|
JULY 20, 2022
Hello, everyone!
In Muskego, Wisconsin, the Muskego-Norway school board did not allow a book on Japanese-American internment to be included in the curriculum. Why? For two reasons: apparently, the book was not submitted correctly according to district policy and was simply “too sad.”
The book itself, “When the Emperor was Divine,” details the story of a Japanese American family’s experience within a WWII internment camp, but the school board believes that it would be taxing for their high school students.
Previously, the school board’s decision was based upon their diversity policy, which they reasoned as the basis for rejecting the book’s inclusion in the curriculum. The board ruled that Julie Otsuka’s book was not diverse enough in narrative opinion, in the sense that it only detailed the perspective of the incarcerated people and not those that put them there.
Otsuka explained that her book has been used in many schools and colleges across the country, and she regularly receives letters from students both expressing their gratitude for the book as well as questioning why they weren’t taught about the event in school. Families and local library staff continued to emphasize the importance of including Otsuka’s book and protested against the decision.
|
|
|
Race in America 🌎
Purdue University recently announced their unanimous pick for University president, and he’s Asian American.
Dr. Mung Chiang, the current John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, will take over in January 2023. A Stanford graduate, Dr. Chiang’s work in the academic and administrative field are just a few of the many accomplishments the announcement praised him for.
Chiang expressed his gratitude and emphasized that he will continue to pursue excellence beginning with “listening, to students, faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, and state, national and global partners, to all friends and families of Purdue.”
...
In Grand Forks, North Dakota, a previously welcomed corn mill venture escalated into a tense, nationalist dilemma.
Fufeng USA, an American subsidiary of the larger Chinese animal feed corporation, proposed a plan to build a corn mill to the local administration. While the proposal was initially well-received, with a few valid logistical concerns such as water access, noise and traffic, the criticisms soon turned sour. Locals began to question if the company should be allowed on their land following the degrading trade relations between China and the U.S., in addition to the alleged human rights violations and espionage conducted by the nation.
Later, local officials began to tighten their scrutiny, with conversations turning from important issues to concerns about communism. Locals also suspected that the mill could be used by the company to spy on a local air base about 15 miles from the corn mill site.
In Other Asian News 🗞
The long-awaited news has arrived on the ice rink: Japanese figure skating champion Yuzuru Hanyu is retiring. (Well, he’s stepping away from competition skating, at least.)
After his participation in the Winter Olympics, many supporters wondered if the ice prince would return to dominate other competitions throughout the global figure skating scene. While Hanyu won’t be returning to compete, he will still focus on skating at professional exhibitions and plans to work on landing the quad axel, which he debuted in his free skate at the Olympics.
The well-loved athlete and Olympic record-shattering champion (if you all remember Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018), says that he “will no longer seek these kind of evaluations.” After a successful 12 year career, the 27-year-old is looking to move on from competitions, take care of his physical injuries and rest.
|
|
|
In Malaysia, the new sexual harassment bill meant to increase legal services and protections for survivors and all citizens is aimed to pass later this month after the second round of deliberation in parliament.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill will not only expand existing workplace sexual harassment protections to educational institutions, public transport, clinics, sports clubs and virtual spaces, but will also form a closed-door tribunal for any civil or criminal sexual assault case brought forth. The tribunal will be adjudicated by legal experts in fields of sex harassment and will provide justice in forms that extend beyond financial compensation, including apologies and counseling within 60 days. While legal representation is not allowed, as a method of protecting the victim from legal retaliation activists and survivors are hoping that the bill will act as a major deterrent against future harassers.
Film and Food 📺
The Netflix K-drama “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” has received both praise and criticism for the show’s portrayal of a character with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Actor Park Eunbin plays the namesake lawyer Woo Young-woo. Woo graduated from the prestigious Seoul National University and can memorize anything she reads, primarily legal text. She is then hired at a reputable law firm and does her best to handle cases, showing her skills and erasing people’s preconceptions of her in the process.
Pop culture critic Kim Sung-soo complimented the show, saying, “As Woo takes the role of narrator during her soliloquies throughout the show, viewers are able to see the world and think through the eyes of the lead character who has a disability.” However others like Kim Yong-jik, president of the Autism Society of Korea and professional attorney, have said, “It is realistically unlikely for an autistic person to have a high IQ and actually become a lawyer, but I still think this is a helpful approach to make people more interested in understanding autism.”
|
|
|
Japanese restaurant Bento Picnic in Austin, Texas, is highlighting a philosophy of traditional Japanese cuisine, Washoku, which entails incorporating five colors, five tastes and five cooking techniques into every meal. Bento Picnic started as a catering business, but demand was ravenous and required chef Lauren Valenti to scale into a full brick and mortar operation.
“Washoku at its core is a means to create balanced meals. By following the principles of Washoku at Bento Picnic, my hope is that my customers may be able to keep the commitments they’ve made to their health without sacrificing flavor or enjoyment” says chef Valenti.
What else is on our minds? 🧠
|
|
|
|
