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Questions: Does being a certain kind of ethnic mean you have to like your fellow ethnics, or the culture they hail from? Can one still be proud of something one has no desire to entertain? In what is pride being taken in, then?

Returning to the Motherland/Ethnic Pilgrimaging-A trend since the '60's radical identity movements.

Questions: Is it a motherland? Or do I stand where I stand? How much of our identity is truly formed by our ancestors' culture or more truthfully formed by our own experiences? I've got to say (and I don't want to write too much here about it, since it's part of my project, and I need to keep some tender nuggets of writing material to myself), I myself subscribed to the belief that "going home" would actually fortify something in me.

I was wrong.

I realized I am American.

(What a profoundly obvious conclusion, sucka!) It's American style, my way. We've got to wake up to the unlikely realization that we are Americans, regardless of ethnicity, politics, etc. It sounds shitty, coming from a progressive, rail against the man perspective, but it's infinitely and smug smilingly true. If you're ethnic, just try and go to a country where you look like the people and realize how not them you are. Our attitudes, styles, preferences and experiences all have a unique tinge that people in less diverse, less bitchy and in your face, individual rights-asserting-til-death countries will not have, for better or worse. My experience with LA ethnoburbia is that it's very, very rare. I feel quite privileged to have grown up in such circumstances for many reasons, especially after visiting Asia.

What do you all think about being American? It has such a dirtiness to it, I know. I don't mean the obvious reactionary, flag waving, apple pie Americana, but just the simple fact of our lives: being either born and/or raised here.

Discuss. I'm feeling ferklempt.

Edgy, constructive, retro-futuristic dan urban tailored demikian desainer Ichwan Thoha (37) menyebut ciri khas dari karya-karyanya. Ia menggambarkan bahwa benang merah dari karyanya adalah gaya busana yang berbeda dan unik bagi yang berusia muda.

“Saya selalu konsisten dengan pilihan gaya untuk anak muda,” ujar kelahiran 10 Maret 1971 yang sempat popular dengan merek fashion Urban Crew ini.

Tak heran, busana untuk anak muda pula-lah yang ditampilkan Ichwan, termasuk ketika ia didapuk sebagai fashion consultant dalam acara Lux White GlamFest yang melibatkan bintang Lux Tamara Bleszynski, Dian Sastro, dan Luna Maya. Ia menampilkan kreasi dengan t-shirt biasa yang disulap menjadi glam.

Berkreasi dengan fashion adalah cita-cita Ichwan sejak duduk di bangku Sekolah Dasar. Pehobi gambar sejak kecil ini mengaku gambar-gambarnya mulai memiliki arah saat ia menginjak kelas 3 SD.

“Awalnya saya gambar apa aja, binatang atau apa. Namun, setelah kelas 3 SD itu saya mulai menggambar cewek yang pake baju (lengkap dengan detail busana, red),” senyum pria ramah berhidung bangir ini.

Titik itulah yang menyadarkan Ichwan akan potensi besar yang dimilikinya. Terlebih, kakaknya, Diana, mendukung Ichwan. Mulailah ia memelajari seluk beluk fashion dan mode. “Kakak saya mengarahkan bahwa bakat saya harus dikembangkan. Diana juga banyak kasih referensi dan mode yang dibuat oleh fashion desain senior,” kenang Ichwan.

Kelas 5 SD, Ichwan bahkan sudah dapat membedakan rancangan busana desainer ternama hanya dari melihat sekilas pakaian yang ditampilkan di halaman mode.

“Alhamdulillah, saya bersyukur dengan bakat dan kepekaan yang diberikan Tuhan kepada saya,” ujar pria jangkung ini.

Sejak kecil pula-lah, Ichwan sudah meniatkan diri untuk menjadikan hobi ini sebagai profesi dan ladang untuk menghasilkan uang. “Kalau hobi yang dijadikan profesi itu kan insya Allah akan menjadi baik dan tidak bosan karena memang kita sudah hobi,” tukas bungsu dari 10 bersaudara ini.

Meski awalnya sempat terkendala dengan restu orangtua yang notabene pebisnis, pria keturunan Betawi ini optimis akan jalan hidup yang dipilihnya. Apalagi setelah ia berhasil mendapatkan beasiswa full selama tiga tahun untuk mendalami mode di La-Salle International Fashion School Singapura.

“Lulus SMA saya ambil D3 di Trisakti. Lulus dari sana sempat kerja selama satu tahun, lalu ada kompetisi untuk mendapatkan beasiswa dari majalah Hai, engga disangka malah saya yang dapat,” kata Ichwan.

Sejak saat itu kepercayaan diri Ichwan berlipat. Ia semakin optimis dengan dunia yang digelutinya. Pulang ke tanah air, Ichwan bekerja di rubrik mode sebuah majalah remaja. Tahun 1998, ia berkolaborasi dengan Era Soekamto mengusung Urban Crew, merek fashion yang lebih menitikberatkan pada style anak muda. Pekerjaan yang banyak menyita waktunya hingga ia memutuskan untuk hengkang dari rubrik mode yang diasuhnya.

“Urban Crew likes my baby,” ujar pemilik Platinvm Talent Management, model agensi yang dirintisnya hamper berbarengan dengan Urban Crew.

Partnership Ichwan dan Era yang sempat mencorong di panggung fashion tanah air itu berakhir pada tahun 2001. Sejak Urban Crew bubar, Ichwan mulai memfokuskan diri pada desain Ichwan Thoha secara tunggal.

Fashion show perdananya paska lepas dari Urban Crew yang dihelat pada April 2006 terbilang mendulang sukses. Banyak pihak yang terpukau dengan peragaan busana yang mengusung tema "Screening 2006-Barely Syncronized" itu. Sebuah langkah awal yang kian menguatkan Ichwan untuk kembali menelurkan ide-ide-nya meski tak lagi berduet dengan Era Soekamto di bawah kedigdayaan Urban Crew.

Seni memang tak dapat dipisahkan dari kehidupan lajang ini. Besar dalam keluarga yang memiliki sense of art yang tinggi membuat Ichwan menyadari bahwa ia memang terlahir untuk menjadi seniman. Saat ini ia tak henti bereksperimen dengan rancangan-rancangan busana. Ichwan Thoha sendiri memiliki beberapa line busana.

“Saat ini Ichwan Thoha punya line seragam yang namanya Exodu, kemudian ada second line yang lebih ke anak muda, ada ethnic line yang mengetengahkan spirit etnik, dan line (fashion) khusus pria yang sangat flamboyant,” beber pria yang sampai saat ini masih aktif sebagai penulis lepas untuk rubrik mode di beberapa majalah ini.

Selain Exodu, Ichwan mengatakan bahwa nama-nama untuk beberapa line yang disebutkannya masih rahasia. Sebagai seniman, dalam berbisnis ia juga memerlukan bantuan dari kakak-kakaknya untuk mengurusi ‘urusan dapur’ Ichwan Thoha. Termasuk juga workshop yang ia miliki dan beberapa pegawai yang bekerja untuk Ichwan Thoha.

“Dalam sebulan diluar yang second line dan ethnic line, untuk pesanan sendiri dapat mencapai 15 sampai 20 potong pakaian,” ujar Ichwan. Itulah sebabnya, seniman berkepribadian sederhana dan rendah hati ini merasa membutuhkan bala bantuan untuk mengurusi bisnis yang memakan modal tak kurang dari 100 juta itu. (tr)

Para celebrar que el número se acerca, os invito a ver la página Web que he creado para una de mis clases: Communities Around the District.

Se trata de una recopilación de todos los artículos que hicimos para localizar y describir las comunidades de inmigrantes y sus medios de comunicación en Washington, D.C. y alrededores.

Si estais en Facebook, también podéis pasar por aquí.

Espero que la disfrutéis!

--

Waiting for visitor #5,000

To celebrate that this moment is now close, I invite you to see the Web site I created for one of my clases: Communities Around the District.

It's a compilation of all the stories and research we did to map, feature and identify the immigrant communities and ethnic media in Washington D.C. metro area.

If you are on Facebook, you can also come visit us here.

Hope you like it!

Several Spy posts written earlier this year - and viewed by far too few (shame on you) - were forebears to events now unfolding. Call it "term analysis.

So, to keep you from having to dig back through The Spy's File Cabinet, the following are offered. Take a look.

• Stuck In The Middle With You February 28

Middle names are tricky things.

Radio talk show host Bill Cunningham has been slammed for using Barack Hussein Obama’s middle name. In fact, it was called a “smear!” For whatever reason he did it, it’s stupid to vilify him for doing so.

• Melting Pot? March 4

I’ve become tired of the term “melting pot” to describe the American population and societal make-up. “Melting pot” is supposed to define diversity and a rich cultural stew of human interaction. At one time, it was relevant. Immigrants came here and actually assimilated into the American cultural landscape. They melded without sacrificing their own historical roots.

• The Politics of Race, The Race of Politics March 18

It should be clear by now that The Spy does not agree with Obama’s politics. Check that, political philosophy. But I think he did a superb job in describing the racial landscape in the United States.

Bravo.

However… (c’mon… you knew there had to be a “however.”)

• Who? April 23

We really don’t know [much] about Barack Obama. The Jeremiah Wright and Tony Rezko controversies, along with the comments the senator made in San Francisco about Pennsylvania should make voters stop and think very hard about who this man might bring with him to the White House, the Pentagon, Foggy Bottom, Justice, Treasury, etc.

• Is Obama A Setup? June 9

Something about Barack Obama’s rise to the top of the Democratic Party heap isn’t passing the smell test. How is it that a 45-year-old with just two years of federal legislative experience has been able to sweep through the primary process and defeat the top name in the party?

A recent article by ABC outlines Obama’s campaign, and in reading it, the Spy’s BS radar went into acquisition mode.

If you want to comment, please do. The Spy is listening....

No, really I am not talking about the Breakfast Club today but the Bakeanista Club, not really a club but it fits with the prose!!! I am however going to refer to a ruckus! And guess who it was that caused said ruckus?? You got it, Moi!!!!!

The Bakeanistas are just a group of folks that get together once every month or perhaps two to chat online and bake. This month we had a a guest visiting with us, just to see what we were about and how this chatty bakey thing worked...Halley it was such an honor to have you want to join in. Now I am not going to explain why Halley wanted to sit in but if things work out I am sure there will be much interest in the future.

So back to this ruckus. We had a few choices of what we were going to bake, we voted and we ended up with Cassata alia Sicilia. Apparently, there are two versions of this cake, one hails from Napoli, the other Sicily. The one from Napoli has a whipped cream frosting while the one from Sicily is typically much more elaborate with Fondant, candied fruit and marzipan fruit decoration. Well it seems I was the only one headed to Sicily on this one, I mentioned fondant in one of the emails back and forth and the ruckus rolled!!!

"Fondant? This cake has fondant?" "I hate fondant!" "Oh no, fondant!" and on it went. Well, in defense of fondant I have found a recipe that is tasty, that is easy and that more often than not is eaten as opposed to being peeled off the cake and discarded. Try it, you are gonna like it!!!!!

For me baking day was a little hectic, as I had guests coming that evening and I had a ton of work to do. I didn't get to spend the time with the Bakeanistas that I would have liked....I missed a ton of fun, I am sure!!! But I was back and forth and caught snippets of the typical Bakeanista behavior!!!!

So let me give ya a quick low down on this cake.... it consists of

• Pan di Spagna-an italian sponge cake
• Ricotta filling-think cannoli
• Whipped cream frosting or a powdered sugar glaze on top
• Decoration of Fondant (Sicily) or nuts and fruit (Napoli)

This is not an overly sweet and decadent tasting cake but a very satisfying old world style concoction. For me it brought back many memories of days gone by and I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to make it (it will be made again). It is not a cake to eat huge slabs of and it will serve quite a few people (12-16) easily.

Unlike the in school detention of the Breakfast Club, this was a much more fun and enjoyable time. Although, like in the movie after all was said and done we all walked off into the afternoon sun to our own different worlds. Now I won't go through and name the brain, the nerd, the jock and so on, like in the movie but because of my ruckus causing tendencies I think I may be labeled the Rebel. But for your viewing pleasure here are the Bakeanistas who baked

• Ben
• Chris
• Lisa
• Helen
• Stephanie
• Ivonne
• Kelly
• Marce

Now that isn't the entire posse, some for various reasons weren't able to bake or join in on the chat but check them out nonetheless, there are some very talented folks in this bunch!!!

• Mary -Because of a bad back, our dear Bread Chick chatted but didn't bake
  
• Sara
• Tanna
• Laura

According to United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, the conflict between the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited mostly from the Arab Abbala tribes of northern Rizeigat, and the African farmers, which was declared a "genocide" by United States Secretary of State Colin Powell in 2004, was caused by man-made global warming, which has destroyed many of the area's natural resources. It is believed that global climate change is responsible for the decades of drought that has plagued Darfur, bringing the two factions to violence over scarce water and cultivatable land.

It is believed that this style of violence could end up being repeated in parts of North Africa and the Middle East, due to the ever-growing population places a strain on their limited water supply. This belief also comes from the fact that these areas have been suffering a steady decline in rainfall. In Darfur alone, the amount of annual rainfall has been cut by at least half since the last figures were collected in 1917.

The current population of Darfur, according to estimates, is well over 6.5 million people, and an estimated 10,000 people are killed every month from ethnic violence (over 333 people per day). As of right now, it is estimated that over 200,000 people have been killed in this conflict, with over 2.5 million people left homeless.

There has been some relief in Darfur, however, through such programs as the United Nations World Food Programme and the International Lifeline Fund, who introduced a redesigned stove that would require less wood to burn, preserving the trees necessary for the people of Darfur to grow food. Aid groups, in addition to the United Nations, are currently seeking ways to reconcile the African farmers and the Arab nomads. As a matter of fact, Arab chiefs have agreed to revive a "peace committee" to manage the common resources they have with the local leaders of African tribes. In addition, the Sudanese government has planned a pilot project, in which they will spend $10 million to replant trees and build dams for water conservation.

While it may seem that the conflict in Darfur may not have much to do with global warming (or environmentalism, for that matter), the evidence is clear that much of the violence in this nation have been linked to deforestation and drought, which are both symptoms of climate change. The current conflict in Darfur is proof-positive that global warming affects everybody's way of life.

For more information, check out this Wikipedia article or purchase the film Darfur Now, starring American film actor and author Don Cheadle.

Here is the trailer:

July, 2008

Dushan Sinadinoski

The modern Greek folly has always been its persistent but reckless denial of the existence of a Macedonian nationality. The hysteric intolerance against ethnic Macedonians has distorted the Greek collective consciousness so much that Greeks are no longer capable of differentiating between their wish that Macedonians were truly nonexistent and the actual Macedonian reality, which so defiantly confronts them.

As their Macedonian phobia continues to feed their schizophrenic psyches, rather than dealing with the Macedonian reality like rational people, they instead cry out for sympathy and comfort while hoping to be freed from their Macedonian nightmare, just like a small child who has awakened from a bad dream and cries out to his parents for comfort.

Such was the case in 1947 when the Greek government protested to the United Nations' Security Council regarding border violations by its northern neighbors. Greece demanded that Yugoslavia cease and desist overt military and logistical aid to the guerrillas fighting in the Greek Civil War, many of whom were ethnic Macedonians.

On December 19 1946, a Commission of Investigating was established by the United Nations pursuant to the resolution of the Security Council to examine alleged Greek frontier incidents. To the surprise and dismay of the Greek government, the Commission of Inquiry broadened its scope of investigation to include the treatment of minorities, tendentious misstatements of facts in press and radio, activities of foreign military and police missions in the four countries concerned and arraignments of free port or free zone facilities in Salonika.

Outraged by the Commission's expanded mission, Greece threatened the immediate execution of political prisoners and captured "bandits" unless the Commission narrowed its scope of investigating to the original request. However, after heavy arm-twisting by the United States the Greek government halted the executions and allowed the Commission to proceed without further impediment.

The United States was concerned that if Greece carried out the execution of the Macedonians world opinion would turn against Greece, which would give Yugoslavia, supported by the Soviets, a pretext to invade and detach Aegean Macedonia from Greece. In order to save face, and perhaps their country, Greek Ambassador, Dendramis, was instructed by the United States to inform the Security Council that Greece's protest was filed merely so there could be no grounds for misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of the terms of reference" (Telegram from Secretary of State to the US Embassy in Greece, February 8, 1947).

The United States understood that if Greece continued on its reckless political course it was only a matter of weeks before it fell to the Soviet block. Therefore, such a communist scenario for the future of Greece had to be prevented from becoming a reality.

Once the Commission began its work, the investigation of the Greek border incidents was downgraded as a minor issue. Such incidents, as the Commission contended, were regular occurrences in the Balkans for centuries and this issue in itself did not warrant an investigation at the United Nations level.

But the United States and Britain used this issue as a pretext to counterbalance Soviet expansion to the Balkans by preserving Greek territorial integrity. Britain and the Unites States were convinced that Yugoslavia wanted to detach the Aegean and Pirin parts of Macedonia from Greece and Bulgaria respectively and create an autonomous Macedonian state within the Yugoslav Federation.

Thus in the midst of this global political drama, the Macedonian issue again took center stage. But the ensuing colossal political battle between East and West instantly relegated Greece and Macedonia to the sidelines as spectators of their own destiny. The political drama was moved from the bloody foothills in Greece to the stately halls in Geneva. There, the ideological demarcation line between East and West was drawn alongside the Greek-Macedonian border, and as a result Greece and Macedonia continued their bitter rivalry on opposite sides of each other.

Nonetheless, the Commission's investigation was not interrupted and it was able to gather first hand information on the issues in question. However, before the findings were officially published, Commission representatives regularly communicated their findings to their respective governments for further evaluation and for instructions by their foreign affairs departments.

In one instance, the US Commission representative, Mark Ethridge, on May 8, 1947, sent a secret telegram to US Secretary of State, Marshall, informing him that "Greece itself by its own short sighted attitude and by its discriminatory and gangster-like methods was providing grist for the mill of political indoctrination and training in northern countries. It is noteworthy that a very large proportion of the refugees from Greece are Slavo-Macedonians who bore the brunt of discrimination. It seems clear to me that unless the discriminatory treatment stops flight to the mountains or across the borders will not stop. Thus this is the interrelation between nature and the causes and conclusion that Greece's discrimination has caused thousands to flee."

This short but revealing passage summarizes the entire political landscape in Aegean Macedonia and accurately depicts the state of the Macedonian minority in Greece. It is also evident that the American diplomat clearly acknowledges the existence of the Macedonian minority in Greece and he leaves no room for questioning which minority he is referring to. Additionally, he doesn't hide the fact that Greece's domestic policy is the root cause of the plight of refugees and the discrimination against the Macedonian minority.

Ever conspiring and manipulating, Greece could not admit to the world it could be guilty of the most notorious crimes against the Macedonian minority. Greece wanted the free and democratic world to believe that the existence of the Macedonian minority, the plight of the Macedonian refugees and the execution of the Macedonian political prisoners were fallacious charges because Greece denied them. To further cover up their mess, Greece shifted the blame on Yugoslavia for stirring up trouble in Greece.

In their support, Greece offered to the Commission as evidence quotes from speeches of Yugoslav and Bulgarian statesmen from articles in the press, which to the Greeks meant unequivocal proof that Yugoslavia agitated a separate Macedonian state within the Yugoslav Federation and thus exploited the aspiration of Macedonians in Greece for an autonomous Macedonia. Thus it seems Greeks wanted to simultaneously claim both the non-existence of the Macedonian minority and blame Yugoslavia for fermenting dissatisfaction and disturbances among the Macedonians in Greece. This can't be true in any world, not even in a Venizelos' Greek-a-polis.

Based on its findings, the Commission's conclusions clearly and unequivocally put the blame on Greece for a policy of systematic discrimination and persecution of the Macedonian minority in that country. Even though Macedonians in Greece were not the primary goal of the Commission, some of its conclusions undeniably confirmed the existence of a Macedonian minority:

1) It was pointed out to the Commission and not disputed that after the Varkiza agreement over 20,000 Greek citizens had fled into Yugoslavia either directly or through Albania or Bulgaria and approximately 5,000 into Bulgaria, a substantial proportion in each case being of Slavo-Macedonian origin. Evidence was also presented in support of the charge that Greece has sanctioned persecution of its Slavo-Macedonian minorities. Furthermore, the Commission heard testimony that the Slavic dialect spoken by Slavo-Macedonians who were believed to comprise about 85,000 people was not taught in schools and that in certain areas, use of this dialect was prohibited." These findings by the Commission were so compelling in their condemnation of the Greek state that they left no room for doubt.

2) The Commission is of the opinion that as long as such discriminatory treatment continues, there will be unrest and discontent on the part of the Slavic minority in Greek Macedonia, which will provide fertile breeding ground for a separatist movement.

3) In connection with the present situation, the Greek Commission was presented with a body of evidence in support of the charges that responsibility for the situation lay with Greek domestic policy... This evidence was in effect that opposition political groups in Greece were persecuted by Greek gendarmerie and right-wing bandits, and that the civil rights of the Macedonian and Chamuriot minorities have been restricted

4) The Commission also received sufficient evidence to warrant a conclusion that immediately after the liberation of Greece, the small Slav speaking and Chamuriot minority in Greco-Macedonia and Epirus had been victims of retaliatory excesses, and Chamuriot minority had actually fled en masse from the country. As regards treatment of minorities, the Greek government asserted the acts in question were committed before it established control in the areas concerned, and that many members of these minority groups had collaborated with Axis occupying forces during war

Considering that these conclusions were unintended consequences, the findings of the Commission reveal disturbing and undeniable evidence of an official Greek policy of persecution and discrimination against the Macedonian minority. These accusations against the Greek state in 1947 were not "dreamed" up. They were findings by the United Nations Commission of Investigating and were consistent with the facts on the ground. These findings speak loudly and plainly to the world that the Greek denial of the Macedonian minority transcends all rationality. Indeed, this denial has become a Greek national blasphemy.

The Greek national obsession with the Macedonian issue continues to regenerate itself as a persistent and bloody hatred that is no longer capable of self-control. Greece has gone wrong on the Macedonian issue and Greek society cannot be expected to find a cure for its anti-Macedonian paranoia. It's time for the international community to call upon Greece and help this nation transcend the bounds of its delusional fascination with the Megale Idea.

The report of Commission of Investigation was signed at Geneva on May 23, 1947. The conclusions were subscribed by Australia, Belgium, Brazil, China, Columbia, Syria, United Kingdom and the United States. The delegations of Soviet Union and Poland did not approve the conclusions and the French delegation abstained. The United Nations has published the Commission's report in Official Records of the Security Council, Second Year, Special Supplement No. 2.

The information used to write this article was taken from the University of Wisconsin Digital Collection Library, United States Department of State Foreign relations of the United States, 1947. The Near East and Africa: Volume V (1947). The United States economic and military aid to Greece and Turkey: the Truman Doctrine, pp. 1 - 484.

http://www.maknews.com/html/articles/sinadinoski/1947_UN_Commission_Macedonia.html

He would probably be more comfortable if Dallas adopted ebonics as the official language.

Any wonder why the black student population is having so much trouble in school? With idiots like John Wiley Price, who has little understanding of the language and who looks for racial slights where there are none, it's no wonder racial tensions are as high as they are.

This is why, in the Nanny States of America, people are so sensitive to saying anything and why dialogue has become so tender.

Some may be afraid to say so, but The Spy is not; people like John Wiley Price, Cornel West, Al Sharpton, Jesse "HymieTown" Jackson, Julian Bond, Marshall Brown and dozens of other prominent and self-appointed black leaders are racists, race-baiters, cowards, phonies, social terrorists, socialists, ignorant buffoons (which one of these bozos will likely mistake for "baboon"), and dangerously stupid.

Try as they may to victimize the black population, these intellectual lepers do more to damage their race then they do to repair it. There are much larger issues on which they could take a positive lead. Borrowing from a post on the Minnesota Public Radio site:

According to federal crime figures, homicide is the leading cause of death among African-American males aged 15 to 34. They also indicate that between 1976 and 2004, 94 percent of black murder victims were killed by black offenders.

That's the kind of thing about which John Wiley Price and others of his ilk should direct attention, not a poor understanding of the English language.

I have the ability to offend anyone and everyone, anytime, anywhere.

I thought about it, and realized that I have even been fired for being "politically incorrect". Apparently, you cannot make fun of just anyone - especially your boss. So, let this entry act as your guide to being selectively racist, instead of the full blown Nazi you really are - you son of a bitch.

For instance...

If your boss has been freshly imported from the Philippines, resist the temptation to insinuate that all peoples from the orient who's names are Wei Wei Wang, should be persecuted.

How I wish this were just an example and that the previous statement was just included to help illustrate a point. In fact, this example is not a work of fiction, but a very accurate summary of what had actually happened during my brief period of employment at a local University. I was getting bored to tears while correcting a series of multiple choice exams. I was browsing through students' names, and I thought - there is a very large Asian population in this University... And then... I saw it - not one, but two Wei's: Wei Wei Wang. Now, cumming to North America with such a name is about as logical as walking into a neighbor's house and yelling to find out if supper is ready, which I also did. I failed to notice the tiny pink boots lying on the floor... Anyone could have made that mistake! The neighbors even have the same exact front door.

Anyhow, back to mistake number one. My tears of boredom suddenly began to turn into tears of joy! I didn't quite anticipate my colleague Luis' reaction, who must have suffered a tremendous amount of abuse during his youth, growing up with such a name (Louise). Ahhh, I miss that little taco. So anyways, as I rushed in carrying this golden document, shouting, "Wei Wei Wang, hahahahahaha" repeatedly, he turned to me and said, "that's really not that funny". Hurt, and mystified by his reaction, I turned to my left, and among the 59 of 60 empty seats in the lab, there sat Wei, passively glaring at his computer screen. He turned towards me angrily, his breath fogging up his thick glasses, his beady little eyes growing even narrower. I huffed, puffed, and made my way back to the office. He obviously issued a complaint, and my Asian boss chose not to renew my contract during the following semester. The best part, is that a couple of years later, I saw a stand with a couple of financially-capable folk offering me their card. Sure enough, it read: Wei Wang - financial consultant. This wanker offered me his card and did not even recognize me, the guy he got fired. Of course, I denied this financial genius the joy of handling my taxes.

I later found out from a friend, at a local barbecue, that an old school mate of mine complained that I went on a rant about how unattractive I found her - in the middle of the classroom, for no apparent reason. She also happened to be a lesbian. So I told this unfortunate-looking lesbian that she just wouldn't cut it for me if I saw her in a porno flick, and that she did not meet the usual standards. So whether you are a racist, sexist, fascist, assist or even more pleasant, a hybrid like myself, please remember to channel your sarcasm in ways that make sense, and don't hurt other people's feelings. Try making equal fun of your own ethnicity, gender, nose, and qualifications, and keep two very important things in mind:

1) physical location where you and your demeanor may cause chaos

2) the nature of the individuals who are present

Also, keep in mind, there is no best or worst body type, ethnicity or gender - just funnier ones.

Leon Walker is a TNTalk! writer. To find out more about Leon, check out our writers page.

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The "N" word: are you kidding me? Are those people actually having what they believe are substantive discussions in our national media about who is, and who is not permitted to use the “N” word? There is also another camp out there that apparently believes it should never be used by anyone. Ever!

I don’t think this could ever be a question of propriety. And I don’t think there can be a sweeping indictment of those who chose to continue to use it. My opinion here does not cost anything and it’s worth the price. So it is not particularly important to me if you think me wrong. Because this is still America isn’t it? I’m not wrong about that am I?

I will resist my temptation to get on my historical soap box but I do invite you to recall that American thing about “free speech”. And by the way, that “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” thing. That applies to you alone and your rights alone. If no laws are being broken, we don’t get to dictate what others say or do in America. That’s how we roll.

In my life I have experienced some curious and striking ambiguity with regard to race. Let me begin by sharing that I began my “unofficial” undergraduate studies on “race” began while attending two predominantly White Catholic Schools growing up. In my nearly exclusively Black neighborhood we referred to people only as Black or White and we had a single derogatory word that we used in reference to each race. I’m guessing I would have been in about fourth of fifth grade when I began to learn that there were actually many other ethnically specific derogatory tags. There were numerous ethnicities represented in my schools. Italians, Irishmen, Poles, Hispanics, Germans and a number of other eastern and central Europeans. Along with a few Blacks. Bottom line… they all have their “N” words too. All I will say further about this is that in Catholic School I learned an equal measure about both the godly and the ungodly.

In earned my “unofficial” graduate credential on “race” in our United States Navy. I have to say that it was an absolutely bizarre blessing. Not only were all of the aforementioned ethnic groups again represented they were my friends and brethren in a trail mix of Americana that I still periodically reflect upon and savor. I spent twenty years and twenty minutes in the Navy and I was fortunate to spend the first half of my career as an enlisted guy. As a young sailor I lived in a world where the sanctity and pride in the team or unit transcended all else. Make no mistake, the things we said among “just us” were light years beyond today’s universe of propriety. We casually used ethnically specific words and phrases that could only be described as ghastly! So much so, that if I related some of them today it would be shocking and scarcely believable. Recently and quite unexpectedly I was drawn back to that time while watching the new HBO Series “Generation Kill”. The interesting thing about this was that then, and today it has never mattered. Except to say that through it all, and experiences beyond, I learned to see the soul of a man. I know this because at sea and in conflicts and bench clearing brawls and at weddings and funerals, we were always one. For all of the potential faults, these experiences broadened my racial field of vision. My associations of today are appropriately reflective and I am eternally grateful for that.

I have a thorough grasp of the concepts of respect and propriety and the many other important even grave aspects of life. I know something about war first hand. I have many times seen, and I understand both death and danger. I know the difference between words and works. I understand that there can be a “huge” difference between lack of exposure, immaturity and ignorance versus racism or hate. One must also appreciate culture, including its influence or bias, when considering such matters.

I am fortunate to have never lived in a veritable “ethnic bubble” and I know quite a bit about people. The one common factor is that they are not perfect. I am compelled to make it clear that I do not condone or encourage hurtful or even insensitive “words” between people and I do not allow myself to be verbally victimized. But neither do I habitually or spontaneously leap forth to stand in judgment without invitation or good reason. Why? Because I do not always pretend to know from whence such comments come, nor how they are intended in full content and context. Let me say that again: “I do not always pretend to know from whence such comments come, nor how they are intended in full content and context.” Nor could I possibly understand what impulses, experiences and thoughts inspire words within another person. More importantly, experience has taught me that words however seemingly insensitive or misguided are not always the measure of the heart and soul within. Things are not always the way they seem.

Should anyone be remotely interested in my assessment of the current discussion on “that word”, I will say this first: “A loose tongue is not the same as a barrel of a gun.” So let’s all take a collective deep breath followed by a perspective pill. In my experience it pays to be continually watchful but you generally need not concern yourself with the obnoxious big mouth. Including those on talk radio or the network news. Why in the world would you overlook your positive ethnic experiences (nearly all of us must certainly have them) or devalue your own reasoning in favor of theirs?

We are just simply the result of our molded experiences and the associated emotional impacts. I had never understood or watched a round of golf in my entire life until Tiger Woods came along. So it took me until my forties to learn what a bogie and a birdie are. This suggests to me that “understanding and appreciation, present themselves when we present ourselves the opportunity to understand and appreciate.” And so it goes with race.

Sure the race discussion can compel us to squirm and scratch our heads sometimes. But I can tell you something we never have to scratch my heads about. We are all Americans. Yes, there are fools and hopeless intolerants out there, and they too are Americans. Rules are rules! So if you are inclined, when among the reasonably minded, the race discussion can be had. At the very least some level of understanding and appreciation may result. I have been fortunate enough to calmly have it and more than once. Yep me, the guy who decades past, received, and spewed “all of the worst words” like the good sailor I was. Now, clinging to no claim of perfection or political aspiration, I provide this admission without concern or remorse. Why? Because I still get the occasional Christmas card or phone card from some of those “multiethnic friends” from a time long ago. Speaking secretively of unspeakable times and places and reminding me that he once covered my butt, or laughing about the memory of the time I covered his. Most importantly, at the end of the day, I now know that it was never about what was said, and neither was it about race. Only opportunity and experiences yielding appreciation and understanding as measured by the ultimate instrument. Lifelong friendships.

America is like level 10 on the 3D computerized cultural chess game. And if you don’t know the rules it can drive you crazy. I typically get pretty involved in assessing and attempting to understand issues of national importance. And I have two preliminary litmus tests. First, I ask myself are any laws being broken or citizens being placed at risk. Secondly I consider weather my life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are being jeopardized. And if the answers to the above questions are no, then I have a motto that I try to adhere to. “I don’t get it but I’m ok with it”. I seek to celebrate every citizen’s right to live their life according to their dreams and aspiration “and within their cultural and socioeconomic comfort level” and I welcome them as my American brethren. And if any American thinks that their interpretation of what is appropriate in another’s life, language, love, worship or culture will ever become the common national standard, I dare say they will be continually mired in disappointment. America is the ultimate cultural experiment.

I believe that in many aspects of life, the impressions we absorb and the marks we make on others are most clearly visible in our “actions” rather than anything else. So let me conclude by sharing a final bit of valued personal guidance that I received from my Grandmother: “If you want to know what a person is made of, don’t watch what they say, watch what they do”.

For me that is germane in both daily life and particularly in politics.

Watch what they do…

L. A. Walker, © Leon A. Walker

2 tubes refrigerated pizza dough (such as pillsbury brand)
2 tbsp corn meal or all purpose flour
1/2lb sliced pepperoni
3/4 lb sliced mozzarella cheese
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
4 tsp Italian seasoning blend
2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tbsp grated Parmesan or Romano cheese
16 oz marinara sauce, for dipping

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Break open the tube of dough and remove it from container. Dust your hands and lightly coat the dough with flour or cornmeal the roll out onto work surface. Stretch out dough, gently spreading out the rectangle shape it has been formed into already. Cut the thin rectangular dough into 4 equal pieces, working across the dough: cut it in half and cut each half in half again. Cover each piece of dough with: 2 slices pepperoni and 2 slices cheese. Roll each piece on an angle from corner to corner making a long roll that is thicker in the middle and thinner on each end. Brush rolls with extra-virgin olive oil then mix cheese and seasonings in a small cup, sprinkle and pat the mixture into the dough. Bake until evenly golden, 12 to 14 minutes then serve. If desired, serve with Dipping Sauce.

Reaction: Positive, and they said it was really filling (I agree). The only downside is that this is a gut bomb, heartburn provoking kinda meal :( It was hard to stop eating the Stromboli, but you regretted it for the rest of the night!

Group Size: 6 girls

Group Involvement: 1 person unrolled and cut up the dough, 1 person laid out the fillings, 1 person seasoned the rolls.

Alterations: The original recipe calls for a lot of different meats, but our group is small and there were only enough people to bring a few things.

If I made this again:  I would use trader joes pizza dough, or try to make my own beforehand.

This girl has a saddest story. She was standing under an old tree with her mother and watching what we are doing with other community members. One of our team members approached her and asked her why she wore black dress. She responded that her father was shot dead 20 meters away from their house while trying to escape and his corpse stayed for three days on the ground and buried just in front of where we were discussing. She said that “now I am fatherless and seeing his grave everyday”. What a disastrous situation! We could not control our emotion and start asking ourselves what we can do to heal such heart!
A terrible conflict took place on May 17, 2008 around a place called Shenkora, where hundreds of people were killed since the villagers were not ready either to defend them selves or flee the onslaught. Similarly, Oromia and Gumuz villages - including Belo Central were severely destroyed; as a result of the attack and the counter attacks that took place subsequently.
Read the whole story by clicking here and also watch the video below.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6625323485972468023&hl=en]

KRINGLER NORWEGIAN STYLE

Pastry base:

1 c. all-purpose or unbleached flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1 tbsp. water

TOPPING:

1 c. water
1/2 c. butter
1 c. all-purpose flour or unbleached flour
1 tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. almond extract
3 eggs

GLAZE:

1 c. powdered sugar
1 tbsp. half and half
1 tbsp. butter
2 to 3 tsp. almond extract

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In medium bowl, combine 1 cup flour and 1 tablespoon sugar. Using pastry blender or fork, cut in 1/2 cup butter until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle flour mixture with 1 tablespoon water while tossing and mixing lightly with fork.

On ungreased cookie sheet, form dough into 2 (14 x 3-inch) rectangles.   (or spread out on a pizza stone.)

In medium saucepan, heat 1 cup water and 1/2 cup butter to boiling; remove from heat. Add 1 cup flour; stir until smooth. Beat in 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Spread topping mixture over base. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned.

In small bowl, combine glaze ingredients. Drizzle glaze over slightly cooled Kringler.   (also is really good with sliced or slivered almonds on top)

Yield: 20 servings.  (Tiny ones anyway)

In view of the above it is evident that different ethnic groups in the region sometimes create insurgency problems in South Asia. This is one of the reasons of mistrust among the South Asian states. For example, India blames Bangladesh for providing arms to Indian ethnic groups who are fighting for autonomy. On the other hand, Bangladesh blames India for giving shelter and arms to Bangladeshi insurgents. Ethnic crises between Tamil and Sinhalese creates problem between Sri Lanka and India. It is common belief in Sri Lanka that Indian support for Tamil people has created this ethnic crisis. Diversified Indian ethnic groups sometime create internal problem in India, which has serious impacts in other countries of the region.

Bill Saragih (1933-2008) who passed away on 29 January 2008 is one of jazz maestros from Indonesia.  His education background -- as student of Berkeley College of Music -- gave him a basic legitimacy for his career.  More than that is his talent as entertainer and his unique voice -- his soprano timbre voice -- which made him very special. I saw his performance for the first time in 1998 for Tempo magazine first launching after banned by Indonesian government since 1994. 

Fortunately we dont have data for his compositions and his album. When my friend Idrus F. Shahab from Tempo magazine asked about Bill Saragih album among my collections, I can not say any words because I dont have it. But last month, fortunately I find Bill Saragih album cassete entitled Sings 'N Plays which consists of 12 songs. Five of them are composed by Bill Saragih, for instance Anna My Love, Tiana, Billy's Groove, Tony's Dream, and Song from My Father.  This last song Song from My Father is slow jazz with ethnic lyric and accentuation. Truly superb melody. *

The man answered, “I am going to Mathare.”

“Which tribe are you?”

The man answered, “I am a Kenyan.”

The boys tried to hit the man, running across the road, jumping and hitting him with pangas and stones. The man cried and cried and after a few minutes the policemen arrived. They were hitting and cutting people with knives and stealing from them. People were crying and others were laughing, it was too terrible for those who were passing with black faces.

People were asking each other why people were fighting when the leaders were resting. The police were throwing tear gas, others were crying and others had to leave their homes and live in internally displaced people camps.

Please Raila and Kibaki, do something for these people who are staying in camps.

Sani Festival  :   The Sani Festival takes place every summer at the Sani Hill in Halkidiki. A wide range of several events such as: Jazz on the Hill, Sounds of the World, concerts of Greek music, Sani Classic, dance performances and visual arts event, has established a sixteen years old success. This year, the festival opens today and continues until August 31.    
The Festival programme  

Kalamata International Dance Festival:   The Kalamata International Dance Festival (www.kalamatadancefestival.gr) is here again, for the 14th consecutive year, offering an opportunity to experience some of the most outstanding works of the international dance scene, from July 18 to 27. The Festival programme  

• Bereksplorasi lebih jauh dengan elemen-elemen menarik dari musik etnis Bali
• Memainkan instrumen-instrumen tradisional yang unik dan langka
• Mencapai level yang berbeda dalam mengkombinasikan elemen-elemen etnis dengan gaya musik modern
• Melestarikan lagu-lagu daerah yang tidak dikenal komposernya dengan aransemen musik modern

Konsep Musik :

• BEF menunjukkan suatu puncak dari musik etnis dan modern yang menekankan elemen etnis
• Memperkenalkan konsep dari orkes seruling bambu dengan 5 pemain seruling
• Memiliki sebuah elemen yang kuat dalam improvisasi
• Musik dari BEF menunjukkan dinamika, ritme dan tempo yang sering berubah drastis sebagai suatu karakteristik dari gamelan Bali

Alat Musik Modern :

• 1 ( one ) set Standard Drums
• 2 Guitar Amp ( Recommend Roland Jazz Chorus)
• 2 keyboard Amp ( recom. Peavey KB 300 or roland
• 1 Bass Amp ( gallian Krueger or trace elliot or ampeg)
• minimum 8 microphone ( 5 shure SM 57 and 3 Shure SM 58 with stand ( these not included drums microphones, only for The Gamelan ethnic instruments )
• 3 Direct box.
• Digital piano, Rhodes or similar type

Alat Musik Tradisional :

• 2 balinese kendang ( Balinese drum)
• 1 metal gamelan
• 1 wooden gamelan
• 1 standard cengceng
• 4 pairs of cengceng
• 4 flutes
• 10 pieces of reong

Info lebih jauh tentang Balawan dan Batuan Ethnic Fusion : http://www.wayanbalawan.com