seattle.gov/helpinglink. Don t forget to bring a friend!

12 12 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER Quality Asian Grocery & Gifts Since 1928 Uwajimaya is Growing Fourth Week of Specials August 5-11, 2009 IE ARTS Healing Family Trees Grow on History and Hope By Judith van Praag Judith van Praag is a bilingual Dutch writer, author and artist. She lives in Seattle with her husband Gary and their pooch Mocha. In celebration of our newest location in Renton, WA - Uwajimaya will be featuring four weeks of GRAND OPENING SALES n each of our stores, Renton, Seattle, Bellevue, WA, and Beaverton, OR! Our new store signals our growing commitment to our community to provide quality Asian foods and gifts, we hope you will make us one of your favorite neighborhood stores. Wilson Chin s Campaign Kickoff Party UWAJIMAYA RENTON GRAND OPENING Renton Village Shopping Center 501 S. Grady Way, Renton, WA STORE HOURS: Monday-Saturday 7 am - 10 pm Sunday 9 am - 9 pm Headless, Shell-on (26/30 count) WHITE PRAWNS Vannamei Species, Compliments Any Seafood Stir-fry 4.99 lb. Totally Bamboo BAMBOO PRODUCTS Trays, Bowls, Boards, Plus More! 20% Off From Our Sushi Case SAKURA COMBO PACK 2 pc. Maki, Inari & Kappa & 1 pc. Oshinko & Shibazuke Roll (8 pc. pkg./reg. $4.79) 3.99 pkg. SEATTLE: BELLEVUE: RENTON: BEAVERTON: OPEN DAILY On June 27, the ArtXchange Gallery offered a free, hands-on Remembrance Art Workshop presented by Judy Shintani. The event was organized in conjunction with Legacies of War, a project of the National Interest Project (PIP), a New York based 30-year-old non-profit. The Legacies of War National Traveling Exhibit creates awareness about the bombing of Laos, and campaigns for removal of unexploded bombs that remained in the ground. According to statistics, approximately 10,000 Laotians make their home in Washington State. Of those, about 7,000 live in the Seattle area. The local chapter of Legacies of War received a grant to collect the stories of Laotians here. In 2010, the Tree created by Judy Shintani. resulting project Our Shared Journey shall be shown at the Wing Luke Museum. This will be an important moment in time, since no other museum so far has been willing to give the Legacies of War Exhibit a home, says Sakuna Thongchanh, the Legacy of War organizer in Seattle. Judy Shintani shared images and stories of her work as a transformative artist. Thus presenting the notion that turning painful memories into art is a healing action. Nametags hanging from Shintani s Family Tree for instance are reminiscent of those worn by her relatives on their way to the internment camps. Adorned with portrait pictures however, those same tags are the leaves on the branches of the family tree, a way to honor her heritage. During the June exhibit at the gallery, visitors were invited to write their thoughts on strips of rice paper that they could add to Shintani s Remembrance Shrine. Those comments were the inspiration for the Remembrance Tree that Shintani created especially for the workshop. This extended family tree will become part of the Legacies of War National Traveling Exhibit. On that Saturday afternoon, the scrawny chicken wire body of the tree was dressed with memorial leaves, created by those present. After a short meditation, everyone outfitted with scissors, glue, markers and natural elements reminiscent of Laos, such as tamarind pods, banana leaves, flowers, medicinal bark and herbs embarked on the art project. Memories surfaced and were put into words or visualized. Darasavanh Dara Kommavongsa Craven wrote about her father s sugar cane orchard, raved about the perfume of papayas, then spoke of having been taken from her mother by her Freedom Fighter father when she was 6-months-old. Mother herself of a Kindergartner she hopes to be re-united with her mom some day. She posed for the camera, holding up a picture of rice paddies and one with U.N. helmets and weapons. Perhaps someone will recognize my features and maiden name, and bring us together, she said with a brave smile that belied her emotions. Khamsavart KV Saengthasy drew rice paddies and pole houses, and probed added an elk-like bison and a line with drying clothes. Just a three-year-old when he left Laos for a refugee camp with his parents and sister, he mostly recalled the smell of rain and mud. KV s father Khampaeng Saengthasy penned his account of fleeing his homeland, illustrating the memory with a drawing of a fort-like refugee camp and passport size pictures of his wife, himself and their two children. That s the prison I was in, as a small child, KV said pointing at the watchtower on a corner of the encampment. He shrugged, I hadn t done anything wrong. Meanwhile female relatives of the gents created artistic blossom holders and collages using banana leaves and photo copied family pictures; filling in the empty spaces on Shintani s Healing Art tree. People such as artist Judy Shintani and gallery owner Cora Edmonds help the organization reach the goal to provide space for healing the wounds of war and to create greater hope for a future of peace

13 HIGHLIGHTS By Alan Lau From Hiroshima To Hope, the annual lantern floating remembrance ceremony for atomic bomb victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as victims of all war will be held on Thursday, August 6 from 6:30 9 p.m. on the Green Lake northwest shore. Free. Come join and participate for peace and remember. Music by Marica Takamura, James Jennings and Seattle Kokon Taiko. Lantern floating ceremony at 9 p.m. Sponsored by many local community organizations. (425) or The First Thursday openings are a great way to preview art. KOBO at Higo presents Richard Heisler s 100 Views of Tokyo, richly detailed paintings that capture the place, architecture and personality of that ever-evolving metropolis. Show on view through September 2 with the August 6 opening 6 8 p.m. Samples from Mair- Taki and Angiolina Farms in the Yakima Valley prepared by Maneki will be served as well as wine from Two Mt. Winery. Upcoming show opening Aug. 22 from 6 8 p.m. will be new work by Oregon ceramic artist Ken Pincus and Ikebana by Sogetsu School flower arrangment artist Megumi Schacher. On view till Sept S. Jackson. (206) or info@koboseattle. com Over at ArtXchange Gallery, sculptor Deborah Kapoor s show entitled Breathing In, Breathing Out continues with an August 6 First Thursday opening from 5 8 p.m. The First Annual Chinatown/International District Artwalk happens on Sat., August 15 (and one more time on Sept. 19) from 5 8 p.m. James Lawrence Ardena, Carina del Rosario and Rajiv Kapoor are just some of the many artists whose work is represented in local restaurants, locales and open galleries in the neighborhood. For details, go to A new updated second edition of local historian/writer Doug Chin s Seattle s International District: The Making of an Asian American Community is just out and a must-read for anyone interested in the history and culture of this vibrant Seattle community. To get copies editor@ iexaminer.org or call (206) x3. The 1st Annual Rizal Park Music Festival will help promote local Filipino and Pacific Islander musical and local artists from the region performing jazz, rock, pop and Christian genres. Benefits the Rizal Park Preservation Society and Zenaida Guerzon Heavy Heart Foundation. August 8 from 12 9 p.m th Ave. S. The 14th annual Tibet Fest includes performances, food, demonstrations and children s activities all celebrating the rich culture of that country. The weekend of Aug :30 p.m at Seattle Center. Spite House is a group show curated by Yoko Ott and Jessica Powers that looks at the creative ways artists come to grips with the human element of spitefulness when push comes to shove. Opens August 6 fro 6 9 p.m and continues on view through Sept. 12. Lawrimore Project at 831 Airport Way S. (206) Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition: Indigenous Voices Reply juxtaposes historic objects and photographs from the 1909 Exposition with contemporary artwork by Native artists exploring how the representation of indigenous people and cultures has changed over 100 years. It should be noted that indigenous people from the Philippines were in the original 1909 show. On view through Nov. 29. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture at INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER the University of Washington. 17th Ave. NE and NE 45th. (206) or www. burkemuseum.org Photo courtesy of Iwalani Christian and the WLAM. Wing Luke Asian Museum has another new exhibit. Across the Spectrum: Stories from Queer Asian Pacific America will be on view through Feb. 14 of Ho omau ka Huoka I looks at the history and culture of Hawaiians in the Pacific Northwest. On view through Aug. 16. New Years All Year Around Cambodian, Korean and Chinese New Year Ceremonies as well as the Cambodian Cultural Museum and Killing Fields Memorial and much more. Deporting Cambodians: How Immigration Policy Shapes Our Communities is on view through Oct. 18, Just opened is Parallel Lines: 8 Contemporary Seattle Artists, a group show curated by Tracey Fugami through Nov. 29. Welcome to Our World in the Frank Fujii Youth Space on view through Oct. 2, S. King. (206) or Wing Luke Asian Museum. 719 S. King St. (206) or performing arts Far East Melody is the title of a concert by The Pacific Harmony String quartet on Sat., Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m. Benaroya Hall at 200 University St. (206) or Spectacular Asia is the title of a fundraising show for Nikkei Concerns and Kin On Nursing Home featuring original fashions by Luly Yang Couture and performances by Teatro Zinzanni on Fri., Aug Mercer St. (206) or log on to August 5 - August 18, written arts Burma VJ is a documentary film that offers an inside look at the political situation in that country with footage sneaked out by various sources. Played SIFF and opens for a regular run at Northwest Film Forum. August 28 Sept th Ave. (206) Local filmmaker Norbert Caoili s suspense-thriller movie, Frayed which he wrote and directed will be distributed by Lionsgate on dvd on August 25. For details, go to com To view a clip, go to The highly acclaimed Japanese director Hiyao Miyazaki s new feature length animated feature, PONYO (dubbed in English by Disney) opens in Seattle theatres on August 11. film & Video WAVE Books in association with the Henry Art Gallery at the UW will host a poetry festival August with film screenings, a book art presentation, art exhibitions, local bookstore discounts and readings by WAVE authors in both the Henry Auditorium and the James Turrell SKYSPACE. The artwork of Chio Aoshima and New Video From China will be on view as well. The weekend is limited to 150 tickets so people are urged to register as soon as possible. To do so or for more information, visit thhp:// or wavepoetryweekend@gmail.com. UCLA Asian American Studies Center has published a new textbook entitled Untold Civil Rights Stories which discusses the social struggles Asian Americans have faced before and after 9/11. Co-edited by Russell C. Leong and Stewart Kwoh. For details, call (310) or log on to A complete Arts Etc. arts calendar is available online at The Seattle Theater Group pulled out all the stops for the 11th annual DANCE This on July 11, a showcase that brought together local collectives of young dancers and live musical performers together for a global explosion of traditional and contemporary movement. While many youth productions that champion diversity often drift towards a naïve, patronizing tone, DANCE This Dance This! Hip-Hop, Acrobatics, and Wushu performaces blend to honor cultural traditions. BY HOLLIS WONG-WEAR was a nuanced, spectacular production that both honored and creatively interpreted cultural traditions and put the innovations and talents of young people at the forefront. The opening piece, Kaminari & Shan, was a powerhouse performance and set the tone for the rest of the evening, blending acrobatic flourish with disciplined precision. Young people trained under the Chinese Wushu & Tai Chi Academy as well as the Institute for Chinese Martial Arts exhibited virtuosic talent in kung fu and wushu, blended with jazz dance fundamentals for a striking effect that elicited an enormous crowd response. Kaminari & Shan was in itself a work of cultural fusion. Raucously accompanying the performance was the impressive Seattle Kokon Taiko, whose rapid rhythm made the pairing between Chinese martial art and Japanese musical tradition seem intuitive. Furthermore, Kaminari & Shan was choreographed by Daniel Cruz, an acclaimed Seattle-based artist most known for his achievements in musical theater and hip-hop dance. The charged, dynamic performance ended with a coda, where all the dancers came on the stage and moved in the tradition of tai chi in complete silence. Between the bombastic theatricality of Kaminari (which means Thunder in Japanese) and the serene ritual of Shan (Lightening in Chinese), Daniel Cruz and his young ensemble demonstrated both a respect for and reclamation of traditional movement for the present day. Other remarkable performances included Conduction, choreographed by Alice Madden, who was the first teenage choreographer to be featured in a DANCE This production. The piece was a modern dance interpretation of young womanhood, as the dancers wore American Apparel-esque hooded sweatshirts, curling and reaching to a tender composition by musical director Daniel Bernard Roumain. The adorable Seattle Cirque & Acrobatics Team, composed of Dearborn Park Elementary school students, delighted the crowd with juggling, double dutch and unicycling feats that was a moving testament to the power of relevant physical activity and engagement with children who often face budget cuts in their schools. The guests artists, Ryan Johnson and Mfoniso Akpan from Washington D.C.- based Step Afrika!, ended the evening showcasing not only their incredible individual talent but also the dynamic form of step-dancing itself, a tradition created by African American fraternities and sororities which fuses diverse movement traditions from the African diaspora. At the end of the evening, Cruz and Bernard Roumain got the audience to their feet and taught them eight counts of the Thriller dance as the musicians performed Michael Jackson s Billie Jean. To see all the young people from such a range of backgrounds and training dance, grinning, in tribute to Michael Jackson was perhaps the most touching moment of the evening. It reminded the audience that an authentic multiculturalism comes not in careful, calculated arrangement but in a vibrant shared experience. The music and movement of Michael Jackson was and is universal, one that all young people can claim as their own.

14 14 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER IE CALENDAR Wednesday, 8/5 The Legacy House, a non-profit senior assisted-living community in the Chinatown International District, will host its annual open house. Legacy House is the only senior assisted-living community in Washington State that is 100 percent Medicaid funded. Legacy House provides culturally-appropriate 24-hour assisted living care. The open house will provide the community with an opportunity to learn about Legacy House s integrated senior services. 1-2:30 p.m. at the Legacy House, 803 S. Lane St. Seattle. Free. Call (206) for your reservation. Lantern ceremony at Greenlake. Thursday, 8/6 The From Hiroshima to Hope lantern floating ceremony continues a worldwide tradition which Seattle adapted in Beginning around 10 a.m. and continuing until about midnight, this year will be the 63rd commemoration of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The family-oriented program will be a remembrance for the victims of the atomic bombs that fell on Japan during WWII and to renew work towards peace. The event will conclude at dusk with a Buddhistinspired ceremony in which candlelit lanterns are set afloat. Please contact fhthvolunteers@gmail.com to volunteer. Saturday 8/8 The Seattle Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) invites you to join them in a potluck and conversation about immigration reform. Through this process, they would like to work towards creating an API & labor position paper on such issues as family reunification and the DREAM Act that could help educate, unify and advance federal immigration reform. 1:30 3:30 p.m. at the Beacon Hill Library. APALA will host a special guest, Kent Wong, executive director of the UCLA Labor Center and former president of national APALA. Thursday, 8/13-8/16 The 23rd annual National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) National Convention at the Hyatt Regency Denver. Leadership at New Heights: Cultivating Leaders for Today and Beyond. $50 registration, discount code is available to NAAAP-Seattle members. Please inquire to Ki.Kim@naaapseattle.org. Friday, 8/14 Join Luly Yang at Teatro Zinzanni and enjoy the show and help raise money for Kin On and Nikkei Concerns! Teatro Zinzanni is a three-hour whirlwind of cirque, coedy, and cabaret served with a five- Ming and Rui. Chinese acrobatic performers at Teatro Zinzanni. course gourmet feast. Bottega ZinZanni features 13 original fashions by Luly Yang Couture and a cast of international performers including Chinese aerialists Ming and Rui. 3rd Ave N. and Mercer St. Call (206) or visit $99. Teatro Zinzanni, 222 Mercer St, in Seattle Center s Theater District. Friday, 8/14 8/16 The Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall is coming to Seattle. The Wall is a traveling, three-quarter-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Dedicated to Vietnam veterans and honoring all U.S. service-men and women, the faux-granite replica contains the names of more than 58,000 Americans who died or are missing in Vietnam. The exhibition will be open 24 hours a day at Acacia Memorial Park, Bothell Way NE, Seattle, Call (206) for more details or visit Friday, August The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) will host a national, 3-day conference for and about LGBTQ Asians, South Asians, and Pacific Islanders: Transgress, Transform, Transcend. The conference showcases the diversity of the LGBTQ API experience and hopes to expand its capacity and ability. The conference and its programs provide attendees opportunities to network and to expand their knowledge in advocacy and community building. The national gathering includes workshops, panel discussions, caucuses, performance art, and speakers. The conference is at the University of Washington. Friday, 8/21 Fund-raising event for the first Vietnamese American elected congressman, Joseph Cao, organized by the Friends of Joseph Cao of Washington at the Tea Palace Restaurant. 7-9 p.m. Saturday, 8/22 You are invited to Helping Link s Sweet Sixteen celebration and network event in a spectacular glass-encased home on Lake Washington and dine on delicious Vietnamese cuisine. Activities include boat rides around Lake Washington, learning how to make spring rolls, and learning Vietnamese. Proceeds benefit Helping Link, celebrating 16 years of serving the Vietnamese community in Puget Sound. 6-8 p.m. $75. Visit or please mail your check to: Helping Link, P.O. Box 28068, Seattle, WA R.S.V.P. by August 12. Contact: HelpingLinkEvent@gmail.com. The Peace Arch at Blaine, Wash. Sundays in August The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to attend its second series of afternoon Asian cultural performances at Peace Arch State Park in Blaine in August. The free outdoor concerts begin at 2 p.m. Sundays in August and celebrate Asian cultures of the Pacific Northwest. The concerts feature dance and music performers from Korean, Japanese, Philippine and Chinese cultures. Aug. 9 Fujima Dance Ensemble and the koto music of Miyagi Kai. Aug. 16 will have no concert. Aug. 23 Filipiniana Arts and Culture: Led by Roger Del Rosario. This Seattle-area troupe performs music and dance of the Philippines. Aug. 31 Dragon Art Studio. This internationally acclaimed puppet theater is the only professional Beijing rod puppet theater in North America. Peace Arch State Park is in Blaine, Wash., adjacent to the Peace Arch Port of Entry, where Interstate 5 and British Columbia Highway 99 connect. For a full schedule visit A complete calendar is available online at IE CLASSIFIEDS Employment Performance excellence that s Verizon Wireless. We re committed to doing and being the best, and we ve worked hard to build a foundation of service, integrity, trust and respect. We re innovative thinkers, relentlessly pursuing unmatched technology and service. If you re looking to join a company that takes care of its customers, employees, and the communities in which we live, work and play, consider a career with Verizon Wireless. Apply online at EOE, m/f/d/v. Statewide domestic violence coalition seeks P/T Administrative Assistant in Seattle. To apply, see No calls please. RETIREMENT APARTMENTS We provide secure, attractive surroundings at a reasonable cost * Social Events * Wellness Program * Social Services staff * Fitness Center * Transportation to medical appointments * Resident Computer Center * Housekeeping * Ready access to Park and Ride, hospitals & clinics, shopping, banks, theater th Avenue NE (206) Serving the Northend since 1972 EQUAL HOUSING OPPURTUNITY ASSISTED LIVING Special Features * RN on staff 7 days a week * 3 nutritious meals and snacks * Housekeeping * Private apartments * Emergency Call System * Fitness Program * Personal care services * Activity Program * Assistance with transportation to medical appointments available 531 NE 112th Street (206) Medicaid COPES program available

15 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY August 5 - August 18,

16 16 August 5 - August 18, 2009 INTERNATIONAL EXAMINER EVENTS C/ID Summer Festival The Chinatown/ID Summer Festival on the weekend of July enjoyed a diverse crowd and a wide array of cultural performances. Light Rail Opening Neighborhood Success The Light Rail grand opening on the weekend of July welcomed 100,000 riders, many of whom visited the Chinatown/ID neighborhood. Opinions on the light rail efficiency and accessibility are still debated, but most say the light rail is a positive addition to the city. Photo credits: Aaron Yeung & the CIDBIA. Photo credit: Mike Anitas. Photo credit: Joe Kim. Neighborhood Art Walk The Seattle Chinatown/ID Art Walk on the weekend of July 18-19, was a great opportunity for visitors to experience the creative side of the neighborhood. The event was coordinated by the Seattle Chinatown/ID Preservation Development Authority (SCIDPDA). Photo credit: Monica Le. Pageant Opens to a 600+ Crowd The 52nd annual Scholarship for Women pageant was held on July 11 at the Meydenbauer Center. Over 600 attendees enjoyed a show of performances, emceed by Amy Ng and David Leong. YOU PLAY, WE PAY! Roll the dice and come up lucky when you play Bust Your Bills at Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn. Just play your favorite Gaming Machines, Table Games or Keno for a chance to have your bills paid for an entire year! Receive one free entry daily and one bonus entry for every 500 points earned. Drawings will be held at 4pm, 6pm, 8pm and 10pm every Thursday in August now with five winners every drawing! See the Preferred Players Club for all the details. So get on a roll and Bust Your Bills at Muckleshoot Casino! Muckleshoot Casino. The Biggest and Best in the Northwest. NEW! Getting here is easier on the new luxurious Muckleshoot Express. Call or visit our Website for details. REDEEM THIS COUPON FOR ONE FREE ENTRY AT ANY PREFERRED PLAYERS CLUB BOOTH Must be a Preferred Players Club Member to redeem. Must be 21 years of age or older. Management reserves all rights. August International Examiner 2402 Auburn Way S. Auburn, WA muckleshootcasino.com Queen Cynthia Wuong, 22, attends the University of Washington. Photo credit: Thai Phan, Anna Photo.