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VILLAGE VIEWSRants, raves, flames and questions from Asian-American Villagers
[Editor's Note: Some links included here have been temporarily removed during our spring 2004 site renovation. We apologize for the inconvenience.]
Subject: Adoption
I followed links and came to your article, "Adoption, Hapas and Asian-American Heritage." I thought I was in a tiny minority because I'm Japanese-American and I adopted a Vietnamese baby girl. A Japanese friend of mine is totally amazed at me because he claims that Japanese (in Japan) do not think of adoption. He personally knows childless couples who have never once considered adoption. I find this rather strange because adopting a Chinese or Vietnamese or Kazakh baby seems natural. Most people see me and my daughter and they assume that we belong together. I have worried about what my daughter will think when she begins to have thoughts about her identity. Ours was a direct adoption. I received her from her birth family and I send them photos of her periodically. I've been pondering whether or not to contact them when we visit Vietnam again. I've also been wondering how to raise her. Should I bother with the Japanese stuff? She is not Japanese. People ask me if I will teach her Japanese. I ask, What for? I don't know what to do. In the meantime, I guess I'll just be myself and let her be herself. Unlike the white parents, at least I have an understanding of what it means to be Asian in America. It's not at times easy. I have friends who are white who adopted a Vietnamese baby at the same time that I did. I'll have to help them understand the race and identity issue. Anyway, thanks for writing the article. I will have to buy your book now. Editor Stewart David Ikeda writes: Dear E. Hanano: Thanks for sharing your experiences with us and taking time to write. Based on the feedback we regularly receive from adoptive families at IMDiversity.com's Asian-American Village, I can assure you that you certainly are not alone. As international adoption in particular increases, today's more multicultural society and generally (by no means universally) heightened awareness of minority issues have led to a seeming explosion of organizations dedicated to assisting and networking among transracial adoption families -- often based on highly specific attributes. For example, we frequently feature advice by two organizations, KAANET and Mam Non organization, serving families with adopted children of Korean and Vietnamese descent respectively. In fact, you may wish to review a collection of readings we compiled for a special edition on this topic a couple of years back that are now housed in our "Multiracial Issues" archives section. While most of our correspondence is from non-Asian parents of Asian children, a few readings pose interesting questions for Asian parents of children from both different Asian-ethnic and racial backgrounds, including Yayoi Lena Winfrey's profile, "When My Family Looks Nothing Like Me". You may also be interested in last month's Dialogue: Stereotypes and Ethnic Terminology, in which an adoptive mother of a girl from China raises questions about the fundamental (and not necessarily fair) social differences between herself as a white, European immigrant and her daughter as an ethnic Chinese American, which she anticipates may become pronounced as time goes on. In your particular case, I would recommend you get in touch with our friends at Mam Non. While you may not find any firm answers as to whether or not to "teach her the Japanese stuff," you will find a highly sympathetic network of families who are all exploring the same questions for and among themselves. (Personally, I think that in and of itself, teaching her another language such as Japanese -- or any second language -- would be an enormous and enriching gift to help her in the future, and even better if she could also learn Vietnamese! I now wish I had studied many more languages more diligently when I was a kid and it was easy.) Take a look at Reviews: Books for Transracial Adoptees, Their Families, and Teachers by Mam Non's Executive Director Linh Song and pay them a visit at www.mamnon.org. I think you'll be glad you did.
Subject: I Love SAM!Awesome comic strip that all Asian Americans can identify with. You have touched upon the issues of that all Asian American minorities experience in their daily life, that is ignored by mainstream America. Good luck.
Subject: APA MonthThe article was amazing. [I] am doing a speech on why schools should take time out of every month to focus on a different national month theme. Thanks for the reference.
Subject: SAM and ArtWow-- thanks a lot for that whole "Origins of SAM" series. I vaguely recall coming across SAM some time back, but I can't explain why I didn't immediately bookmark it and add it to my list of comics. Temporary insanity, I suppose-- nothing else makes sense. Despite not being of Asian origin, I really identified with a lot of the story, especially the chameleon-like stage where you ended up doing your best to fit in, and succeeded at the risk of becoming disposable. Well, except for the succeeding part. :) So every now and then, when I read something like that, I'll ponder what it was about it that affected me, and why, and write a pretentious essay about it. My first pass at something like that is at <URL:http://www.pobox.com/~emschwar/Art.html>. Feel free to piss in my cornflakes about it, if you like; I just figure that since you had some part in inspiring me to stay up until 2 am writing it, I ought to at least let you know it exists.
Subject: I Love SAM!Thanks for a great read! I just caught up on the all the SAM's and I'll definitely be checking for the regular updates now. - Joaquin Jang
More on: Secret Asian ManHi, I emailed you a while back, but I have revisited the webpage and read through the first origins series...and I just felt an overwhelming urge to drop you a note and again tell you how inspiring, and ACCURATE your strips are. I'm an adopted Korean and grew up surrounded by white people. I can really identify with some of the things that you put out there. Thanks for doing what you do. Sincerely, Editor Stewart David Ikeda writes: Dear Shannon: Thanks for taking the time -- again -- for sharing your enthusiastic feedback. IMDiversity's editorial values and really uses reader letters, whether positive or negative, to help us develop the Village offerings. Keep 'em coming!
Frances Wang's "Sansei Cycle"
Frances Kai-Hwa Wang: Great reading. Thank you for "Sansei Cycle" aspect. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area and talking these things over with a Nisei Parent still causes uncomfortable silence. There is no support to unravel these mysteries ? But you hit it on the head. Thanks. I am a Sansei professional guitarist who did well back in the 1970's but nobody will believe me when I say that "Japan Bashing" has cause club owners to not want to hire my band, which has caused extreme economic troubles for me. No gigs. No Money. No Band. No Life. I even cannot get hired at a music store selling guitars because "Buy America" doesn't sound honest coming out of my face. Hard Times. Thank you again,
Subject: Secret Asian Man
I've been following blacklava.net since college. Here & Now is one of the best sketch troupes. I decided to follow some of the links and happened upon Secret Asian Man! Ah, how I love stereotypes and using them to their full satirical advantage. Why laugh if you can't laugh at yourself! Editor Stewart David Ikeda writes: Dear Sophia: Thanks...we think. We, too, are fans of www.blacklava.net, and wrote about them pretty prominently last year around the Abercrombie & Fitch debacle. Their sense of humor (always pointed) is top-rate.
Women's History Month Wall of Fame
I nominate Yuri Kochiyama. Editor Stewart David Ikeda writes: Dear K-DAP1: Thanks for your nomination. You know, it's funny: Every year since we first started the annual APA Women's Wall of Fame for WHM, around 1998 or so, a few people write in and say "I nominate Yuri Kochiyama." Indeed, Kochiyama was right up top among the inaugural honorees in that first year by the editors' unanimous agreement, and was followed by an APA Heritage Month appreciation by then-Contributing Editor Sam Cacas. In fact, Kochiyama is probably the most-nominated woman we've seen over the years, and this tells us something about the impact she's had on our lives and the formation of our (political) community. That said, we hope that next year, people will write in again and emphasize why they feel strongly they wish to honor the Wall Women, for sharing with other Villagers, too! So, write us again!
Subject: Chinese Language for ChildrenI would like my 6 year old son to learn Mandarin Chinese. He has a gift for languages that I would like to nuture. Do you know of any immersion programs for young children? Thank you,
Contributing Editor Frances Wang writes: There are a number of Mandarin immersion programs. Off the top of my head, there is the International School of the Penninsula in Palo Alto, The Chinese American International School in San Francisco, The Pacific Rim International School in Burlingame and Emeryville, the Cupertino Public Schools, and a new private school in Mountain View, CA. I know there are other programs in LA, Orange County, Vancouver, Maryland, although I don't know the details. There are probably also programs in NYC. I think there is a college level program in Minnesota. There are also Chinese schools across the country that may or may not offer Chinese as a Second Language classes, and there are also language schools that offer classes that may or may not be immersion. There are also courses in Taiwan and China for different age groups. It depends on where you are located and what your summer travel plans are. Childbook.com also has some chinese school links (www.childbook.com/community/schools/schools.html) and and Families with Children from China (FCC) also usually have a good collection of links for any given area. Hope this helps. Good luck!
Subject: "'The Art of Apology' Grading System" and Reparations
I wouldn't grade these apologies. I wouldn't even think twice about it. Reparations means that monies are being paid to people that claim they have been damaged by all the wars, the racial prejudice, the malice, and the hatred that is and has been in evidence since Adam. Since both presidents gave money to quell dissent, I question their motives. What is going to happen when George W. gives or denies reparations to those who think they can claim damages for slavery? My grandfather came from China, he was put immediately to work on the railroad. He did not speak English, nor did he understand why he received such blatantly harsh treatment for being a foreigner. He worked hard and was punished if he slept late, yet his integrity held out and he became a United States citizen, thus raising his family as Americans because he believed in the land of the free. He didn't complain, nor did he demand restitution. How did the USA become the land of the free? We fought for it. Our presidents can give money away for damages due to slavery, and war and other imagined injustices, when no one wants to be a part of the Grand USA. Editor Stewart David Ikeda writes: Dear Fran M.: Thanks for your frank response. It raises certain points that had indeed accompanied the controversial decision to offer reparations and an apology to Japanese Americans before, during, and after the lifetime of the Office of Redress Administration. As you further point out, the justification for internment reparations is likely to see renewed interest—and controversy—as other populations seek government redress for historical wrongs against them. While I’ve little qualification to speak to the specifics of current calls for reparations to the descendants of American slaves, I can speak more certainly to some of your points in regard to the WWII internment. And I have done so at length in a separate "Village Dialogue" response: Reparations for War, Slavery, and Internment.
SOUND OFF
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