Schema Magazine

Lin Era Ends in New York

Photo courtesy of fastcodesign.com

The Jeremy Lin era in New York officially came to an end when Lin signed a three year contract with the Houston Rockets. The Rockets, needing to make a splash, decided to offer Lin an offer sheet of three-years for $25 million, and while the Knicks had the ability to match the contract and keep Lin, they decided due to a variety of reasons to not match the offer.

The main sticking point and by all accounts THE reason the Knicks chose to let Lin go was ultimately how the contract was structured. Out of the $25 million, Lin would be getting $14.8 million in his final year and this large jump in salary would have contributed to the Knicks paying a hefty sum of around $28 million in luxury taxes.

On the surface this seems like a typical sports story, with one team deciding to take a chance on a young player they believed has some potential and another team deciding to go in another direction. However, as we learned last year when Lin first emerged, any story regarding him is magnified and dissected on a variety of levels. Money, according to the Knicks was the principle reason for letting Lin go; however this is laughable on a variety of levels.

The Knicks have been notorious for handing out terrible contracts to sub-par and quite frankly terrible players. They also have one of the highest payrolls in the league for a team that wouldn't have made the playoffs if it wasn't for Lin's play last year. The luxury tax that the Knicks seemed so annoyed about regarding Lin's contract? They wouldn't be in that situation if they hadn't loaded their team with all the heavy contracts they currently have. If they were so worried about what Lin's contract would do to them, maybe they should have decided to practice financial sensibility long before Lin's contract came into the forefront.

Photo courtesy of usatoday.com

The money reasoning also seems a little odd when you look at Lin's financial impact on the Knicks and the company that owns the team, Madison Square Garden Inc. Since the beginning of the Lin era in New York, MSG's worth has gone up a whopping $600 million (contrasted with the sudden decrease of about $93 million when the rumors of Lin leaving New York) and his jersey was the second highest selling last year. Obviously, Lin's race and cultural background as well as unique back story lends for marketing and endorsements and the obvious impact he was already having on the team financially makes one question why the Knicks bulked on paying Lin, what in the grand scheme of things, seems a small amount compared to what he could generate for the team and MSG.

Speculating on the Knicks and their reasoning for letting Jeremy Lin go has provided nice fodder for sports writers and commentators. Lin and his success were easily one of the highlights of last season and it sparked a reaction across cultures. Yet some New York fans were devastated that their team decided not to retain Lin as a player. Many fans unfortunately took it too far, using racial language to mock Lin and to berate him for leaving the team. Here's a screen shot of Jeremy's Lin Facebook page moments after he posted he was going to Houston and was excited at the prospect of playing for a new team: (Warning: strong language)

Screen shot of comments posted on Lin's Facebook page

I understand that some people may be upset, but blaming a person for taking a well deserved raise is a little petty. Furthermore, some of the blame should be directed to the Knicks themselves for not signing Lin when they had the chance and for acting like they didn't want Lin in the first place. The Knicks traded for Raymond Felton and signed Jason Kidd, two players that play the same position that Lin does. The Knicks made it obvious from the beginning they had no intention of matching the Rockets offer sheet.

Regardless of some fans poor reaction, Lin gave an interview with Sports Illustrated stating that he, "preferred New York." He want on to say:

I love the New York fans to death...that's the biggest reason why I wanted to return to New York. They way they embraced me, the way they supported us this past season, was better than anything I've ever seen or experienced. I'll go to my grave saying that. What New York did for me was unbelievable. I wanted to play in front of those fans for the rest of my career.

That's why Jeremy Lin deserves the raise he got from Houston and the success he has achieved so far. The man that created Linsanity, and all the hype and noise surrounding it is still the humblest person in this entire situation and while some New York fans may be upset, I'm sure he'll have a million more new ones in the coming years.

K-Town: Taking (Online) Television By Storm

By Kait Bolongaro

In a couple weeks, the much anticipated K-Town will finally hit the Internet. The reality TV show follows the lives of eight young Asian Americans who party and cause mayhem in Los Angeles' notorious Koreatown, or K-Town. A small word of advice: any 'Tiger Mom' hoping to raise the perfect protégé should keep their child away from this show.

K-Town was so brazen that even MTV was scared to pick it up. After years of hype and negotiations, their talks with a major network failed. The project was put on hold for more than two years because the producers couldn't film the show how they envisioned. Finally, it was released online on LOUD, a new Youtube channel run by Electus, an innovative new startup. The choice to debut online instead of on a mainstream channel has actually benefited the series. The cast has been able to get away with more risqué behaviour that would have stunned television audiences.

While K-Town's storyline can be quite one dimensional, the show has exploded onto the scene, bringing with it a fresh and realistic look into the lives of Asian Americans. There have been Asian American characters on TV before, but they have been stereotyped as a ninja or nerd are unimportant to the overall plot of the show. K-Town's cast aren't angels but at least they aren't a bunch of IT students studying math in the library until sundown when they turn into a band of kung-fu warriors.

The cast of K-Town is an eclectic mix of characters who bring Jersey Shore controversy with an Asian American flare. From Steve Kim to Cammy Chung-the newest cast member-each person has their own individual story to tell in front of the camera.

Watch K-Town's next episode on Wednesday and follow with Schema's live chat on Twitter to keep up-to-date with our ongoing coverage of this pop culture phenomenon.

Posted by Kait Bolongaro | July 1, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Asian American, K-Town, Television

Violet Kim: The Drama Queen of K-Town on Mixed-Race Dating

By Vinnie Yuen

By throwing a drink at a girl, Violet Kim has proven she is the queen of drama in the latest episode of K-Town.

Earlier that night, Violet and Jowe steal a kiss in the hallway. In hindsight, Violet said it was the most stupid thing she has ever done.

When Jowe proceeds to flirt with multiple women throughout the night, that's when things get ugly. Violet throws her drink at one of the women Jowe is hitting on.

But Violet isn't all about drama. As a single mom who's still looking for love, Violet shares with Schema Magazine her dating experience and seduction tips.

Schema Magazine: Describe the best and worst mixed-race dating/hook-up experience you've had?

Violet Kim: I don't have a best because it usually doesn't go past the first date. I have many bad experiences but the one that stand out the most is when the brunch bill of $25 came out, we paid Dutch.

I don't know if that's necessarily a non-Asian thing or a gentleman thing, but it's a stereotype of American culture [to split the bill] so I'm going to go with that until I'm proven wrong.

More from Violet coming up soon!

During the entire series, Schema Magazine will be posting exclusive in-depth profiles of the K-Town cast. Join Schema Magazine's live twitter chat every Wednesday at 7.30 PM Pacific. Find it using #ktown. or send us your thoughts @schema_magazine.

Watch the next episode Wednesday on the LOUD Youtube channel.

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | July 27, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian American, Asian Stereotypes, Asian Women, K-Town, Relationship, Television, Vinnie Yuen, Violet Kim

Egypt: Women Facing Street Harassment a Regular Occurance

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of jezebel.com

About a month ago Natasha Smith—a British student journalist—headed to Tahrir square in order to film the celebrations that followed the victory of Mohamed Moursi in the Egyptian presidential elections. But instead of capturing the moment she was sexually violated.

Natasha had been in Egypt for a while collecting footage for a documentary on the status of women in post-revolutionary Egypt. That sunday she headed towards Qasr El-Nil Bridge, accompanied by two men. She took the precautionary steps, in both dressing modestly and having male companions to protect her. But as she reached the end of the bridge that leads into Tahrir Square she realized that something was wrong. Before she could turn around she found herself being dragged, grabbed and groped; She had quickly and suddenly become a victim of sexual abuse.

Natasha has been very brave in encountering her horrific experience. She has shared the graphic details she endured on a blog post entitled "Please God, Make it Stop." Natasha thinks that she was targeted because she was a foreigner and that there were rumours that she might have been a spy. What happened to her was awful and something no one should ever have to experience!

photo courtesy of mirror.co.uk

Was Natasha targeted because she was a foreigner? Perhaps. But I think she was targeted for being first and foremost a woman. Women in Egypt endure sexual harassment on a daily basis. There is no doubt that with the current instability in the country more and more foreigners are targeted because they are considered 'spies' or what not. But truth be told, whether you are a blonde, brunette, tall, short, ugly or beautiful it doesn't matter. As long as you have a vagina you are most probably going to be sexually harassed.

The issue of sexual harassment is very prominent and growing in Egypt. There are organizations such as the Egyptian Centre for Women's Rights and Harassmap along with activists such as Mona Eltahawy that are working on tackling the issue; but it's easier said than done. Sexual harassment is somehow being ingrained in the culture due to socio-economic and political issues.

One thing that women can do, which Natasha thankfully did, is to file a police report. When something like this happens one should not keep silent. I know that it takes a lot of courage to speak publicly but if women do not fight back, then the harassers will get away with a crime they committed. It only takes a couple of people to be put in jail for sexually harassing women and made an example of, for the rest of the society to start comprehending the gravity of their actions.

Posted by Dalia Elramly | July 30, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dalia Elramly, Feminism, Gender, Sex, Women

WTF Friday: Estee Lauder is now "suitable for all ethnicities"

By Beth Hong

Photo courtesy of Estee Lauder via Facebook

This week's WTF Friday is brought to you by Estée Lauder, the global cosmetics conglomerate.

I came across a mobile upload on my Facebook feed of an ad for their 'Perfectionist' cream in the August issue of InStyle Magazine.

Suitable for all ethnicities? Okay, hold up a moment.

First of all, this is just really strange marketing. I mean, if this was meant to be politically incorrect, why not go all out? Something like, "Suitable even for coloureds" or "Not just for white people"?

Also, I'm genuinely puzzled as to what the message here is. This wasn't published in an Asian-language magazine (where I think unusual usage of English may be forgiven)—it was published in a major North American one.

Don't get me wrong: I have no beef with the company itself.

My grandmother in South Korea has used Estée Lauder products since the beginning of time. In fact, they owe her a rice cake basket for all the business she's given them.

As for the rest of us, I think they owe an explanation about what the f*** their ad is actually trying to say.

Posted by Beth Hong | July 20, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Beth Hong, Estee Lauder, Estee Lauder Perfectionist ad, WTF Friday

Ditch Hot Dogs for these Ethnic Street Eats

By Karina Palmitesta

Photo courtesy of vancitybuzz.com

It finally feels like summer in Vancouver, and the downtown streets are packed with people soaking up the sun. But when lunchtime rolls around, don't succumb to the sea of hot dog carts; there are actually tons of ethnic street food options that are a lot more interesting than an undercooked sausage encased in Wonderbread.

Back in April, in a campaign to liven up Vancouver's street food scene, the City of Vancouver approved licenses for 12 offbeat carts to operate downtown. It was a picky process, too; the city considered dozens of applications, created a shortlist of 25 and narrowed it down to the 12 best options.

Here are Schema's top five ethnic food carts to visit in Vancouver:

JAPADOG (Burrard and Smithe St.)

Photo courtesy of boredinvancouver.com

It looks like a hotdog, it feels like a hotdog, it tastes like sushi? There's no way to avoid mentioning this hugely popular fusion food cart. Their unconventional hotdogs are topped with everything from seaweed flakes to miso suace to kimchi. Choose from a long menu and from four different locations throughout the downtown core.

SOHO ROAD NAAN KEBAB (Howe and Smithe St.)

Photo courtesy of thevancouversun.com

Fresh, authentic naan wrapped around butter chicken, tandoori or spicy vegetables. Also check out their chai tea.

LE TIGRE (Thurlow and Alberni St.)

Photo courtesy of thevancouversun.com

This cart offers Chinese dim sum with a street food twist. And you can eat ethically too: Le Tigre only uses local, seasonal ingredients, organic meat and sustainable seafood. The BBQ beef in puff pastry is especially good.

RIMFOODBAHT (Hamilton and Robson St.)

Photo courtesy of thevancouversun.com

This cart's name is taken from the Thai word for street food. Choose from an ever-changing menu of curries served with jasmine or brown rice. You can also get fresh coconut milk or thai iced tea to drink.

GUANACO TRUCK (Seymour and W. Georgia St.)

Photo courtesy of vancitybuzz.com

Guanaco Truck specializes in Salvadoran pupusas (thick corn tortillas stuffed with meat, cheese and vegetables). The brightly coloured truck and salsa music set a festive tone. But the real draw is their fried plantains: hot, crispy and a definite step up from boring old french fries.

Posted by Karina Palmitesta | July 23, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: ethnic, food carts, Karina Palmitesta, street food, Vancouver

Jasmine Chang: K-Town's Funny Girl Fashionista

By Malissa Phung

Born and raised in K-Town, LA, Jasmine is the whole reality star package. An award-winning hairstylist, her own locks are always on point, her make-up is impeccable, and her clothes are sexy but classy.

She's not just another bodacious K-Town girl who knows how to party: Jasmine's got a quick tongue and she ain't afraid to use it. Here are some tips from a wisegirl with a whole lot of swagger.

Schema: K-Town's giving you your fair share of drama. What are your top 3 tips for dealing with alpha females (or males) in tense situations?

Jasmine: Dealing with alpha personalities is always tricky. There are 3 ways I would react:

Bark back.
Belittle them, using logic and sarcasm.
Or just agree and say sorry to anything and everything to shut them up!

How do you deal with drama? Think Jasmine's got the alpha-antidote down pat?

During the entire series, Schema Magazine will be posting exclusive in-depth profiles of the K-Town cast. Join Schema Magazine's live twitter chat every Wednesday at 7.30 PM Pacific. Find it using #ktown. or send us your thoughts @schema_magazine.

Watch the next episode Wednesday on the LOUD Youtube channel.

More:
Schema Magazine's on-going profiles of the entire K-Town Cast

Posted by Malissa Phung | July 27, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Asian American, Dating, Jasmine Chang, K-Town, Relationship, Sex, Steve Kim, Television

At Least He Showed Up: Romney's NAACP Speech

By Codi Hauka

Photo courtesy of politix.topix.com

Politicians are easy to hate, and even easier to hate on. They make great targets for critics and pundits alike, with everything they say being subject to anal scrutiny and over-analyzing. This is true of all politicians, but when you run for President, from your tax returns to your secretary, nothing goes unnoticed or untouched (am I right, Bill Clinton?) Mitt Romney has harboured his share of verbal onslaughts for some time now, whether for being Mormon or having ridiculously thick hair. The man shows no signs of slowing down now that he's going toe to toe with Barrack Obama for the title of Supreme Leader of the White House.

At an NAACP speech last week, Romney was met with a torrent of boos from a sea of black voters like he was a sexy teen in a horror movie, when he stated he would do away with Obamacare should he be elected President, along with all other 'frivolous' spending measures (say goodbye to the weekly White House Cat Fashion Show, everybody). But Romney took what was coming to him with a smile, a smile that was probably crafted by some of the best and most expensive orthodontists America employs; because really, Romney does not care about black people. Mike Meyers looks really uncomfortable right now.

I'm not saying this because I believe it. I'm simply translating what Republicans meant when they stated that Romney was "making a statement just by speaking to the oldest U.S civil rights group." Democratic consultant Karen Finney said, "You've got to credit for showing up—for being willing to go—no question." What a revelation. It's like when your mom tells you to include your younger siblings in a game—you do it because you have to, but really, you're not too jazzed about it.

Yet this is right in stride with Romney's character as a suave, elite, monstrously wealthy white man, who once said, "I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there." Unemployment is about 14.4% among African Americans, which means there's a lot of black voters who have free time in the middle of the day to go boo Romney, who in turn isn't concerned about their welfare. It's tit for tat, people.

Although Romney's family has a history that supports civil rights, this issue can hardly be seen as decisive for Mitt in his present bid, especially with a number of voter identification laws in many states that will limit minority voting. This election is over the economy, which may sound callous, but it's the truth. Even amidst the boos, Romney was simply imploring to the crowd that he was the man that can supply jobs, rather than the one who will work on civil rights issues. He bombed harder than Michael Richards at the Laugh Factory, and he's sure to be met with more boos along the campaign trail, and he'll definitely keep on smiling.

Posted by Codi Hauka | July 19, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: America, Codi Hauka, Politics

Cammy Chung: Sweetheart of K-town | Part I

By Gayatri Bajpai

Cammy Chung is one of K-town's newest cast-members and made her first appearance on the online series in the second episode, which released today.

So far, cast member Steve Kim has told us that if you cross her or rub her the wrong way, she will break your face. But he beat Cammy at a drinking contest, and she didn't bat an eye. Read on to decide for yourself whether this K-town sweetheart has an inner beast.

Schema Magazine: What have you been up to before K-town and what attracted you to the show?

Cammy Chung: Before the show K-town I've been working at a bar as a waitress near my home. I had worked there a couple of years ago but quit because there was a lot going on in my life at that time but I've been back since September of 2011.

Joining the K-town cast was the last thing I thought I would be doing this year actually. It all happened so fast. I was getting ready for work on a Monday when I got a phone call from one of the producers and I only had about a day to think and decide before jumping on board.

I never watched a lot of reality shows so I'm a newbie to this reality world.

I just figured an opportunity came and I should get my feet wet and try it out and have some fun before making any judgement calls. If we want something in life we've never had then shouldn't we try something we've never done? That's how I see it.

Schema: If you could take the world by storm in just one avenue (besides reality tv), what would it be?

CC: Top worldwide Korean-American editorial fashion model like Kate Moss? (laughs) I'm embarrassed to say so but there's truth in it. What can I say? I'm a girl.

Schema: What high school clique did you belong to? Are you different now?

CC: I went to a few different high schools so I was changing cliques a lot but one thing always remained the same. The Koreans stuck with the Koreans. We always took up the shaded area too! We had a lot of fun though. Too many stories to tell ...

I don't think I'm that different from how I was back then. I kept to myself a lot and still do for the most part.

Schema: The K-town Facebook page warns not to take your sweetheart exterior at face value. What does it take for Cammy's claws to come out? Do you serve revenge up cold, or do you take drama head on?
CC: If it's unnecessary drama, I try my best to avoid it. And I don't know what badass side you're talking about.

More from Cammy coming up soon!

During the entire series, Schema Magazine will be posting exclusive in-depth profiles of the K-Town cast. Join Schema Magazine's live twitter chat every Wednesday at 7.30 PM Pacific. Find it using #ktown. or send us your thoughts @schema_magazine.

Watch the next episode Wednesday on the LOUD Youtube channel.

More:
Schema Magazine's on-going profiles of the entire K-Town Cast

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | July 19, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian American, Asian Stereotypes, Asian Women, Cammy Chung, Gayatri Bajpai, K-Town, Television

Steve Kim of K-Town: Top 3 Ways to Get Laid

By Kait Bolongaro

Photos from K-Town Reality Show, courtesy of LOUD

Steve Kim doesn't have any problems getting girls. He is suave, sexy and he knows it. The only cast member originally from K-Town, Steve knows where all the hot parties are and the best places to meet people. A professed lifelong bachelor, he just wants to have fun with beautiful women. Steve gives Schema a few tips on how to get some action.

What are your top 3 tips on how to turn girl/guy drama into sex?

SK: 1. Scoop her up (in your arms) and toss her in bed.

2. Cover her mouth with mine. No more talking, only action from this point.

3. Jump on top of her and feel up on all her favorite spots.

What are the top three lies you've told to get laid?

SK: 1. "I'll be your man from this point on."

2. "I think you're the most special girl I've ever met."

3. "I think you're the one."

Would that work on you? These are far different from the seduction tips from the cast of Mr. French Taste. Perhaps it's in the delivery?

More pointers from Steve coming soon!

During the entire series, Schema Magazine will be posting exclusive in-depth profiles of the K-Town cast. Join Schema Magazine's live twitter chat every Wednesday at 7.30 PM Pacific. Find it using #ktown. Or send us your thoughts @schema_magazine.

Watch the next episode Wednesday on the LOUD Youtube channel.

More:
Schema Magazine's on-going profiles of the entire K-Town Cast

Posted by Kait Bolongaro | July 19, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Asian American, Dating, K-Town, Relationship, Sex, Steve Kim, Television

Do You Avoid Dating White Men For Fear of Possible "Yellow Fever"?

By Vinnie Yuen

WongFu Productions' infamous "Yellow Fever" video from 2006.

"So, He Likes You Because You're Asian." That headline is sure to grab any Asian woman's attention. Vivienne Chen of Huffington Post recently wrote an article about the stereotype of the white male Asian fetishist and what that does to our dating lives.

The stereotype of the white guy with "yellow fever" can make us afraid—afraid of dating someone with a particularly "Asian" looking dating record. It might make white guys afraid of dating Asian girls for fear of looking like a creeper.

Chen writes, "But by constantly projecting this idea that men who specifically like Asian women are creepers, we risk making otherwise decent, respectable guys avoid dating Asian girls for fear of being labeled a creeper—until we have nothing but creepers left."

The fact is, Asian fetishists do exist, but we can't let that ruin it for everyone, right?!

Shortly after I met my boyfriend, his friend told me that he likes Asian girls. I didn't know what to think. I wanted him to like me, but I also didn't want him to like me because of my race.

I'm so glad that I saw past his friend's comment because it was simply based on the fact that my boyfriend has had two significant relationships, both with Asian women. He has gone on dates with a myriad of ethnicities—white, Egyptian, Korean, Chinese—it just never went further than going on a few dates.

When we started to date, even his mom questioned why he liked Asian girls. This led me to question him. Why Asian girls? He had no clear answer. He just shrugged and said he has always been more attracted to darker haired women and brunettes (like Jessica Alba) instead of blondes.

The truth is, two relationships does not a fetishist make, my friends.

This dude didn't know much about Asian culture until he met me. He doesn't particularly like Chinese food. He doesn't watch anime. He likes his hamburgers and fries and I like my beef tendon noodle soup. He only knows about three phrases of Cantonese by spending hours at my house every week for the last two and a half years. He doesn't like bubble tea and rarely hangs out in Richmond. Nothing about him screams Asian
fetishist.

What if I had ran? What if I decided that I didn't want him because of his relationship track record?

I would have missed out on this amazing person who respects and stands up for women and makes me feel like I'm loved for who I am and what I am every day.

We could spend lots of time dwelling on how media images, sexualization of Asian women, colonialism, and society's standards of beauty play out in our relationship. We do talk about these things from time to time, questioning our subconscious and whether our attraction to each other is organic or constructed. How do you really know?

You don't.

Sometimes, we just have to put faith in ourselves and the people who love us. We have to trust that race is only a small piece of a big, big puzzle.

Chen's article sums it up for us: "Perhaps the best question we as Asian women should be asking ourselves is this: Does he treat me like an individual?"

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | July 25, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dating, Relationship, Vinnie Yuen

"Twacism" and the Rise of Tweet-Policing

By Karina Palmitesta

Photo courtesy of mommyhuh.com

Forget racism; the trend these days is "twacism," a recently coined term to describe racist attacks launched over Twitter.

UK singer Lily Allen was bombarded with abuse after reporting a soldier's racist tweet to the Ministry of Defense; the 20-year-old "twacist" in question, Harry Wilson, had likened Allen's adopting an African child to "buying shit." Following Allen's report of the tweet, rumours spread that the army intends to discharge Wilson from service.

Racist tweets in connection to the Euro 2012 soccer tournament have been splashed all over headlines recently, too; a "twacist" railed against black players Ashley Young and Ashley Cole after they missed penalty kicks in England's match against Italy. England's Football Association is up in arms over the hate speech, and the London Metropolitan police have launched an investigation to track down the "twacist" behind the screen.

Photo courtesy of hollywoodreporter.com

These are just a couple of recent examples. There are tons out there, many of which dot Schema's front page (how about last week's Daily Dose on fans tweeting their displeasure over the colour of a character's skin in Hunger Games?). There's even a Twitter account named "Twacism" that retweets racist posts.

Twitter doesn't moderate or screen its content, but it does have a set of rules and policies; for instance, violence, threats, pornography and illegal activities are banned. There's also a process for reporting tweets, which are then reviewed by Twitter to determine whether further action needs to be taken.

Recent examples have shown, at least, that reporting "twacists" actually produces results. But I think that there's just something about the lightning-quick, instant-gratification medium of Twitter that emboldens people. Maybe racism is easy to spout when it's through an anonymous, 140-character one-off. On the other hand, this allows people to act as vigilante police officers with just as much ease. Are we entering a new age of tweet-policing?

Posted by Karina Palmitesta | July 17, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Karina Palmitesta, racism, social media, Twitter

The Right to Give: Lesbians Allowed to Donate Blood in China

By Kait Bolongaro

Photo courtesy of gaystarnews.com

As of July 1st, the Chinese Ministry of Health announced that lesbians are finally allowed to donate blood after a fourteen-year ban. China had been following regulations set in place in 1998 and at the time, the legislation equated being LGBTQ with HIV and AIDS.

Xian, the director of Beijing-based Tong Yu-one of China's leading lesbian organizations is celebrating. The group began putting pressure on the Chinese government after Xian was refused at a blood donation clinic in 2008 after the Sichuan earthquake. In an interview with The Global Times, Xian reinforced that "AIDS isn't caused by sexual identity" but unsafe sex practices, a misunderstanding that has hurt the LGBTQ movement in China.

The Whole Blood and Donor Selection Requirements changed the wording of the provision that forbade all homosexuals from donating blood. The adjusted law doesn't make any reference to a specific sexual orientation and is a step forward for gay rights in China.

Despite this victory for the lesbian community, gay men are still barred from donating blood in China. The persistent fallacy that gay men are more likely to have HIV/AIDS than other people endures. In many countries, including Canada, gay men—or even men who have had sex one time with another man—have a lifetime ban on donating blood.

Canada has upheld its ban on gay male donors since 1983 because this group has been deemed as "high-risk" by Canadian Blood Services. Throughout the years, there has been an ongoing dispute about overturning the law. Most recently, the student association at Carleton University has refused to allow CBS to run blood clinics in its spaces because of their discriminatory policy.

There shouldn't be a direct ban on anyone giving blood except for medical reasons. I am anemic, and evidently can't give blood. Being gay isn't a disease. CBS should be proactive in screening every donor for a variety of medical conditions instead of worrying about a consenting adult's sex life.

Society needs to get over its bias towards gay men; just because someone is gay doesn't mean they are HIV-positive. In the media, they are often portrayed as making irresponsible sexual choices, fueled by their 'natural' hyper sexuality or involvement with drugs, which ultimately leads to contracting HIV/AIDS as a consequence. This stereotyping needs to stop. China and Canada should set examples and let gay men give blood. After all, its in them to give.

***

Kait Bolongaro loves to write about cultures and how people occupy them. She is a Masters student studying Journalism and Media Across Cultures in Denmark. She is a freelance journalist and photographer who is addicted to travelling and developing new stories. To follow her on her journeys, check out her website or follow her on twitter.

Posted by Kait Bolongaro | July 16, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, China, Gay Rights, Kait Bolongaro, Queer

Seoul's Last One Screen Theatre Closes

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

The Seodaemun Art Hall Theater has been around since 1964. It was Seoul's last theatre which played classic Hollywood and South Korean movies. Kim Eun-Ju, owner of the theatre, wanted to hold on to the past as long as she could. The moviegoers at Seoul's last old-school cinema had a sentimental appreciation for the classics and enjoyed indulging in the feeling of nostalgia.

Unfortunately though, there were not enough patrons for the movie theatre to sustain itself. With big corporate establishments such as multiplexes, most moviegoers would prefer spending money on more recent movies then classical films. The theatre played its last movie last Wednesday. Many elderly patrons expressed their saddeness of the cinema's closure. The theatre was one of the few hangout places for many older citizens. Out of devastation, Kim Eun-Ju publicly shaved her head.

Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com

I understand Kim Eun-ju devastation, because I definitely enjoy watching old-school movies more than the new releases. But as much as I have an appreciation for the classics, the closure of Soedaemun Art Hall was inevitable. In this economy sentimental, nostalgic films cannot compete in the constantly modernizing city of Seoul. It is really saddening to see historic sites being knocked down; in place of the theatre a new hotel will be put in its' place.

Posted by Dalia Elramly | July 17, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Culture, Dalia Elramly, Korea, Theatre

Canadian Olympic Team Reflects Canada's Multiculturalism

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of lukescornerbar.com

With less than two weeks till the start of the Olympic games, the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) recently announced the 277 Canadian Olympic Team Athletes that will be competing this year in London. Just as you would guess, the Team reflects the diversity and multiculturalism of Canada. The athletes not only come from all across Canada but they embrace many different ethnicities. The great Olympian athletes on Canada's team exhibit the great diversity that Canada so proudly celebrates and stands for. It is certainly amazing to see such a cultural and ethnic mosaic of athletes on one national team.

In celebration of Canada's cultural diversity in sports, here are some featured athletes:

Jenniefer Abel

Photo courtesy of olympic.ca

The Laval, Quebec native of Haitian descent was born in 1991 and shortly started diving in 1996. Jennifer Abel is one of the youngest athletes to have ever earned a senior spot in the Olympics. At the age of 16 she attended her first Olympic games in Beijing 2008 where she placed 13th on the 3-metre board. At the Commonwealth Games in Delhi she earned two gold medals and one silver; a great accomplishment for such a young athlete! She currently holds a national record with Olympic medalist Emilie Heymans in the 3-metre sycnchro.

Tobias Oriwol

Photo courtesy of olympic.ca

London 2012 will be Tobias second time to the Olympic Games. This year he will be competing in the 200m backstroke. His father is from Germany and his mother from Hong Kong, Tobias Oriwol grew up in a multicultural house hold. In a press conference he told reporters that he "enjoys not only celebrating his own diverse background but also learning about others cultures." Tobias, like many diverse Canadian athletes, is proud to represent Canada on the world stage; He was certainly set up for an international life.

Carol Huynh

Photo courtesy of olympic.ca

Carol's parents came to Canada from Vietnam as refugees in 1980. She grew up in British Columbia where she started wrestling in high school. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics Carol Huynh won a gold medal in the 48 kg division. This made her the first women to win a gold medal in wrestling for Canada. She also won gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games and placed 4 times at the world championships. In London 2012 she will be fighting to keep her title.

Arjan Bhullar

Photo courtesy of olympic.ca

Arjan Bhullar will be attending his first ever Olympic Games in London. He will be representing Canada in the men's freestyle 120kg division, making him the first Canadian of South Asian descent to qualify for wresting in the Olympic Games. In 2010 he won gold at the Commonwealth Games. Following his father who was an accomplished wrestler, Arjan hopes to make his family proud at the Olympics.

Eugene Zhen Wang

Photo courtesy of olympic.ca

Eugene Zhen Wang was born in China and just recently became a Canadian citizen in June 2012 allowing him to represent Canada in the upcoming Olympic games. Eugene is the number one table tennis player in North America and hopes to place well in his first ever Olympics.

Posted by Dalia Elramly | July 18, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canada, Dalia Elramly, Diversity, Sports

Indian Newspaper, Mumbai Mirror, Speaks Out for Same-Sex Movement

By Carven Li

Photo courtesy of campaignindia.in

Recently, I came across an advertisement for the film I Am Mumbai, which was directed by Abhinay Deo and was the first Indian win for the category of Film Craft at the Cannes Lion 2012.

The film, based on the newspaper Mumbai Mirror, is the platform for the people of Mumbai and India. It depicts the outrage of a student over the university's ban of works by Indian-born Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry, a mother's anger over milk adulteration in India, children's fury over the living conditions of Kavdas orphanage, and citizens' discontent with the illegal political postering in their community.

A quick Google search of Mumbai Mirror shows that the newspaper reports on topics that are arguably taboo in Indian cultures: caste discrimination and the living condition of Dalits, hijra activism and the championing of gay/queer rights, just to name a few.

What was noteworthy for me about the paper was their lifestyle story of 'Gay-friendly holiday destinations in India' and their willingness to tell the story of hijra activism in a serious and professional tone. What's more, Mumbai Mirror has published an introductory article that demystifies India's alternative gender identity, hijra.

While the same-sex movement seem to be moving at an unprecedented rate in the United States in the past five years, it seems to be that India is also making strides against homophobia with its legalization of sex between people of the same sex in 2009.

It is important to know that in the cultural realm, there has been exceptional progress for the gender variance movement in India. Hijra Guru and activist Laxmi Narayan Tripathi was casted in Season 5 (2011-2012) of Bigg Boss, the Indian version of reality television show Big Brother. On the show, Laxmi became a viewer's favourite and allowed viewers to see a person who identify as hijra express herself for the first time on television

If you're interested in India's gender variance movement, I highly recommend you watch Laxmi's interview for Project BOLO. Project BOLO "meaning 'Speak Up'... [offers] real life positive real-life role models by documenting LGBT persons—their lives, career, love and struggles. It is hoped that this will turn into a movement to empower LGBT persons across India."

In the interview, Laxmi's brilliant sense of humour and gentle yet resilient nature shines through. I hope that media democracy and community activism in India can be sustained and become one of the many drivers of liberation and human rights in Desi cultures.

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | July 13, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, Carven Li, Gay Rights, India, Queer

Win Tickets to the Asian American International Film Festival!

By Schema Mag

This year marks the 35th anniversaries of the Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF)! Hosted by Asian Cinevision, the festival continues its tradition of fostering Asian and Asian American film and video. As the first and longest running festival of its kind, AAIFF has become the festival to see the best of independent Asian and Asian American film.

From July 25 to August 5th, the festival will feature 10 movies of different genres, including experimental thriller I Am a Ghost, award-winning documentary A Lot Like You, and action-comedy Shanghai Calling.

Schema Magazine is proud to sponsor this year's AAIFF and to celebrate we are hosting a special giveaway of 3 pairs of tickets!

So why should you care? Well, check out the trailers below for all the fantastic films you could see!

Shanghai Calling

I Am A Ghost

A Lot Like You

There are 2 ways to enter the contest:

• leave a comment here with your email address and tell us which film you'd like to see


• tell us which film you'd like see by tweeting us: "@schema_magazine, I want to see ____ at @aaiff!"

Rules

• Must be able to attend the festival in NYC. No, we aren't going to fly you there!


• Contest closes at 12am Monday, July 16, 2012

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | July 10, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian, Asian American, Contests, Film, Film Festival

Emails and Texts That Record Romances: Good or Bad?

By Vinnie Yuen

The Guardian published an article a couple of weeks ago about relationships that developed online. The story that stood out most to me is about a paper trail of six months of emails from 1990, when Melanie Gideon and her husband first met.

The emails are sometimes romantic ("I love you as much as I love pad thai") and sometimes not ("I know you talked about needing space"). But the bottom line is, it's all recorded via technology. Technology, the internet and social media have really changed the way we carry out our romances.

The story reminds me of the beginning of my relationship. I was unknowingly stalked, I mean checked out, on Facebook before we even met. We had a mutual friend.

The few weeks following our first meeting was a flurry of flirtatious text messages and hours of agony waiting for a response. I remember jokingly texting something along the lines of, "I'm sick and coughing up a lung so you probably don't want to make out with me." He never responded, prompting me to think that he considers me a gross pile of throaty bile.

But not so. He bought a webcam to chat with me although he claimed it was really to Skype with his sister. We live about 45 minutes apart. He logged back onto MSN messenger (he hadn't used it in years) to chat with me. Three months after we first met, he called me to explicitly ask me to change our status on Facebook to reflect our relationship.

Sure, it's all nice when you're reading that text he sent three years ago about finally giving in and disturbing your studying with a cute message...if you're still together! But what happens if those relationships end?

After the demise of my last relationship, I spent three hours deleting every single photo of us together from Facebook. It was an emotionally grueling and physically tiring three hours.

LinkedIn recently email me to prompt me to add my ex. Yeah, no thanks LinkedIn. I take the same stance as Miranda from Sex and the City when it comes to exes:

"Believe me. I would love to be one of those people who's all, 'We loved, thank you. You enriched my life. Now, go, prosper.' But I'm much more: 'We didn't work out, you need to not exist.' "

So, how has technology affected your relationship?

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | July 11, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dating, Relationship, Vinnie Yuen

Anti-Bullying App to Promote Homosexuality?

By Kait Bolongaro

Photo courtesy of opinion250.com

In June, Premier Christy Clark announced that the BC government is spending $2 million dollars on a new 10 step anti-bullying program. ERASE Bullying (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) is to be implemented across the province in September. The strategy is high-tech and includes a smartphone app that will allow kids to report bullying anonymously.

With the rise in teen suicide due to bullying, especially gay teens, it is hard to imagine how anyone could be against this measure. However, an article published by right wing pro-life media outlet LifeNews Media claims that this is the latest guise to normalize homosexuality in Canada.

LifeNews Media's main source is Kari Simpson, President of Culture Guard. She claims that Premier Clark wants to mobilize children into homosexual activists by "punishing those who dissent from the sex activist political agenda." Apparently, being a bully is fine if you are targeting LGBTQ persons. This legislation isn't only for gay teens; it protects everyone from discrimination due to gender, race, religion, culture, and sexual orientation.

Simpson goes even further, ranting that this program aims to destroy traditional families and any campaign that "undermines the natural family unit and should be resisted." There is nothing 'natural' about a heteronormative household that forces women to be mothers and stay in the kitchen while a man carries the financial burden for the family. This model excludes a large portion of society and restricts everyone involved.

I am appalled that a news agency would take this stance against an anti-bullying program that protects children. Bullying kills. LifeNews Media is pro-life, but I don't understand their logic. Basically, it's horrible to have an abortion, but supporting teen suicide due to harassment is okay, if the child happens to be LGBTQ? That's the impression this article gives.

I don't know when Canada became a hotbed of homophobic ultra-conservative activity; but the tolerant country that we know and love seems to be changing before our eyes. Our society is moving backwards to the point that there are some people who believe that bullying those who are different is acceptable.

We have to stop bullying—and discrimination in any form—now. Kids shouldn't be afraid to go to school because of their classmates or teachers. Canada's strength lies in its diversity and the government should take every step to protect every member of our community. We need to continue to be a beautiful garden of flowers of all kinds, not a uniform soccer field. Only then will each of us blossom to reach our fullest potential.

***
Kait Bolongaro loves to write about cultures and how people occupy them. She is a freelance culture journalist and photographer who is addicted to travelling. Kait continues to discover new lands and adventures, starting with a Masters of Journalism in Denmark in the fall. To follow her on her journeys, check out her website or follow her on twitter.

Posted by Kait Bolongaro | July 10, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Children, Gay Rights, Kait Bolongaro, Queer

Country Dog Meets the Big City | Twitter Rescues Lost Pooch

By Codi Hauka

Photo courtesy of ubergizmo.com

It always pulls at my heartsrtings when I see a sign up around my neighbourhood that says a pet has gone missing. I mean, maybe not so much when it's about cats, and definitely not birds (you know that no one is finding that pet), but dogs? That's a tear-jerker.

I have never lost one of my pets, at least not longer than an afternoon, and never long enough to necessitate a poster, so I've never put much thought into what that process would be like. That's why I was surprised to hear that a dog had been recovered in Dublin, Ireland, through the use of Twitter postings.

This shouldn't really be shocking to me, but it's just never an avenue I have considered for finding something. Yet now more than ever there are endless connections to people and places that easily facilitate our quest for certain things. And not only are these avenues public, but they're public in an international scope—hundreds to millions of people could hear that you lost your dog, learn its appearance, and track it down for you within a matter of minutes.

Dierdre Anglin's Jack Russell, Patch, went missing in rural Kilcock, while casually boarding a commuter train headed to Dublin, presumably for some of that infamous Dublin tail that male terriers go crazy over. When passengers realized the dog had no owner, they turned the dog over to the Irish Rail, which then tweeted "Lost Dog!" with Patch's picture. A rapid succession of retweets assured that the news reached Anglin, muzzling Patch's plans for Dublin.

On the trip home, Anglin took and posted pictures of the reunion onto other social networking sites, and her dog is now a local celebrity on Irish Rail. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become phenomenoms in connecting people and sharing parts of our lives, however constructed what we choose to show is. Although these narratives contain a degree of superficiality to them, there's no denying the impact these networks can produce in the right situation.

Posted by Codi Hauka | July 11, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Codi Hauka, Social Network

Homeless Voices Are Heard At The Summer Olympics

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of hardlynormal.com

The summer Olympic games always brings out amazing talents from the host country. There have been celebrations all over London in the name of the games. But last Friday a very surprising performance took place.

Three hundred homeless performers came together and performed at the "With One Voice" event which took place at the Opera house. It was truly an incredible and inspiring performance to say the least. The idea behind the event came after Sir George Young—a former British Conservative cabinet minster. Young stated that "the homeless are what you step over when you come out of the opera."

Young's comment was certainly very rude and demeaning. It brushed off being homeless as something less than 'normal' human beings. I am very happy that his comment had a 'positive' reaction, where the homeless had their own platform to showcase their talents and regain their prides.

I am actually shocked that the Olympics committee would even agree to this. Usually with every city that has hosted the Olympics, there is always the issue of 'cleaning' up the city and further gentrifying the metropolitan area. The host government spends millions of money on the temporary 'pampering' of the city and disregards the real issue and problems that are current and permanent.

I hope that this performance is not a mere publicity stunt done by the Olympics committee to make themselves look good. I hope that it is a genuine opportunity where the homeless can be acknowledged and heard.

Posted by Dalia Elramly | July 12, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Art, Culture, Dalia Elramly, Europe

Racism Makes An Ugly Appearance In The Hunger Games' Fans

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of thehungergames.wikia.com

The newest craze since Twilight and Harry Potter is the Hunger Games series. The series, like its predecessors, is very mind grabbing. It is a post-apocalyptic gladiator trilogy that is not censored and quite gory. The uniqueness of the series has allowed it to hit the big screens of Hollywood, and like the aforementioned novels it was a great success. But with any huge success, you are bond to have a few critics.

The release of the movie sparked a backlash from (mainly) teenage readers. Their comments, surprisingly, were geared towards the race of the actors picked to play certain characters. When reading The Hunger Games, those fans did not picture certain characters as being dark or black as they were portrayed in the movie. One tweet from a fan read, "Awkward moment when Rue is some black girl and not the little blonde innocent girl you picture."

The skin color of most characters was included by Collins to help readers visualize the futuristic society. So clearly this girl—and the rest of the 'racist' fans—did not read the book in detail; Rue is described by Suzanne Collins as having "dark brown skin and eyes."

What I don't understand is why some fans were mad that Rue is black. Besides the fact that Collins described her having dark skin, these readers should realize that 'innocence' is not equated to solely white people.

Photo courtesy of thehungergames.wikia.com

Another twitter fan wrote, "kk call me racist but when I found out Rue was black her death wasn't as sad #ihatemyself." The racist comments stem from the fact that 'coloured' people are not represented very well in the media. Due to this cultural whitewashing, when we read books, we tend to imagine 'white' people. This is no way an excuse for the racist comments, but I am merely pointing out the deeper issue. Our subconscious equates certain 'races' with good and evil, innocence and treacherousness.

It is saddening that in such a multicultural country and globalizing world, we still have such racist comments prevailing. The blatant prejudice and racism should be dealt with in school but also the media needs to actively put in effort to better represent the demographics of the country.

Posted by Dalia Elramly | July 10, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Books, Dalia Elramly, Film, Media, Racism

Jowe Lee: The Prince of K-Town—Part 1

By Gayatri Bajpai

Photos from K-Town Reality Show, courtesy of LOUD

On Wednesday at 7:00 AM Pacific / 10:00 AM Eastern, LOUD releases the much anticipated reality show K-Town—and we at Schema Magazine could not be more excited!

Jowe Lee is one of two new additions to the first-ever American reality show that follows the lives of hot young Asian Americans, who party hard in L.A.'s Koreatown. Known for living in the fast lane, Jowe claims he's really just a "big ole teddy bear", in the first of Schema's four-part interview with K-Town's heartbreaker,

Um, yeah, okay. Maybe the kind of teddy bear you take home to your mother if you want to fight her for him, right before you pour neat soju down each others' throats and make a neater getaway in his fast car.

Gayatri Bajpai: You have been dubbed "Prince of K-town", at least on the show. What three qualities live up to the hype. Do you have any habits that are maybe ... less princely?

Jowe Lee: Being a "prince" is all about being humble, a gentleman and most importantly, a role model that is liked amongst his people. As cocky as I might come across, most of it comes from experiences with confidence.

Don't confuse cocky with confident.

I'm a gentle teddy bear with a big heart that always open doors for the ladies. Anywhere and everywhere I go in K-Town, there always seems to be at least one person that will recognize me and say hi. Sooner or later, I wouldn't be surprised if the people living in K-Town dub me as the "King of K-Town", but let's hope I'll be in a better place by then.

GB: Was this prince ever a frog?

JL: I don't think anyone is born a prince or a swan.

I think that as you grow older you tend to learn about yourself, your sense of style, and you start to realize how important it is to take care of your body.

I must admit that, YES, I am a fitness gym rat. But, looking good and maintaining my figure doesn't happen over night. Everyone can change their body fat if they really choose to.

Although my appearance has changed, I am still the same person on the inside. Coming from Central Valley, California, I tend to bring a certain realness and down to earth personality that everyone just seems to love and finds universally easy to get along with.

GB: What about living life in the fast lane are you never willing to give up? And what would you not miss?

JL: Waking up each and every morning knowing it is time to maximize my gross income in every way possible, being limitless, modifying cars to the next level, and staying true to my loved ones with nothing but respect and loyalty.

As much as it will be hard for me to say this, after being fully committed to my future wife and starting a family of my own, I, Jowe Lee, will not miss scoring dates throughout the week from Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday with beautiful women all across the world.

What attracted you to K-Town?

The Korean culture, food, girls, language, after hours, karaoke, drinking, soju, soju ... and did I mention soju? Haha on a real note, this city never sleeps no matter what time of the day it is. Some people consider it their Las Vegas.

Part 2 of the interview comes out next Tuesday. In the meantime, watch the first episode Wednesday on the LOUD Youtube channel.

Join Schema Magazine's live twitter chat later Wednesday, or send us your thoughts @schema_magazine.

More:
Jowe Lee's Fan Club
AngryAsianMan.com
We heard about K-Town first on ChannelAPA.com
K-Town Reality Show Promotes New Stereotype Of Asian Men (disgrasian.com)

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | July 10, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: America, Asian American, Asian Men, Gayatri Bajpai, Jowe Lee, K-Town, Television

Is Canada's Multiculturalism Day A Superficial Display?

By Carven Li

Photo courtesy of tcpf.ca

On June 27, it was the 10th annual Multiculturalism Day in Canada. I was unaware it happened at all. Online, I can only find Jason Kenney, our current Minister of Citizenship, issuing a brief statement and a short video of Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, both in acknowledgement of the Day. I did not find any news coverage of Prime Minister Stephen Harper doing anything to recognize the Day at all.

I wonder what the honorary Kainai Chief Speaker did that day to commemorate what his government had done in 2008 to earn him the Kainai Chieftanship, which was Harper's delivery of an official apology in June 2008 for Canada's residential school system, on behalf of Canada. The residential school system is, indeed, "aggressive assimilation," as said in Harper's apology, an unforgettable injustice committed to Indigenous communities and is the antithesis of what is now Canadian multiculturalism.

Let us hope that he did something that is meaningful and is to be appreciated. I cannot bear the thought of him making a superficial attempt to be seen as kind and empathetic, like the way our B.C. Premier Christy Clark tried to do, by proclaiming something more confusing than anything on this year's Philippine Independence Day, June 3.

Clark is reported by The Province to have said, "I may not look like I'm of Filipino descent, but in my heart... I am Filipina." No context will make this statement reflect her emphatic sentiments. In fact, she sounds like she's poorly mistaken because a woman of her power and privilege would be advocating multiculturalism from a more reflective and informed perspective, that is, if she really did feel like a Filipina living in Canada.

Going back to Jason Kenney's statement on Multiculturalism Day, 2012 is a good ten-year mark to "reflect upon and celebrate the remarkable unity of Canadians," but not because 2012 marks Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. Just in B.C., politicians could have publicly congratulated the recipients of the honorary degrees for Japanese Canadian students of 1942 at UBC, who were exiled from the coast of B.C. due to the internment policy during World War II. They could have celebrated the current diversity of our Canadian university students. Perhaps if the Canadian government is or is planning to be directly addressing the unmet needs of First Nations education, now would be a good time for Harper to reiterate his commitments to eliminate the negative multigenerational effects of residential schools.

As Canadians, as people living on this land or as people who are involved with any levels of Canadian government, it is important for us to acknowledge that the developed country of Canada had initiated and committed heinous acts of cultural imperialism.

Multiculturalism Day is to celebrate the governmental support in the continual research and education of a full Canadian history. As a Canadian, I wish for our government to ensure its people take social responsibility of our collective history, starting with teaching about the protests, the revolutionaries and the court cases that led to the establishment of a more just and multicultural Canada. Let us begin with teaching students the history of each provincial Human Rights Code and our Charters of Rights and Freedoms in all grade of public secondary education, as opposed to limiting the content to the optional Social Justice course for Grade 12.

Posted by Viola Chen | July 9, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canada, Carven Li, Culture, Diversity, Events

Caught On Video: Bus Monitor Cruelly Bullied By School Children

By Dalia Elramly

A couple of weeks ago a 68-year old bus monitor was verbally bullied by a bunch of school kids. The incident was recorded and uploaded on Youtube. The video went viral and when the media caught on to the story, a donation campaign was set up in her name to send her on a vacation; her fund is now worth over $600,000.

It is horrific what the kids in the video did to Karen Klein. Watching the video made me feel sad that kids are capable of doing such hateful things!

There is no doubt that parents are held responsible for the upbringing of their kids, but we cannot dismiss society for also having an impact on the children that bullied Karen. North American culture has become an individualistic society, which values attributes such as independence, non-conformity and the questioning of the status quo. It seems that children these days have taken this to mean that it is okay to be low on authoritarianism. The act of rebelling, belittling or dismissing people in authority allows children to feel more empowered and free.

The recent talks about freedom in the media and constant dialogue about questioning authority probably allows them to justify their bullying behavior. What these kids need to be taught is that freedom does not mean you can simply do whatever you want. There is a boundary of respect that they cannot cross.

This is not the first or the last bus monitor to be bullied. Bullying has been long present for years; it's just that kids have shifted it on to adults. Since this is a reoccurring thing, perhaps school distracts need to start putting more efforts and funding into setting up programs that teach kids about respect and bullying.

Posted by Viola Chen | July 6, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Children, Dalia Elramly

Turkey's Anti-Abortion Legislation Throws Women's Rights To The Wind

By Dalia Elramly

Photo courtesy of eideard.com

Since 1965 abortions in Turkey have been legal and the rights to have an abortion were even broadened in 1983. Unlike many women's movements around the world, the Turkish women's movement has not had to fight for their right to an abortion since recently. Shockingly, early on in June, Prime Minister Erdogan controversially stated that he saw abortion as murder.

It is currently legal in Turkey to have an abortion up to 10 weeks from conception. With the legislation the Turkish government is trying to restrict abortion to up to 4 weeks, possibly to even a complete ban. The legislation ensued controversy and hundreds of demonstrators took the streets in Istanbul. Many banners read "my body, my choice" or "State, take your hands off my body." A female from the opposition party even went so far as to counter-argue the PM's statement by saying that "the prime minister should stop standing guard over women's vaginas."

Thankfully the government has recently dropped their anti-abortion legislation. But reading this in the media still made me angry. Why is that women are always stigmatised and made to suffer in the realm of politics? What happened to improving women's rights?

I have a problem with people imposing their views on others, especially if it's the government imposing their views on an individual's private choices. It does not make sense to me for a government to be so interested and persistent on taking a woman's right to choose control over her own body. Politicians should start seeing women as more than reproductive machines.

But besides that, it is nonsensical for the government to have even thought of reducing abortions to up to four weeks because most women do not even know they are pregnant until their 6th week. Turkey currently ranks 122nd on World Economic Forum's gender gap index; this legislation would have just furthered this.

I am glad that Turkish women were able to maintain the rights to their own bodies and I hope that more countries that are currently trying to ban abortions will follow. Society will only respect women so long as there is equality.

Posted by Viola Chen | July 5, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, Dalia Elramly, Europe, Feminism, Women

Snoop Dogg Arrives Five Hours Late For Concert...Because Of Chicken Wings

By Codi Hauka

Photo courtesy of madamenoire.com

Here in Vancouver, we are endowed with many great spots to enjoy some delicious chicken wings (Phnom Penh, anyone?) each showing off the local communities that the eclectic city boasts. Now, there are some things that would prevent me from showing up to work sometimes: the car didn't start, several outfit changes were necessary before leaving the house, or that the barista in training couldn't make a latte to save their life. But chicken wings? Well, it would depend on how hungry I was. Or maybe, how high I was.

Snoop Dogg, famous rapper and connoisseur of experimenting, is no stranger to the media, drugs, extravagance, and arriving less than on time. We've all heard that it's fine to arrive "fashionably late" but Snoop lives life in his own stratosphere, and took things to a whole other level during a recent tour stop in Norway, arriving five hours late for a concert. The reason for which could not be any less balling.

When you're a celebrity extraordinaire, there's a certain image and lifestyle I imagine you try to uphold for your fans, and maybe even your own self-enjoyment. So it should come as no surprise that the Dogg brought 8 grams of marijuana with him on the flight, along with almost $40,000 in undeclared money. And can you blame the man? You never know how expensive wings are going to be in Norway, especially when you have an extensive entourage to feed.

Lest to say, these discrepancies in Snoop's baggage caused a hold up at customs, where he was fined roughly $8,600 USD for his oversight. But that still left him with plenty of cash to make it rain during his stay. This isn't the first time Snoop was unavoidably detained before a concert in Norway, having done the same thing a year previous. His excuse? "I was late 'cause I went to get some chicken wings. That's why I was late. 'Cause I wanted to see Norway up close and personal, and visit an old folks' home." Take note, world travelers: convalescent homes are where it's at for the best wings and entertainment in Norway.

Snoop insisted that he does "not party," and would not be late for that reason. No, just wings, the elderly, weed, and pockets full of more money than many people make in a year will put off any prior engagements indefinitely. It ain't nuthin' but a G thang, after all.

Posted by Codi Hauka | July 3, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Codi Hauka, Music

Monogamist Relationships Sadder Than "Speed Dating" Video?

By Vinnie Yuen

A funny but depressing YouTube video called "Speed Dating" by Emma Koenig and David Seger makes fun of the vicious circle of modern dating, including awkward first dates and rebound hook-ups. But what about us serial monogamists? There's plenty to make fun of there.

Here are some pretty sad things that happen in monogamist relationships:

1) Your dates consist of taking turns watching the other person's favourite shows, including the most ridiculous and idiotic show ever called Finding Bigfoot on the Discovery Channel. Please note that they never do find Bigfoot.

2) Napping together becomes a favourite activity of yours. Sleeping together without actually sleeping together.

3) You start farting in front of each other. Like all the time.

4) When you go out to the club with your friends, you are no longer driven by the excitement of possibly hooking up with a hot stranger, so you just wanna go home at 11:30 p.m. so you can sleep.

5) You stop wearing make up because there's no need to impress the opposite sex.

6) You wear all your boyfriend's clothes because they're just more comfortable, so you end up looking like a shapeless man half the time.

7) You start sharing all your friends because it's just easier. And they're pretty much all couples.

8) Going out for gourmet dessert means buying frozen Safeway chocolate lava cake and heating it up on a baking sheet.

Okay, it's really hard to find sad things within my monogamist relationship. I may hang out in sweats make-up free on a Saturday night eating ice-cream while reluctantly watching Finding Bigfoot with my dude, but it's pretty awesome.

I know this video is depressing. But when you find that one person who will like you even though you look gross, belt out Taylor Swift songs in his car, and fart in front of him, it really is magic. Maybe not the most glamorous magic, but it's magic nevertheless.

Don't give up. One of those dates will turn into your sweatpants partner for life. I know this to be true.

And I'm sorry I couldn't out-depress this video about single life.

Posted by Vinnie Yuen | July 4, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dating, Relationship, Vinnie Yuen

Obamacare Leaves Nothing To Be Complained About

By Kait Bolongaro

Photo courtesy of hangthebankers.com

After two years of political strife, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. In a five to four vote, the justices upheld the law in its entirety because of the government's right to impose taxes. Twenty-six states were against the bill and had been delaying implementing the new regulations since the bill passed in Congress in 2010.

Many observers were expecting the Affordable Care Act, dubbed "Obamacare," to be stuck down. Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential candidate, has already pledged to repel the act if he is elected. Some voters were outraged by the decision, with some taking to Twitter and threatening to move to Canada due to the Obama socialist/communist conspiracy. Since Canada has had universal health care since 1966, I really don't think Canada would be the right choice.

Obamacare has been created to provide affordable healthcare coverage to 50 million Americans who were without coverage because they couldn't afford premiums. Every American must have insurance; those who aren't covered by their employer or the state have to purchase a minimum policy or face tax penalties.

This bill also places more responsibility on insurance companies for their customers. Many were denying care for outlandish 'pre-existing' conditions and even cutting off payments in the middle of a patient's medical treatment. Women were also being charged a 'gender rating' fee that had them paying $1 billion USD per year more than men. Simply for being born female.

I really hope that Americans realize what an excellent piece of legislation Obamacare truly is. This is one of the first bills in a long time that addresses the health care crisis in the United States. It doesn't favour the rich or multinational corporations; instead, it protects the most vulnerable. Obamacare will save lives. I don't understand how anyone could be against this bill, unless they are working for insurance companies.

Many Americans believe that the Obama administration is interfering in their personal choices and that the government shouldn't be 'meddling' in their lives. This isn't logical; voters elect the government to protect their interests and provide services to its people. This is the democratic model, not communist. If you are unhappy with the Affordable Healthcare Act, then move. Not to Canada, though. You wouldn't like it here.

Posted by Kait Bolongaro | July 3, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: America, Health, Kait Bolongaro, Politics

Sexist Video Released to "Encourage" Female Scientists

By Karina Palmitesta

The European Union recently released a video that encourages girls to pursue careers in science. You know, the type of inspirational video that challenges gender stereotypes and depicts strong female role models excelling at non-traditional occupations.

Enter three leggy, mini-skirted, high-heeled women. They strut into a lab and strike come hither poses as a male scientist slides his glasses off and gives them a wondering ogle. Wow! Girls in the lab! What are they doing here? (It's almost a surprise when a soft-core porn scene doesn't immediately follow.)

But apparently they've just come to shake their asses, wiggle around seductively and giggle. Because, in the immortal words of Hilary Duff, that's what girls do. Thank god the EU has shown girls everywhere that they can still reinforce the patriarchy in the science lab.

The video continues with shots of science equipment spliced with things that all girls can relate to; you know, things like lipstick, blush and nail polish. Now the simpleminded fairer sex can finally understand that science is FUN, because...makeup is fun?

On every level, this video is mind-bendingly sexist. Contrary to its message, it does nothing but reinforce gender stereotypes—and in the most patronizing way possible. I really doubt that ditzy, clubwear clad models blowing kisses to Erlenmeyer flasks will set the greatest example for young girls with an interest in science.

Is the EU saying that this is what girls should aspire to? That their career can and should be superceded by makeup, high heels and martinis? That girls can be scientists, just as long as they don't forget their societal obligation to look pretty and act dumb? The whole thing is so appallingly backwards that it's almost funny. Almost.

Posted by Viola Chen | July 5, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Europe, Gender, Karina Palmitesta, Sexual Stereotypes, Women

Do Mixed-Race People Have A Greater Responsibility to Donate Blood?

By Karina Palmitesta

Photo courtesy of theprovince.com

According to a recent article in The Province, mixed-race children are the fastest growing demographic in Canada. And the latest census reported that BC is home to the most mixed-race unions in the country. Experts predict that within the next few generations, 50 per cent or more of Vancouver's population could be mixed-race.

Awesome news, right? Except for one hitch that may not have occurred to many people: as this population of mixed-race children grows, the amount of mixed-race stem cell and bone marrow donors is lagging hopelessly behind.

Only adults can make these life-saving donations, and currently, mixed-race children outnumber adults. There isn't enough diversity in our donor banks, which means that it's nearly impossible to find that one perfect match.

This problem had never even occurred to me before reading about it in the news. It's a little spooky, and it really makes me want to donate stem cells or bone marrow. It got me thinking about all the oddball ethnic combinations I've come across in my life. And even me: I sure haven't run into any other Italian-Haitian adults. If I were in an accident, it's very likely that I would have a difficult time finding any life-saving matches. (Lucky for me, I have a brother, but many people aren't so fortunate.)

The whole issue raises questions of social responsibility: if you're mixed-race, do you have more of a responsibility to donate than others? Filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns thinks so. In his most recent documentary, Mixed Match, it's hard to disagree with Stearns' point of view—which, funnily enough, makes Schema a treasure trove of precious mixed stem cells and bone marrow. Maybe we should all go en masse and donate?

Posted by Viola Chen | July 4, 2012 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canada, Children, Diversity, Health, Karina Palmitesta, Mixed-Race, Vancouver

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in July 2012. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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