Giving Thanks for a Fruitful Year

Another Thanksgiving comes, and this is perhaps the first in a long while with clear skies and still autumnal weather. I woke up refreshed and relaxed, ready to enjoy a few days at home. Reflecting on this year, it has been a long but certainly productive one both personally and professionally. This is the time for me to give thanks to the many blessings in my life that cannot be taken granted: a loving family, a quality education, secure life, good health, and many friends. Seeing the suffering, whether from economic malaise in Europe, war in the Middle East, or even from Hurricane Sandy so close to home, gave me good perspective. I know I could have done better to take time from my busy life to help out those in need - even delivering one Thanksgiving dinner to someone in need counts. I vow to do much better in December.

I'm also thankful to be an American. No country in the world offers its people as much freedom, both economic and personal, as us. The election has wound down, but it showed our country at its best - people exercising their civic duty to vote, and people debating about issues dear to our country. Let's hope the people's representatives (no matter how cynical you are of the political process) get their act together and avoid the fiscal cliff. If yes, all of us can breathe a sigh of relief and look forward to 2013. Our country still faces many problems ahead, including reinvigorating the economic recovery, tackling federal spending and debt, making health care sustainable, and opening our doors to promising new Americans. But we should be thankful of living here and having the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones today and every year.

Mid-Autumn Festival thoughts

Tonight I am home for the Mid-Autumn Festival. It is wonderful to be home again and out of the city. As much as I like New York, it's always good to get away for the weekend - whether that be in North Jersey or Long Island. Moon cakes await!

Everyone says the third year of law school should be easy and a piece of cake. I find it nothing but, perhaps because I always manage to keep myself busy. I continue to keep pace in my classes, follow through on my extracurricular commitments, and try to learn new things in my spare time. There is plenty to occupy my time this semester, even after I forced myself to cut back on doing too much.

Reading the Wall Street Journal every day has been a blessing too, despite the constant need to keep up with so many pages. I am avidly interested in this upcoming election - people say it's almost lost for Romney but I do not believe it. This upcoming debate will be interesting, and I must distinguish each candidate's policies from the rhetoric.

Some of my close friends are now back in China or Hong Kong. I will miss them for sure - for now, the Far East seems like another world. But given how small the world is today, they are merely seconds away. Next year I will be back; will we still recognize each other when we reunite?

Brazil and Argentina...a whole another world

South America opened my eyes. I had not travelled outside the US since 2005 and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure to Brazil and Argentina. Each country was unique in its own way, and I was tempted not to return to the States. The journey was an opportunity to relax after a busy and eventful summer, to discover new landscapes and friends, and to reflect away from the bustle of New York. I wish I had more time to do all three but must cherish what I have.

I loved Rio de Janeiro and will definitely be back to visit. Rio is so fun with many great sights, such as Sugar Loaf Mountain and the old city areas, wonderful beaches, and a most vibrant cultural scene. I would while away my day on the beach, trying my hand at surfing and playing beach football. At night, there are more than just samba shows, but also all kinds of music and shows (including the Portuguese version of Wizard of Oz). I brought back several CDs and they will be relaxing to listen to on the drive. It's unfortunate my trip to Rio was only four days.

Buenos Aires is special in its own way, and I know first hand why it is a European city in the middle of South America. I enjoyed walking through the main sites of the city, which are resplendent with history and culture. Certainly the highlight there was partaking of tango - going to a show and taking part in the Tango Festival. Now I know I must work on my tango this upcoming year. Finally, there's nothing more fun than meeting my friends and colleagues, from would-be exchange law students at UBA to attorneys in Buenos Aires. Our times were too short but all full of wonderful moments.

Beyond Buenos Aires, I ventured down south to the tip of South America and the "end of the world" in Tierra del Fuego. I loved my four days in Ushuaia and visited everything - navigating the Beagle Channel, hiking the Glacier Martial mountain, going to the National Park and the End of the World train, and visiting the prison museum. I also ventured out to partake of time with the locals at cultural events, including a band concert by a local artist and a bus trip to Rio Grande to see grade school students at a famous missionary school. Finally, it's always a sight to see snow in August. One day, I'll be back to the end of the world and giving myself another chance to soar free.

A Day of Culture Galore

Yesterday, June 23, was a traditional Chinese festival called Duan-wu (端午). Most people know it for the sticky rice cakes wrapped in bamboo leaves and for the dragon boat races. The holiday supposedly commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a great poet from the Chu Kingdom in the Warring States period of Chinese history (~500-300 BCE). He committed suicide by tossing himself into a river when he disagreed with his state's policies and failed to persuade his king. Today, the holiday retains some patriotic connotations while the popular celebrations focus on the dragon boat races and the arrival of mid-summer.

I admittedly did little to celebrate the holiday. I instead went with my friends to visit the Instituto Cervantes's El Dia E, its annual commemoration of Spanish culture. The Instituto held a block party with Spanish music, food, books, and crafts. There were tours of the Instituto and its library and galleries. We did a flamenco dance class, which was fun and too short, yet not that long lest I suffer more embarrassment. Altogether it was an enjoyable part of the weekend partaking of the rich cultures that New York and living in our time have to offer.

This Memorial Day, Reinvest in Service

Today, as we remember the service men and women who fought in all of America's wars, we should rededicate ourselves to our communities and the importance of service. Memorial Day is not merely a day on the beach or summer barbecues, but a time for reflection and dedication to those who sacrificed their lives and fortunes for us. It is our duty, as civilians, to make sure their sacrifice is not in vain. For us, we can make an impact serving our communities through volunteering and contributing our skills and time. There are problems small and great across America and its communities, but each of us has much to contribute.

I understand community service may be hard for many of us, especially those working in demanding professions like the law. I have been guilty myself of not doing as much I had aspired. But an aspiration for service can break, even transcend, any barriers time or circumstance may place. My mentor told me that a passion is something for which one is ready to drop everything else and toil without renumeration. There are ways to serve our communities regardless of your passion(s).

For many people, education is a passion. With our country's education system and its underpinnings for a successful future in peril, many have embraced education reform as their life's calling. College graduates founded and done Teach for America. Experienced professionals started charter schools. Joel Klein abandoned the practice of law to become the chancellor of New York City's schools for eight years. In fact, New York is one of the breeding grounds for education reform. There is much to be done, as several good articles in the New York Times reminded us that race and de facto segregation continue to be a problem in public and charter schools, even fifty-eight years after Brown.

Whatever the passion or cause, a lifetime devoted to service is worthwhile lived. For many us trained in law or business, service is easily forgotten because of short attention spans or too little time. I think the problem is less acute for our colleagues in medicine, who are more closer to serving individual people and remain more of a profession. Regardless of the difficulties, we need to make sacrifices to serve. Service is not an easy choice - it is often fraught with dilemmas of its own - but is the right choice. Those who served in the military sacrificed the ultimate, their lives, so we can live in peace and prosperity. Let us do them proud today and onwards.

Spring Break Thoughts

Has it really been almost four months since I last posted? And almost two months since the new year (of the Dragon) and when the spring semester started? The 2L spring is going by so fast that I hardly found time to take a breath. When spring break finally arrived yesterday, I felt at a loss because for the first time in ages, I did not have pressing things to get done.

Anyway, taking some time away from the law (as much as I could) and from New York City has been salubrious. I felt the peace and energizing spirit as I stepped off the LIRR at Garden City station. I jogged, free from time and the cars whizzing by, down the broad boulevards from Garden City to Manhasset. I finally saw my family. Today, I indulged in a concert with Haydn and Beethoven - much welcomed after weeks immersed in the law.

I hope this weekend will bring me some renewal and new purpose in making this semester and year fulfilling. There is much to do and many to encounter. I hope I will arrive back refreshed and more committed to my goals and principles. For break, I am catching up on reading Steven Brill's Class Warfare, a book about education reform and featuring my organization. It's worth a read, for all of us who are concerned about and interested in the next generation of Americans.

Many Reasons to be Thankful

I promised that 2011, the Year of the Rabbit, would be a vintage year and when I will take the great leap forward (mind the no capitalization). As the year draws to a close and the time to reflect beckons, I can relate so many things I am thankful for. Especially in a time of national and international uncertainty, such blessings should be cherished.

1. Changing law schools. It was a difficult decision to leave behind many friends and memories at Emory and Atlanta, a place which I truly enjoyed. The choice had to be made and the bargain has worked thus far, especially for my professional growth.

2. A unique summer. I had the opportunity to take part in two summer experiences after my 1L year. They are both instrumental for my future career and I thoroughly enjoyed both. My highlight was bringing a basket of farm fresh blueberries to court chambers.

3. Nonprofit experiences. I had wonderful supervisors whom I met and developed relationships with through networking. It puts much joy to contribute my legal and outreach skills to causes that matter to our communities.

4. Penn. I found my time meeting up with Penn friends and fellow alumni quite satisfying. Perhaps it's the two years that have elapsed or the memories that remain - I hope to build on the connections.

5. AABANY. It was a blessing to join and work with and learn from the talented attorneys at AABANY. I am happy to contribute my time and skills to the organization.

6. Classic rock music. Listening to the Beatles, Beach Boys, the Who, etc. saved my sanity during the study of the law. Because I don't get much of modern music, I am thankful for the classics.

7. A trip to California. It was for a law firm interview but done over my birthday. I got to enjoy the sunny weather and beaches in SoCal and did not want to come back.

8. Time to do so much. Time has never become a more scarce commodity during 2L year but I am glad to find enough to do most of what I am passionate about. Reaching out beyond law school is so often overlooked.

9. Family and friends. Nuff 'Ced.

It's time to build on these blessings and leave this year on a high (there are still two months left, properly). For now, time to enjoy pecan pie, the rare great weather in New York, and football...

America at 235 and Crossroads

Today America celebrates its 235th birthday in its quintessential ways: parades, baseball, barbecues, music, and fireworks. Much of it is deserved for most citizens. As America tries to climb from the recession, it's time to toast and remember what makes America so great: its commitment to ideals, especially in the Declaration of Independence; its strong and deep tradition of liberty; its entrepreneurial and hard-working people; its diverse and growing ethos; and its continued status as an economic and cultural titan in the world. The founding generation would have been proud.

But America today faces many challenges that may threaten its very identity. Namely, they include prominent issues such as the national debt and deficit, the prospect of a generation of jobless and unskilled laborers, and divisive debates about immigration. But equally important is the erosion of liberties and civil protections of the less powerful and consumers, which our Supreme Court continues to ignore. Some of those issues are pressing but America faced them before and did not succumb. And from my observations of its peoples and enterprises, they remain resilient and true to their principles. I remain confident that America and its people will rise up to the challenge, and ensure that America will continue to be great in the years to come.

Happy Fourth of July from Boston, MA!

The Civil War at 150: What We Really Should Remember

This Memorial Day holds special significance as the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. Americans today remain enthralled with the Civil War, perhaps because of the divided and partisan politics today that resembled that of the 1850s. Does this current phenomenon make the Civil War extra important?

First, let us put to rest a pervasive yet false myth. The War was not about states' rights or caused by it. The war was about slavery. Southerners seceded because they feared for their peculiar institution from the onslaught of Northern industrial capitalism. Northerners too did not want the chattel system to challenge their industries. Before 1860, the South did not secede even when states rights played a big role in the nullification and tariff crises. They only did so when a Republican was elected president and promised to halt slavery's expansion. The myth about states' rights underlying the War only arose after Reconstruction, when Southerners tried to justify secession and of course could no longer use slavery. Let us dispel this myth once and for all, especially in our classrooms.

Second, the Civil War's two fruits are more important than ever today. The War established that America tolerates no classes of citizens. The badges of slavery and racial discrimination were rejected then and still so today. Nonetheless, race remains in our politics and culture. In particular, discrimination against classes of citizens such as gays and homosexuals as well as native-born children of illegal immigrants exist. But the Citizenship and Equal Protection Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment plainly prohibits such actions by states. We, especially those in the legal profession, must do more to advance the rights of these disadvantaged persons so that the freedoms that were fought for on the battlefield remain strong in the future.

Moreover, the War taught us that the Union remains above sectional rivalries. Even today, Americans remain patriotic and dedicated to their country. But patriotism means more than attending parades on Memorial Day or singing the anthem at baseball games. Patriotism means talking over our differences and finding a common solutions to America's problems. The caustic rancor on Capitol Hill does not belong. It's time for our leaders and us citizens to have sensible dialogues and listen to one another. We cannot afford another "Civil War" of sorts. While slavery threatened us with moral extinction and almost tore our country apart, let us not allow the national debt and budget crisis to cause our economic extinction. If we work through this ordeal, then those who died for our country from 1861 to 1865, and indeed in all the wars, would be proud.

A new year's thoughts

Another year, another opportunity. The rabbit's year will bring opportunities for growth, both personally and professionally. I took a large step forward the past year, and hope to continue do so this year. Law school is a challenge, but one that I can meet and embrace. This year, I hope to become more involved in the legal profession, both at school and outside. I also hope to develop more and deeper friendships with everyone I meet. Finally, I wish for a better and calmer world this upcoming year. Within peace lie great blessings.

Thirteen Virtues for the Year, courtesy of Ben Franklin and modified slightly by me.

1. Temperance
2. Silence
3. Responsiveness
4. Resolution
5. Frugality
6. Industry
7. Sincerity
8. Justice
9. Moderation
10. Cleanliness
11. Tranquillity
12. Humility
13. Prudence

The Joy of Boxing Day

Ask most Americans what Boxing Day is, and you usually get a blank response about some Canadian oddity of little importance. But Boxing Day is something more. In fact, it is not Canadian; it is British (and thus celebrated in Canadian and other former British colonies). Boxing Day has nothing to do with boxing either. It probably grew out of traditions where churches collected presents and alms for the poor in boxes which were opened on the day after Christmas, or alternatively, masters provided gifts to their servants in boxes for a year's worth of work. Today, this latter tradition of giving gifts to servicemen remains relevant. Thus, on December 26, I usually leave a tip for the mailman and the sanitation worker in recognition of their work for the past year. After all, such selfless service should be recognized.

Another aspect of Boxing Day is the program of soccer matches played across Britain. Every year, the Premier League schedules a full round of matches, often between local rivals, which adds to the occasion. Today, I watched the Aston Villa-Tottenham match, which was a great game of attacking football (well, until the ref gave a stupid red card to a Spurs player). The fan atmosphere at the game and the others is incredible; one can feel it on TV. I think Boxing Day is one of the best sporting days of the year, on par with Independence Day for baseball and Thanksgiving Day for football. What do you think?

Currently listening: Five for Fighting; what is the best song - 100 Years, Superman, The Riddle?

Time to count the blessings

I am thankful for:

1. Making it through the first semester of law school - exams await but I'm up for the challenge.

2. Staying in touch with the outside world - law school has not become 24/7.

3. Having "Football Weekly" podcast today!

4. $2.99 pumpkin pie.

5. Patriots and Eagles winning.

I'm less thankful for:

1. Not having the opportunity to celebrate with family.

2. Thinking about the complicated and deadlocked politics today.

3. Arsenal, where have you gone?

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/11/25/on_thanksgiving_blessings_amid_the_broader_tumult/

The virtue of Responsiveness in our time

Today is Memorial Day, when we honor the sacrifices of armed forces members past and present. They deserve our due respect and recognition on such an important day. But Memorial Day also means much for each of us citizens. After all, we make the decisions - however wise - to send the armed forces to places across the globe. Iraq and Afghanistan are not merely distant campaigns in another continent, but issues very much political and civil. That is why each of us need to re-examine ourselves to make sure the armed forces and the victims of wars have not died in vain.

I recently read a book about the legal profession and the authors' three virtues for the next generation of lawyers: competency, responsiveness, and honesty. Responsiveness should for a virtue for all of us, whether or not we aspire to be or are lawyers. It means keeping informed of the world and engaging actively to solve the world's problems. For each of us, it may be a tall order. In particular, the world's problems seem more immense than ever: the acrimonious politics before the midterm elections, the BP oil spill, impending conflict on the Korean peninsula, the European financial crisis, continuing skirmishes in the Palestine, tensions over immigration policy and the gargantuan problem of climate change are among the few. These problems will not go away, nor should each of us entrust them to politicians and experts. It is up of each of us to contribute our part to understanding the problems and providing solutions.

Thus, resolve to 1) educate ourselves through a critical spectrum about the problems that befall us and 2) evaluate and effect solutions that are wise for public policy and practicable through our individual means. Those who sacrificed for our freedoms demand no less from each of us.

10:00 - Floral Park parade and ceremony
12:30 - Garden City fair and concert

Thanksgiving

This past year, as I graduated from college, brought forth many experiences, none more important than learning to live in a recession. As countless friends and fellow graduates have learned, life isn't easy. I too was culpable of taking a simple view of life during the boom years from '05 to '07, and did not endeavor the utmost in my studies, work or other pursuits. The aftereffects of the crash in 2008 coincided with my exiting the coccoon of college, and entering the working world and planning for a career. I realized that adaptation was necessary. Here, on Thanksgiving Day, I reflect on those lessons which involve both traditional ethics and innovative ways:

1) Industry - no ethic has been more emphasized and proved right. Hard work is necessary to accomplish one's goals in life and to live a fulfilling life, period. It is easy for this generation to lose sight of this virtue, but once we enter college and the work force, it is imperative that we remember and adopt this virtue. If not, someone else - our parents, our colleagues, or the mistress that is the economy - will.

2) Simplicity - a booming economy and consumerist culture may belie it, but simplicity should be the character of life. Simplifying one's commitments, abode, and even writing brings numerous benefits and makes everything else much easier. We need not live as hermits, but should aspire to live like them in several respects.

3) Legal Profession - one of many evolving industries, especially in the skill set and marketplace. As an aspiring lawyer, I finally took time exploring the profession, various specialties, educational preparation, and the effect of the economy. As I found, much of the popular perception is indeed myth, but a legal career still involves much commitment and many qualifications to succeed.

4) Adaptation - change is the only immutable fact (someone definitely said it before). To survive in a volatile and interdependent economy, one needs to be flexible in goals, wants and habits. To do so, I find that the laws of evolution apply well: individual variation brings beneficial fitness. Just as an organism needs differential traits to adapt to changing environments, a person needs similarly different characters to adapt to changing economic and social conditions.

I wish not to preach a gospel, but to underscore my discoveries. Thanksgiving should be about spending time with family and loved ones. Whatever your Thanksgiving religion may be - turkey, feasts, football - it is an introspective holiday and an opportunity to reflect on the past year and the aspects of our character. To do so would be thankful; to do without would be thankless.

Great, short editorial from the NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/opinion/26thur1.html

Song for Thanksgiving, 'Simple Gifts' from a Shaker hymn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBOYYlanm1k