Category Archives: blog

blog, diversity, news

Asiana crash brings out hope and racism on Twitter

The Asiana crash at SFO was once again proof of the kind of service Twitter can provide.

While I wondered if there was any survivors or if there was an Asian American on board  all I needed was a Twitter feed to hear from Samsung exec David Eun, who was on the flight and tweeted this message:

“I just crash landed at SFO. Tail ripped off. Most everyone seems fine. I’m ok…Surreal…”

https://twitter.com/TedNguyen/status/353605558516998144/photo/1

Eun tweeted more pictures as Twitter served as a social media  “first responder.”

 

Embedded image permalink

 

But I also saw some incredible examples of racism.

Asiana? So they must be Asian drivers.

Here’s one:

 @Coach_Riv: wondering if pilot of this plane that crashed was Asian…they cant drive anything! #NotAStereotype h/t@elonjames

 

Others:

http://www.asamnews.com/2013/07/07/public-shaming-closet-racist-come-out-of-closet-for-asiana-crash-ht-angryasianman/

 

In the end, the Twitterverse is just a reflection of a real life, one where Asians and Asian Americans know all too well can be racist and intolerant.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, news, race

Happy Fourth!

Somehow things seem anti-climactic after the Pride Celebration…. when we really got a chance to see what equality looks like…

http://www.aaldef.org/blog/

Freedom and independence? Post-Snowden, all we know is the government knows everything.

May we all feel some level of comfort and joy from some good old fashioned Chinese fireworks tonight!

 

 

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, diversity, news, politics, race

Gang of Eight gets it done in the Senate, 68-32; So why doesn’t it feel so great?

All the talk early in the week of the immigration deal turning into a  “blur” or the possibility of some revolt in the Senate turned out to be just that—talk.  The Senate bill passed handily with all the security to militarize immigration  and none of the humanity that marked the family-oriented immigration policies in the past. Conservatives were appeased enough to show “bi-partisan” support for the bill. Meanwhile, all the items Asian Americans wanted added on to the bill continued to be ignored.

But it isn’t over.

The fight continues on to the House. 

And then the real horse trading begins in conference.

We’ve just finished Act I of a three-act play.

What we end up with may not be very different from what was passed today.

So the compromising isn’t over. 

Check out what I wrote earlier on the proposal on the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund blog.

 

 

 

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) blog, blog, news, politics, race

DOMA done, challenge to Prop. 8 denied, let the June weddings begin again in California

I could sense something good was going to happen as early as this spring, but you never know.

http://aaldef.org/blog/the-national-coming-out-party-for-same-sex-marriage.html

And today, it happened.

The Supreme Court by it’s 5-4 ruling has declared Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

This really is a states rights issue. How could those legally married in states that allow gay marriages be denied federal benefits given to straight wedded couples? That’s discrimination, and shouldn’t be allowed. The court concurred.

So if you’re in one of the states where same-sex marriage is legal, this is an especially great day.

The DOMA refutation was expected. It wasn’t clear what the court would do with Prop. 8, the same-sex marriage ban voted in by the state.  When it was challenged and California officials wouldn’t defend the ban, the proposition’s leadership went to court to defend its constitutionality. But the high court in the way it acted, chose to sidestep ruling directly on same-sex marriage. It simply ruled that the Prop.8 folks didn’t have standing, or the right to argue the matter. So the case is sent back to the 9th circuit with orders to dismiss the case, and based on reports, same-sex marriages can resume again in California.

The Pride Parade in San Francisco on Sunday is going to be extraordinarily celebratory.

After the disappointing decisions on affirmative action and the Voting Rights Act this week, the Supreme Court gives us something to cheer about.

No warm champagne toasts on these decisions.