FamiLee Life

If I Was Not a Professor, I'd Be...

...a cartographer (1), newspaper columnist (2), or small business owner (3). And, if I were a cartographer, I'd want to do cool things like develop the following technology.

Legend - Territory size shows the relative levels of net immigration in all territories (immigration less emigration).

Richer territories tend to experience net immigration (greater immigration than emigration). Just under half of the 200 territories mapped currently experience net immigration. Those territories with net emigration (greater emigration than immigration) have size zero on this map. Regions experiencing the highest net immigration are North America, Western Europe and the Middle East. Together these three regions account for 79.5% of world net immigration. The United States alone receives 37.1% of the world net total.

The above map is from Worldmapper which is a very cool website. From the website, "Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest."

Secret Asian Man Cartoon

From the Secret Asian Man website. Check it out.

Music is Opium for the Soul :: The Case of Neko

Back when I was a teenager and struggling to find my place in society, I found tremendous solace in punk and what is now called alternative music. It was my escape from a reality that included feelings of isolation, discrimination, acculturative stress, family conflict, unemployment, and the like. In this rag tag group of people making angry, political music, I found salvation and hope. Then, I left music for a while, like a drug addict kicking a nasty habit, largely because my life got overwhelmingly busy with mundane things that take up most of our waking lives. Now, as I settle into adulthood (gasp!), I find myself returning to music.

Last night, luck was on my side. Mike tipped us off to the fact that Neko Case was performing at First Ave. Somehow, it was off my radar. Crap! Ken and I were worried that we would not get tickets to this likely sold out show. So, we made our way early to First Ave and waited in line. Then...luck intervened. First, some guy rides up on a bike needing to unload two tickets to the show. I snatch them up for $30 (saving $6). Then, we are waiting around some more because we needed another ticket for our friend, Kurt. Just as the door was opening, another guy says to no one in particular, "Anyone need an extra ticket for free?" Luck again. We snatch this ticket and we were set. Three tickets for $30! A savings of $24 but, more importantly, we are in! God must have known I was needing something for my soul.

The concert was amazing. Beautiful music. Ethereal, spiritual, warming, embracing, inspiring. It was at times haunting and other times down right fun and energetic. Neko Case is my new opium for the soul. She brought back those nostalgic memories of adolescent angst combined with a country sensibility to just get over it and move on. I could not have asked for a better evening.

Sometimes you need a night like last night. Nothing planned, nothing expected, yet things line up perfectly. I needed a kick in the *ss and this show was perfect. Music is my drug to which I return from time to time. It keeps me honest and true and gives me assurance and hope. Lovely.

Korean Roots : Online Family Tree

For those with Korean immigrant roots seeking to learn more about your family history or wanting to document your family roots, check out Korean-American Family Tree which is a new online resource.

According to the website,

KAFT.NET is dedicated to serve Korean-Americans:
- It is the best way for Korean-Americans to record and save their family legacies permanently by creating family tree with privacy protection.
- It allows easy communication among family members in text and/or picture.
- It provides extensive searching and networking capabilities among Korean Americans.
- It provides Korean-American histories, census and other statistical information.
- It provides Korean American news, and a forum to discuss about the current Korean-American issues.

Of course, this site requires that one know his/her biological roots - something that is not possible for the majority of Korean adoptees out there who constitute 10%+ of the Korean American population.

I have not yet used the site, in part because I need to ask my own family about all my relatives (present and past). With the help of a great uncle (technically, my 2nd cousin), I was able to trace back my dad's side of the family to a great grandfather, I believe, but I need to find that familee tree diagram.

Earwax Cleaning -- Japanese Style

I really have little to add to this article from the Japan Times on ear cleaning salons in Japan. Here is the best quote from the article...

Staff use an ear-pick equipped with a tiny camera to show the insides of clients' ears. Inaba said she gets a good reaction with the device because people can see the wax buildup in their ears on the monitor.

Ah....sometimes, I wish I lived in Japan...hehehe

Memory and Identity :: Research and Reflections

Imagine if you could recall nearly everything that has happened on any given day...even events and happenings that had nothing personally to do with you, such as major news events, the weather, and even random events like traffic accidents. Such is the case for a woman, identified only as AJ, as reported by ABC News. Her case is quite unique from savants and people with eidetic memory. For more fun, exciting info on memory, check out the online memory exhibit at the SF Exploratorium.

This news item got me thinking about the connection between memory and identity. In particular, to what extent do our memories shape our identities. Moreover, are these memories malleable? Can we change our perception of memories in order to affect a change in our identities?

I have been pondering this question for a while and it came up again this weekend. While attending a conference sponsored by the Society for Research on Adolescence (SRA), I had a chance to give a separate talk to members of AKA|SF which is a Korean adoptee organization in the Bay Area. In my presentation and conversations afterward, the topic of memory and identity came up from time to time. Sometimes directly, often indirectly.

I believe that memory clearly has an impact on our identities, but our current identities also can shape our recollection of memories. This bidirectionality of memory and identity is substantiated by an abundance of psychological research. A recent review of this subject was provided by Wilson and Ross in their article "The identity function of autobiographical memory: Time is on our side" published in the journal Memory (2003, vol. 11, pg. 137-149). Here is the abstract of this paper.

Autobiographical memory plays an important role in the construction of personal identity. We review evidence of the bi-directional link between memory and identity. Individuals' current self-views, beliefs, and goals influence their recollections and appraisals of former selves. In turn, people's current self-views are influenced by what they remember about their personal past, as well as how they recall earlier selves and episodes. People's reconstructed evaluations of memories, their perceived distance from past experiences, and the point of view of their recollections have implications for how the past affects the present. We focus on how people's constructions of themselves through time serve the function of creating a coherent--and largely favourable--view of their present selves and circumstances.

But what happens when our memories of the past are fragmented or incomplete? For example, for adoptees or children of immigrants, oftentimes memories of the homeland are mere fragments, based largely on what our parents (or adoption records or adoption agencies) have told us. However, these memories are not always truthful or accurate. Othertimes, parents make up memories to ease their own discomfort and pains. I also think in the case of immigrant parents, at least, there are language and cultural barriers that make memories difficult to recall and share. For example, my mother had about three different versions of what happened to her father (my grandfather) during the Korean War and which story she shared depended on her current mood and circumstances. Her recollection was a part of her own way to make sense of the past and present. Even on her deathbed, I got a mixed answer. So frustrating yet completely understandable.

In Oakland at the Pro Arts Gallery, there is an ongoing exhibit called Still Presents Past that examines the linkages of memory and identity among those affected by the Korean War. One particular exhibit piece called Our Puzzle provides people with an opportunity to create a collective memory of the war and its impact on our current lives. I took some time to share my piece of this puzzle and it was quite moving for me. I thought about the fragments of memories shared to me by my parents and its impact on my identity as a Korean American. I also left the exhibit feeling a bit more complete in my identity as a Korean American understanding a bit more about my place in the collective history of Korean immigration. Even though my parents have shared so little of their past with me, experiences like Still Presents Past fill the gaps.

For adoptees, of course, this recollection of the past is compromised and challenged by false records, missing records, and the history of displacement. Still, there are memories to recall, relearn, and recreate that can help one find belonging, purpose, and comfort.

I firmly believe in the importance of creating a narrative of our past in order to create and shore up our identities of today. Even if this narrative consists of big gaps in memory, those gaps can be filled in with historical and political understandings of events. There is no need to fictionalize the past to make sense of the present. If we are brave enough, we can revisit the past and step forward into the future. We also may find that our identities today will help us to better recollect and recreate memories of the past.

So, I wonder about AJ, the woman with near perfect memory of events. What is her sense of identity? How are her memories shaping her identity? What is her story? And...what is your immigrant story? adoptee story? refugee story?

Mea Culpa: The Coming of Age of Chinese Adoptee Girls

In my post yesterday on the NYTimes article on the coming of age of Chinese adoptees, I quickly critiqued the article as a whole and had lots more to say on the idea of "abandonment" but was short on time (as I am currently attending a conference and need ot blog in the wee morning hours). Still, I accidentally overlooked a key quote by one of the adoptive mothers that is just egregious and terribly ignorant.

"With an African-American child we had no guarantee that the mother or a social worker wouldn't come and take the child away," McKenzie's mother, Maree Forbes, said. "With the children from China, we felt safe that there wouldn't be anyone to come back to get them."

I need to thank my fellow bloggers Made in Korea and Twice the Rice for pointing it out for me and setting the record straight. Please, please, please read their blog critiques.

Author Bios

I am giving a talk tomorrow for AKA|SF which is a Korean adoptee organization in the Bay Area. Whenever I give talks, I am always (not surprisingly) asked to give a brief bio. Well, I've decided, as I've posted previously, to have fun with these things. Heck, why not show folks that academicians are not so fuddy duddy. So, here is my bio for this presentation event.

About Dr. Lee
Dr. Lee completed his undergraduate degree at Boston College and received his Ph.D. in psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. In his spare time, Dr. Lee is an amateur karaoke singer, patron of the Asian-American arts community, and plays basketball on Tuesday nights with a bunch of 30- to 50-year-old guys who refuse to become couch potatoes.

Hehehehe....Okay, at least I find it a bit humorous...

The Coming of Age of Chinese Adoptee Girls

The NYTimes online has a front page story on the coming of age of the first wave of Chinese girls adopted into White, American families. The story, titled "Adopted in China, Seeking Identity in America," describes the story of three families who adopted girls from China in 1991 and 1992, shortly after China had enacted adoption laws. These girls are now 'tweeners and teenagers and, like all kids this age, are trying to make sense of their place in life. Who am I? Where am I going? What am I doing? How am I doing? The storyline is quite familiar if you have friends or family who were adopted from South Korea.

Molly (15), McKenzie (17), and Qiu Meng (13) reflect three different pathways that many transracial, transnational adoptees negotiate as they work through the transracial adoption paradox -- the set of true but contradictory experiences of being raised in a White family and surrounding community with its racial privileges and benefits, including being perceived and treated as a part of the majority culture, while at the same time being perceived and treated by the larger society as a racial minority. This paradox is an additional developmental hurdle that children must work through, as they search for their identity and place in society.

Overall, I thought the writer (Lynette Clemetson) did a good job in addressing these issues without presenting a rosey or essentialist view. She interviewed Hollee McGinnis (AKA and Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute), Nancy Kim Parson (Documentarian), and Jane Brown (social worker and Adoption Playshops creator). I've met all three of these people and think they have solid, good things to say. I also should disclose that Nancy Kim Parson interviewed me for her documentary on international adoption from China and Korea.

One things that is terribly overlooked in understanding international adoption from China is the circumstances in which these children become available for adoption. Yes, China has a one-child policy and a patriarchal lineage system with a natural preference for a boy, but this is too simplistic. It makes the issue seem cold and calculated. It is far from this easy. Kay Ann Johnson has written extensively on this issue, including in her book "Wanting a Daughter, Needing a Son."

I have lots more to say on this issue, particularly the fallacy of abandonment, but no time to write about it right now. Alas... well, I guess that is the good thing about a blog. I can always return to the subject.

Reflections on Disney's Obsession with Adoption

Over at Harlow's Monkey, Jae-Ran makes an astute observation about Disney's capitalist obsession with orphan-adoptions. Cut and pasting from her site, she critically lists all the movies with this theme:

• Aladdin (Aladdin) – orphaned and homeless; petty crimes for food and shelter
• Annie (Annie) – orphan adopted by rich single dad
• Ariel (The Little Mermaid) – dead mother, rebellious teen who runs away to be with a man
• Aristocats – Marie, Berlioz and Toulouse – three kittens raised by a single mother
• Bambi (Bambi) – raised by single mother who is murdered, has never met his absent father
• Belle (Beauty and the Beast) – dead mother, raised by single father
• Cinderella (Cinderella) – dead mother, raised by abusive Stepmother and neglectful, absent father
• Dumbo (Dumbo)– raised by a stigmatized, depressed single mother
• Elliot (Pete’s Dragon) – orphaned, runaway from abusive foster parents, adopted by single mother
• Hercules (Hurcules) – son of gods transracially adopted by humans
• Lilo (Lilo and Stitch)– orphaned, raised by older sister
• Mowgli (The Jungle Book)– orphaned, raised by 2-male heads of household (bear and panther)
• Mulan (Mulan) – cross-dressing teen girl with intact, multi-generational family unit
• Nemo (Finding Nemo) – dead mother, raised by single overprotective father
• Oliver (Oliver & Company) – orphaned kitten transracially adopted by rich girl
• Peter Pan (Peter Pan) – orphaned, troublemaker and gang leader of Lost Boys
• Penny (The Rescuers) – orphaned girl kidnapped from orphanage
• Pinocchio (Pinocchio) – wooden toy adopted by aged creator Gepetto
• Pochahontas (Pocahontas) – dead mother, raised by single father
• Quasimoto (The Hunchback of Notre Dame) – physically disabled male adopted by evil church minister Frollo
• Simba (The Lion King) – father murdered by uncle, raised by 2-male heads of household (meerkat and warthog)
• Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty) – parents transferred custody to 3 fairies
• Snow White (Snow White & the 7 dwarves) – dead mother, raised by abusive Stepmother and neglectful father
• Tarzan (Tarzan)– orphaned, transracially adopted by gorilla family

It is pretty amazing isn't it? I had to comment immediately to her blog post that she had forgotten one more Disney movie...Prince of Egypt. Here is what I said...

you forgot the prince of egypt which tells the story of moses from the old testament. i've always liked this biblical story because it tells a different sort of adoption story. in this story, we learn that moses was displaced due to religious/political oppression and eventually adopted by an egyptian princess. however, as i recall, he was cared for by his hebrew aunt, disguised as a nanny. so, in a sense, he grew up knowing he was jewish but also egyptian. then, as an adult, he sees an egyptian soldier mistreat a jew and he slays the soldier. later, he is ridiculed by two jews who were quarreling, signaling that he was not accepted by jews either. still, somehow, he overcomes all these things to eventually lead israel out of egypt.

To which, she replied that she has heard other people (oftentimes, ministers) make the statement that Jesus also was a transracial adoptee. However, I have to strongly disagree with this Jesus as adoptee metaphor. First, Jesus was not adopted given that he was conceived, birthed, and raised by his birthmother. Second, Jesus was born into a Jewish household and raised in a Jewish community. Relatedly, according to my understanding of Jewish law, ethnic heritage is passed down through the mother, so he is through and through Jewish. Third, even if we assume (for the sake of argument) that Jesus was adopted, he always knew his birthfather (God). In other words, there was no displacement, no ethnic identity confusion, no sense of loss or yearning.

To me, people who argue the Jesus as adoptee story are thinking about adoption and race in an uncritical manner and, worse (in my opinion), are using false reasoning to proselytize. That just irks me...a lot. As C.S. Lewis often argued (as did my philosophy/theology professors at BC), if you are gonna proselytize, use solid reasoning to make the case. Otherwise, you make Christianity look stupid.

Now back to Disney's obsession with adoption. They seem to have found a magic formula for attracting families and children because every child's greatest fear is losing their parents. Disney capitalizes on this basic developmental need and fear. Parents also buy into it because this imagery reinforces their importance as parents.

When I was a child, my mother sometimes would make the comment that I was found under a bridge. This comment usually would be made after I had done something inane to frustrate her (which was often). Other times, she would say this sort of thing when I would ask her about my birth. It was always said with loving humor and I never felt scared (though in my fantasy I did sometimes wonder if it was a true story).

Now why would my mother say such a thing? Well, first of all, I've heard from other Koreans that their mothers have told similar tales. In other words, I believe that this storyline is some sort of Korean birth tale...like the stork delivering the baby. More importantly, I believe that this story helps to reinforce the parent-child attachment by teaching the child the importance of a parent in his or her life. There is something archetypal about the idea of a child being found. It is a profound metaphor about family.

Disney clearly has embraced this archetype. I believe families (adopted or not) also embrace this archetype because it strengthens family bonds.

Death in My Old 'Hood

Over the weekend, there was a tragic robbery/shooting that occurred in trendy Uptown (Mpls). It occurred on Saturday night as a family having finished a dinner together was walking back to their car on the 3100 block of Girard Ave South. The young man was shot in the head after the robbers stole his mother's purse. He died on Monday night. It's a terrible story.

I used to live in the very location where the robbery/shooting occurred. It's crazy to think about. The shooting took place right outside my old apartment building. When I moved to Mpls in 2000, I was frantically searching for an apartment and happened to come upon this place through collegial connections. I felt lucky because it was in a desirable location and it actually was a decent apartment (2 bedrooms, hardwood floors and built-ins, garage). Being new to Mpls, I didn't really know where to live, so starting out in Uptown was a good choice. I lived there for just shy of 3 years. It was the longest I had ever lived in one apartment. In my time on Girard, I always felt safe. Now, I am thankful I had the opportunity to purchase a home and move to another part of the city where presumably it is safer. It's a privilege I have and I am thankful for it.

Of course, I had lived in much worse neighborhoods, such as those in Richmond, VA where I attended graduate school. Back then, I once was doing my laundry at the local laudromat when I saw two guys shooting at each other in the back alley. Amazingly, they missed each other and both fled the scene. This sort of scene played out monthly yet I never personally felt scared. Well, I take that back. I lived on the ground floor in a gentrified neighborhood but saying gentrified is being kind. Anyway, I used to hear all sorts of noises outside my apartment that would freak me out. One evening, I heard someone in the upstairs apartment (which is directly above where my bedroom was located). They were rattling the upstairs apartment door that led to the back stairway outside. I was convinced it was a break-in. Then, quite loudly, I heard a body stumble and crash down the stairs...landing right next to my back door -- a few feet from my bed. I sprung out of bed and called 911. The police arrived and came through my bedroom to check out the noise (which was no longer). They didn't see anything at first. Then, the police officer said to his partner, "I see blood," and they drew their revolvers. I kid you not. There I am, standing in my boxers and t-shirt with these officers holding their guns and flashlights. It turned out that my upstairs neighbor's brother was visiting from out of town, was drunk, and in a drunken haze thought the back door led to the bathroom. He took a step to pee and crash, fell down the stairs. Even though it was (upon recall) a funny story, it scared the crap out of me at the time.

Still, I truly have never been the personal victim of crime (except, of course, racial discrimination, threats, and harrasment from a plethora of White men through the years). Oh, there also was the time when I was in college and at a record store that was held up at gunpoint. I simply stared stupidly at the gunman. Then, when asked by the police officer for a description, I could not recall anything at all. An amazing case of poor memory recall.

Well, it is truly sad news regarding the young man who died. It was completely random, completely unnecessary, and just terrible. I will think of the family in my prayers this evening. I also am going to be a bit more cautious as I walk through Uptown.

Harlow's Monkey

Something is in the air. Another friend of mine now has a blog.

Check out Harlow's Monkey by Jae-Ran.

Blogs By Friends and Others

Just a quick promo for two blogs by local friends... Give them a visit and encourage 'em to keep posting!

Made in Korea by Holly.
Free Loose Dirt by Peter.

I also came across this blog by a fellow Asian American. I actually don't know this person but enjoy her random comments and humor.

Asian Freckles by Dotted Line Girl.

The Art of Remembering Where to Eat Out

In the past, I’ve posted on home cooked meals, dining etiquette, and, of course, restaurant reviews. It’s fairly random and I like it that way. However, when it comes to eating out at restaurants, I fall victim to the age old problem of returning to the same set of restaurants that I have come to rely upon as true and trustworthy. Depending on the occasion and dollar amount, these include jP’s American Bistro, Jasmine Deli, Fujiya, Chiang Mai Thai, Lucia’s, Barbette, Dong Yang, Yummy, and Cosmos to name a few.

This morning, I had a chance to browse through the 2006 City Pages Restaurant Guide by the wonderful, splendiferous Dara Moskowitz.

As I read through some of her reviews, I started to take mental note of new places to try out. Then, I started to think to myself, “Self, maybe if you write about them, you will remember them.” So here I am doing just that. Another reason for me to post these spots is to let you all know about them. Try them out first and get back to me.

Peninsula - 2608 Nicollet Ave South, Mpls -- Malaysian cuisine
Natural Escape - 6417 Lyndale Ave South, Richfield -- Mexican cuisine
Lucia’s Bakery and Take Home - 1428 West 31st St, Mpls -- Heartland cuisine to go
Mac’s Fish and Chips - 1330 Larpenteur Ave West, St Paul -- the name says it all
Tea House Chinese Restaurant - 88 Nathan Lane, Plymouth -- Sichuan cuisine

By the way, the photograph was taken by Holly when we were in Hawaii. We were eating at the Giovanni’s Original White Shrimp Truck in Kahuku, Oahu. Yummy…good garlic shrimp complemented with fresh coconut milk.

Shoveling Alone (...no more)

I had decided yesterday afternoon to stay home today and work on my laptop, as we were expecting another snow storm and I didn't feel it was necessary to risk a car accident in my usual morning commute, especially since it is spring break. So, I awoke later than usual and gradually made my way downstairs to energize myself for a morning of shoveling snow.

I donned my snow armor and prepared to earn my homeowner's license with a good hour of snow shoveling. Upon opening the front door, I was pleasantly surprised by the relative warmth outside. The air was clean, crisp and each breath made me feel healthier. I began by shoveling the steps to the house. The snow was heavier than I had anticipated, given that it was so fluffy and soft last night. The morning sun must have wetted the air and made the snow settle into its current weight. Still, it felt good to shovel.

After clearing my steps, I took a moment to look across my yard, into the street, and around the neighborhood. There were a few other people outside shoveling and walking the dog. Then I noticed a glint of concrete shimmering in the periphery. I refocused and noticed more spots of wet, snowless concrete in front of my yard. Oh lord, I suddenly realized that someone had shoveled (more precisely, plowed) my sidewalk.

With this realization, I paused for a zen moment to soak up this act of neighborly charity and then scurried inside the house to grab my camera from whence this photograph was taken. It was taken from the sidewalk in front of my home. You can see the clean lines of snow created by the snowblower going all the way up to the end of the block. If you look carefully, you will notice that the sidewalk was actually plowed twice, probably once last night and again this morning. Amazing.

In 2000, Robert Putnam, a Harvard public policy/political science professor, published a book called "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community" that posited that America's social capital was in decline. He used the metaphor of bowling to illustrate this point by noting that there are fewer and fewer bowling leagues and more people choose to bowl individually (vs. in team leagues).

Well, in Minnesota, a more apt metaphor might be shoveling snow and, at least in my neighborhood, social capital is alive and well.

Usually, when I have some extra time, I will try to shovel the snow off the sidewalk of my adjoining neighbors, especially when the snow is light and not too exhausting to remove. I also will make sure my neighbor two doors down (whom I call Old Lady Johnson) has her sidewalk cleared, which she usually does thanks to her grown children, but on rare occassion, I've taken up the task. The other thing that I like to do is clear a path between my house and the neighbors to make it easier for the postman who still delivers mail to your front door. It's something that we do for each other. Look out for each other in small ways.

When I first moved into this home back in 2003, I recall a late night door ring. Outside around 10 pm, my neighbor was standing there to tell me that he had a roof shovel available for me to use to prevent ice dams. Ice dams? I had never even heard of such a thing and had to read about it online. I was amazed by this small act of kindness. It was foreign to me, having lived in old, decrepit apartments for my whole adult life.

It made me think back to my childhood when my neighbor who had a snowblower would come over to snowplow our sidewalk during heavy snow days or clear a path between our homes so his son, Pete, and I could still pester each other even during bad weather. I guess this is where I learned neighborly kindness. Social capital in fancy language.

Snow Emergency

Wow, it's heavy, it's blowing around, it's nevertheless beautiful. A snowy March in Minnesota. Nature's own version of March Madness.

No speak English?

I awoke this morning ready to battle the snow. I put on my winter armor, opened the front door, and tackled the 6-8 inches that had accumulated over the night. As I was shoveling, I was carrying on a conversation with my next door neighbor, Mike, who is a public school teacher in a neighboring district. Conversations of this nature are generally trivial, like "The snow is heavy" and "Is school cancelled today?" After these formalities though, Mike asked if I heard about the bill being proposed to mandate that Minnesota state professors must speak plain English. I said, "No," as I heaved another heavy shovel full of snow off the sidewalk. He said he read it and immediately zipped off a letter to the editor to criticize the bill. I stopped shoveling and paused a moment...quietly thinking, "It is great to have this kind of neighbor." Then, after finishing shoveling (for now), I went inside and surfed the internet looking for this bill. Here it is.

A Minnesota state legislator by the name of Bud Heidgerken (R-Freeport) has "introduced a bill intended to ensure that all teachers use "clear English pronunciation" before being allowed to teach undergraduate students," as reported today in the Star Tribune. According to the newspaper article, "The bill would require that schools in Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) ensure their teachers speak plain English. It would 'request' that the University of Minnesota do the same; the Legislature can technically only request compliance from the U because it is an autonomous body under the state Constitution." Only three other states have such a law in place -- North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

This proposed bill is just ridiculous. First, the university already has a policy regarding language competency that dates back to 1985 when "the Minnesota legislature drafted the following language in Chapter 11, section 7 of its Laws: The university is requested to continue to ensure that classroom teaching assistants for whom English is a second language are proficient in speaking, reading, and writing English." Click here to read more on the university policies. The policy specifically states that "All nonnative English speaking Teaching Assistants (TAs) must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English appropriate to the demands of their teaching assistantship." A nonnative English speaker is defined as a "Person for whom the primary language in the home during childhood was not English. Country of citizenship and language of elementary, secondary or undergraduate education are NOT factors in this definition."

I first learned of this understandable yet poorly operationalized requirement when an Asian American graduate student of mine was questioned about whether she had taken the required language proficiency test. She was shocked by this question because she immigrated as a child, is a U.S. citizen, received her entire education in this country, and speaks fluently. However, none of this mattered because (a) she had an Asian sounding name and looked "foreign" and (b) the primary language spoken in her home was not English, as her parents were immigrants. I immediately began making calls and the situation was rectified. However, when asked if the policy could be changed, I never heard back from the College or Human Resources. The only response given was that it was a legislative policy.

The second reason that this bill is ridiculous is that it is clearly discriminatory. In the case just given, my graduate student has every right to not be questioned about her language abilities. Yet according to current policy, she can be questioned. As my neighbor and I discussed, the bill also would outlaw a deaf person who is capable of teaching a course using American Sign Language, via a interpreter. For that matter, technically, I also would not be allowed to teach (let alone be hired as a professor) because my parents did not speak English as their primary language in the home.

Third, such a bill (if passed) would contribute to the brain drain from Minnesota and significantly undermine our efforts to recruit and retain the best of the best. After 9-11, the inflow of international students declined and we are just now rebounding at every major university in the country. These students are the life force behind many departments and contribute immensely to the education of the general public. Plus, many of these graduates stay in Minnesota to work for major companies. They also contribute taxes just like everyone else.

I urge everyone to contact their state legislators to not just kill this bill but to also encourage their legislators to come out with a strong statement against such future proposals. To find your legislator, click here.

-----------------------------
UPDATE
-----------------------------

This is an email response from my state representative, Frank Hornstein.

From: Frank Hornstein
To: richlee@umn.edu
Date: 13 Mar 06, 12:16pm

Dear Dr. Lee:

I share your outrage regarding Rep. Heidgerken's bill. This is but the
latest in a series of outrageous anti-immigrant bills, all of which I
oppose.

I appreciate your well thought-out arguments against this bill and will
refer to them if the legislation ever gets to the House floor.

Thanks for writing and sharing your stories and perspectives.

Frank Hornstein
State Representative

The Peace of Wild Things

I simply love this poem - The Peace of Wild Things. I found it years ago back when I was in my "poetry" phase of life. In fact, for quite a number of years, I had the poem framed alongside some photographs that I had taken of the sun rising off the Atlantic Ocean with the shadow of a flock of birds in the distance. The poem and photographs beautifully complemented each other. It was hung in my bathroom and each morning I would read it as I brushed my teeth. It was a great way to start the day. I no longer have this poem hanging in my bathroom but I have continued to return to the poetry of Wendell Berry. There is something about his writing style that just resonates with me. It is simple and honest, yet elegant and holy.

The Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

— Wendell Berry

Googlism and Me

Googlism for: Richard Lee

richard lee is the senior pastor of first redeemer church
richard lee is a medical doctor who has specialized in treating patients suffering with hair loss since 1987
richard lee is a public information officer with the department of public works public affairs office
richard lee is best known for his work studying the
richard lee is a california acupuncturist who has taken the essentials of the grueling state board and made a concise guide to point location
richard lee is a contributing writer for orthopedic technology review
richard lee is the foremost authority and speaker on development in southern nevada
richard lee is one of the foremost authorities on development in las vegas
richard lee is from a collection of william lee letterbooks in the jessie ball dupont memorial library
richard lee is an attorney
richard lee is mentioned as one of the governor's "wicked and pernicious councell" who were commanded to surrender or be seized as "trayters to ye
richard lee is 60 inches tall
richard lee is loud like a thunder cloud
richard lee is a great candidate for the bc liberals in burnaby north
richard lee is president of data storage technologies
richard lee is quite surprised about his death
richard lee is founding pastor of first redeemer church
richard lee is ceo and owner of the law offices of richard lee and a former hawaii judge
richard lee is playing in the broadmead regeneration
richard lee is emeritus professor of humanities in christ college
richard lee is a participant in a "faculty mentor group"
richard lee is also the editor of this document
richard lee is a partner who is continuously involved in the principal practice areas of the firm
richard lee is chairman of tal apparel and his principal business interests are in the manufacturing of textiles and apparel in southeast asia
richard lee is serving as a sort of bedside scarecrow
richard lee is the founding pastor of first redeemer church located in metropolitan atlanta's forsyth county
richard lee is an honours graduate in electrical engineering from the university of sheffield
richard lee is a professor of anthropology and a fellow of the royal society of canada
richard lee is a community activist in vancouver
richard lee is a graduating senior in neurobiology and intends to keep his ideals no matter how hellish the system might be
richard lee is running
richard lee is the mastermind behind rustlin' up the best real country music for your workday
richard lee is the founder and director of china healthways
richard lee is a popular library humorist
richard lee is a university of alberta medical school graduate who has completed both the cfpc
richard lee is the research
richard lee is out of highview dragano
richard lee is a sound school with some good features
richard lee is secretary of the historical novel society
richard lee is an advisory analyst with imex specializing in storage and clustering technologies
richard lee is on vacation this weekend
richard lee is making a statement at the church cafeteria
richard lee is the hardware engineer for the "liquid fix" installation
richard lee is 21 and no less accomplished
richard lee is said by one contemporary to have produced tobacco worth £2000 annually
richard lee is regarded in reloading and ammunition manufacturing circles as one of the premier names in the field
richard lee is a seriously good bible teacher
richard lee is still there
richard lee is there
richard lee is holding open auditions for men and women in august and september
richard lee is a first
richard lee is a veteran "trekker
richard lee is staking his political career on the future of
richard lee is staking his political career on the future of burnaby hospital
richard lee is from melbourne
richard lee is responsible for the rebirth of the table tennis club
richard lee is $35
richard lee is a management consultant with world
richard lee is in charge of all the special machining
richard lee is professor of oceanography at the skidaway institute of oceanography
richard lee is executive director of the ottawa
richard lee is desired to give yem ye oayes for ye same
richard lee is the man who sells all of these
richard lee is the head
richard lee is the most misunderstood and underappreciated member of the lee clan
richard lee is batting
richard lee is preparing to submit plans to city hall to renovate three landmark buildings that date back to the 1930s
richard lee is building his own networks
richard lee is preparing to submit plans to city hall to renovate three landmark buildings that date back to the 1930s ? the
richard lee is currently getting ready to finish up his three
richard lee is
richard lee is 17 years old
richard lee is the principal of the east midlands school of christian ministry
richard lee is a southern boy recently transplanted to the northeast
richard lee is given in lee of va
richard lee is a huge fan of action star bruce lee

Me, My Dad, and Sugar Ray

I mentioned my encounter with Sugar Ray Leonard the other day and here is the photograph to prove it (Thanks, Ken). It was taken with Ken's "fancy to me" Treo camera phone. I am surprised by the relatively high resolution of this photo.

When I think of Sugar Ray Leonard, I actually often think of my family, especially my dad. You see, back when Leonard was at his peak, I was around 10 years old and we had just moved into a newly constructed home in a fancy upwardly mobile development. Like the Jeffersons, we were moving on up.

My father's English was still not very good back then and I was at an age when I began to feel embarrassed about being Korean. I simply wanted to fit in with my all-White peers and speaking Korean did not help matters. It also did not help to be Korean and to have an all-Korean family (but that is another story). So, around then, I gradually began to stop speaking Korean to my parents. I think it was around then that I also felt a growing distance between my father and me. It was not dramatic and not necessarily problematic. It was just the sort of distance that accompanies adolescence for many kids. Looking back, it is obvious now that the language gap between us only exacerbated matters.

This is where Sugar Ray comes into the picture. Sugar Ray Leonard was one of the kings of boxing back in the early 1980s. My father loved watching boxing on ABC and I too loved the sport (and still do). It was here in front of the television that I was able to stay connected with my father. Together, alongside my brother and grandmother (who loved all thing violent, especially professional wrestling), we watched replays of the big fights between Leonard and his foes, such as Roberto Duran, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, and Thomas Hitman Hearns. The action was exciting. The emotions real. No English needed to be spoken when you saw a devastating left hook or straight right to the chin. A knockdown and a comeback victory were gut wrenching and thrilling moments that captured life at its fullest.

I love those memories (and maybe partly why I still love television -- hehe) because it was a way for my dad and me to stay connected. We were growing apart culturally and emotionally but this shared love helped to keep our bond. I don't want to romanticize the power of boxing but it is an example of how a shared activity can do wonders for a little boy and his father.

So, for this reason, I need to thank Sugar Ray Leonard.

Time for a YellowProf Blog?

Somehow, don't ask me how because I can't recall, I came across this blog called BlackProf. From what I can tell, it is a site run by a group of African American professors with many of them in the field of law. The site covers a wide range of newsworthy issues and even includes an interesting "advice" column called Ask Mom for law-lorn individuals (click here for past advices).

It got me quickly thinking about whether or not we need a YellowProf blog for Asian American professors and academia-minded folks. Of course, this is a spur of the moment thought and it very well may not work. But it is a curious thought.

A Better Blog :: Decision Science News

When I started writing my blog, I did so on a whim and, as such, without much thought as to its specific content. In many ways, I am glad I just went ahead and did it. That said, others have approached the intersection of academia and blogging with a more deliberate, planful approach. I believe that one such person is Dan Goldstein, a psychologist on faculty at the London School of Business. His blog, Decision Science News, is highly entertaining and informative. Plus, he is smart and popular. His research was featured in Blink and Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell who also is a very smart, witty man with his own blog.

Childhood heroes are not role models

Two sports related things happened this week which got me thinking about this issue of childhood heroes and role models. On Sunday, Ken and I were attending the Timberwolves game (vs. Warriors) and afterwards had a chance to walk nearby Sugar Ray Leonard who was a special guest at the game. Ken, being Ken, kept nudging me to get a photo taken with Mr. Leonard. I was acting sheepish and reluctant but finally gave in and approached Mr. Leonard who was very gracious in letting Ken take a camera phone photo. It was a fun micro-moment. Then, we all heard last night the sad news of former Twins great and hall of famer Kirby Puckett's death from a stroke at the age of 45 years old.

The two closely timed events got me thinking of my childhood and what I loved about these sports legends. For example, I remember following the Twins during their first World Series heyday and admiring Kirby's play at the plate and in the field. He was one of those players whom I would have "drafted" when playing our version of Strat-O-Matic baseball. I also remember growing up watching Leonard fight Hagler, Hearns, and Duran on television with my father and brothers. It was exciting as a kid to see these phenomenal athletes achieve greatness in their own unique ways.

These athletes were my childhood heroes, along with Captain America, John Lennon, and a host of other famous (and imagined) people whose public lives intersected with my mundane childhood. That all said, I never really ever thought of these individuals as my role models. In this respect, I have to agree with the famous quote by former NBA star, Charles Barkley, who said "I am not a role model. . . parents should be role models."

For me, childhood heroes were people whom I didn't know who were known for having done amazing things in amazing times. They rose to a challenge, pushed themselves beyond oftentimes their natural abilities, and achieved some measure of greatness that benefitted others (as well as themselves). They were inspiring. They overcame the odds and came out on top. They proved that hard work and effort, an unwavering belief in oneself, and oftentimes teamwork could prove victorious. They were examples of raw, naked narcissism in its most healthy form. A type of vicarious validation. A living example that we can be special, even if just for a shining moment in time.

But role model? No, I have to agree with Sir Barkley that these superstars are not (and were not) my role models. They are too distal from my personal life. A role model needs to be proximal to my everyday life as a regular guy. A role model is someone who has not necessarily achieved greatness but who has demonstrated time and again that they have the kind of character that matters most in life. They are honest, hard working, kind, giving, truthful, courageous, creative, and purposeful. They persist when most would give up. They encourage when others ignore. They stand up for what is right. A role model is my parents, my older brothers, my high school guidance counselor, my childhood pastor, and the like.

I think kids (and adults) need both heroes and role models. One is not necessarily better than the other, though an argument easily could be made for the latter. They serve different functions in life. The hero gives us hope and something to aspire toward. We all have a little bit of greatness inside that needs to be coaxed out of us. The role model gives us character and honor and integrity that are the essential building blocks of living a productive life.

So, meeting Mr. Leonard and reflecting on the life of Kirby Puckett are reminders to me of what minor greatness I may achieve in my life. At the same time, I think of my dad for what it takes for me to achieve all that I set my sights on.

The Minimalist : Ya Gotta Love Him

It's been a while since I've last visited The Minimalist online at NYTimes. I had some free time this morning and discovered that he also shows you how to cook the great recipes. Be sure to check out the video when you click on this story link or just go straight to the recipe here for Chicken with Green Olives.

Sports and Life :: What it's all about...

Many of you may have watched or heard of this story. It's about a high school senior, named J-MAC, who has autism and who got a chance to play in the last home basketball game of the season. What does he do? He scores 20 points with six 3-pointers in under 4 minutes of play and is the game's high scorer. Truly inspirational. Read the ESPN story and definitely, definitely watch the accompanying video footage of the game.

Learning to Love You More...

One of the great things that I love about living in Minneapolis is the amazing artists who live in this community and whom you may meet on any given day. Last night was one such occasion. As I've mentioned before, I get together on Wednesday nights with a group of guys to just have guy time. Sometimes we sing karaoke, other times we shoot pool. More than anything, we just sit around and talk. Talk about anything and everything...including debates about "What is art?", relationship woes and joys, state of the economy, evolutionary behavior, and more. This group of guys include a poet/playwright, a multimedia artist/homeless advocate, an actor, a web designer/consultant, a photographer, and a few others. Sometimes, a visiting friend comes along. Last night, it was an artist named Harrell Fletcher.

Harrell is in town to give a series of talks at the UMN. Unfortunately, I can't attend them due to scheduling conflicts but we got to talking about one of his recent ongoing conceptual, interactive projects titled Learning to Love You More. The photograph above is taken from this website. In essence, assignments are posted online for viewers to consider completing and then submitting to the site. The cat under the bed is a response to Assignment #50 which asked the following:

Don't vacuum or alter anything under your bed beforehand. Take a photo under there with a strong flash, preferably with the camera sitting on the ground. Make sure your photograph is in focus! We are looking for photos that depict the space between the bottom of the bed and the floor, please do not send us photos if your bed is flush against the floor.

I simply love this idea! Here, people can take part in a series of artistic projects that reflect art in the making or art in the raw. It draws upon personal narratives, as depicted in images, voice, and writing, and aggregates these disparate stories to give a coherent representation of life today.

About the Authors

My colleagues (Patricia Frazier and Mike Steger) and I recently wrote a reaction to a major contribution in The Counseling Psychologist, which is a well-respected peer-reviewed journal in our field. The topic of our paper is not that relevant. What I want to talk about is the part of the journal in which contributing authors provide a brief professional biographical sketch. Usually, these biographies have a standard format that includes current position, degree and university, current research interests, and any professional achievements. Not too sexy.

Here is my "About the Authors" biography...

Richard M. Lee is an associate professor of psychology and Asian American studies
at the University of Minnesota–Twin Cities and an amateur karaoke singer. His
research interest centers on the process, outcome, and protective function of cultural
socialization and its relevance to mental health in diverse Asian American populations.
He has received funding from the National Institute of Mental Health for his
research on the cultural socialization and mental health of Korean adoptees. He is a
recipient of early career awards from the APA Minority Fellowship Program and the
Asian American Psychological Association.

Did you catch it? If not, read it again carefully. I recall that it was a crazy busy work day when I was asked to submit the brief bio-sketch. I was feeling a bit on edge (maybe too much caffeine) and decided to add some humor to my day. I figured, "Heck, might as well try to spice up these dry, academic journals." Amazingly, they did not edit it out!

So there you have it folks...I am now in the library database as an amateur karaoke singer.