The recent tragedy at Sandy Hook should kick start a much-needed national dialogue about guns. It should happen in legislatures and town forums, not in courts. Ever since Heller, the question of gun laws have been mostly in the courts and concerning the Second Amendment. Politicians have refused to touch this poisoned chalice, even when recent events show it is much needed. I believe we can have sensible and effective gun control laws, which are currently lacking, without infringing on the people's Second Amendment rights.
But we must start somewhere. The politically taboo topics of gun control laws, especially at the federal level, and how accessible guns are to the mentally unstable are serious questions we need to ask. Too many lives are at risk to gun violence in America, and arguably it's worsening. The statistics and unclear and messy as to whether more restrictive laws, or less laws, are correlated with gun violence. But the public needs to learn, debate, and devise solutions to this problem rather than let it go on only in the courts while we sit on the sidelines or in the possible range of fire.
"Let us make our country worthy of their memory."
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Thursday, 22 November 2012
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.
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.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
Obama's victory and new mandate
President Obama's election victory is due in large part to the failings of the Republican Party and Mitt Romney. I think many voters, including the independents and undecided, are unsatisfied with the state of the economy and Obama's policies over the past four years. But Romney and the Republicans offered no viable and concrete alternative path besides the usual rhetoric of smaller government, lower taxes, and free enterprise. That explains why voters remain deadlocked on who would handle the economy better. Meanwhile, the Republicans' social policies are seen as outdated and impractical, and that drove many women, minorities, young and educated people to Obama. The country may still be center-right economically or fiscally, but it is more center-left on many social issues. If the Republicans do not take a serious look at themselves and address their social and economic platform's failings, they will only be trounced in later elections.
Thus, I think Obama won because the public stuck with "the devil you know" instead of "the devil you don't know" and the economy is at least mending. That doesn't mean he has a large mandate to govern, unlike in 2008, and he must work with a recalcitrant Republican House. First priority must be the impending fiscal cliff. Even if Congress finds a solution - and let's hope they do long before Christmas - the country needs a comprehensive solution to address the federal debt and entitlement spending. They are behemoths facing Obama and Congress in the next few years. Other issues are important as well - immigration, overhauling the tax code, energy and climate change. But four years go quickly and if Obama can accomplish comprehensive reform in only one or two of those areas, his second term may well be more fruitful than his first.
Thus, I think Obama won because the public stuck with "the devil you know" instead of "the devil you don't know" and the economy is at least mending. That doesn't mean he has a large mandate to govern, unlike in 2008, and he must work with a recalcitrant Republican House. First priority must be the impending fiscal cliff. Even if Congress finds a solution - and let's hope they do long before Christmas - the country needs a comprehensive solution to address the federal debt and entitlement spending. They are behemoths facing Obama and Congress in the next few years. Other issues are important as well - immigration, overhauling the tax code, energy and climate change. But four years go quickly and if Obama can accomplish comprehensive reform in only one or two of those areas, his second term may well be more fruitful than his first.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Complexity behind Asian Americans
This weekend's WSJ featured a lengthy article on Asian-Americans (AAs) and touted their success as a model immigrant group like the Jews in the 19th and 20th centuries. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204076204578076613986930932.html). It relies much on the Pew Research Report released this summer touting AAs' achievement in American society, and their values of hard work and emphasis on family. I think the article, like the Pew study, fails to recognize the complex and multi-faceted status of AAs and portrays them as a model minority, even though the article does note several contradictions facing AAs today.
First, many AAs do not fall under this model minority myth. Many of them, for reasons mostly beyond their control, are part of the shrinking middle class battered by the housing crisis and recession or are barely staying afloat. I know of many problems in the AA community that the mainstream media mostly ignores - such as crime and dropout rates among AA youth, continued hostility and discrimination against successful AAs and businesses, and the lack of services for many AA senior citizens. Granted, AAs as a whole are well-off compared to other racial groups, but most AAs still face the same problems as other groups - insecurity about their finances and the economy, unsure about the direction of this country and the welfare of their children. The Pew study and this article should not have perpetuated this model myth and should have acknowledged the complex reality of the AAs in America today.
What I think the article does point out well are two larger problems facing AAs: first, the lack of engagement in the issues and controversies of today, and the contradictions in many AAs between adherence to traditional values and adopting America's values. AAs are well-known for skirting unpopular and controversial issues, mostly for their own good, but I feel that should not be an excuse for passiveness. I think AAs, especially the young, should be more politically active - such as through voting - and engaged with the greater social and economic developments in America today. Sitting on the sidelines has contributed to the marginalization of AAs and their interests in the greater political discourse. Finally, I think many AAs face, either day to day or every once in a while, an identity crisis. Should they follow the traditional values of their forefathers or should they buck the trend and be more American? Can AAs be traditional - in their values of hard work, emphasis on education and family, and respect for others - but still be liberal and adapt to different and changing times? Many, including I, believe the two sides are opposite and culturally incompatible, but who knows - like the Jews of yesteryear, perhaps AAs and their values will be assimilated enough into American culture one day and become part of the mainstream.
First, many AAs do not fall under this model minority myth. Many of them, for reasons mostly beyond their control, are part of the shrinking middle class battered by the housing crisis and recession or are barely staying afloat. I know of many problems in the AA community that the mainstream media mostly ignores - such as crime and dropout rates among AA youth, continued hostility and discrimination against successful AAs and businesses, and the lack of services for many AA senior citizens. Granted, AAs as a whole are well-off compared to other racial groups, but most AAs still face the same problems as other groups - insecurity about their finances and the economy, unsure about the direction of this country and the welfare of their children. The Pew study and this article should not have perpetuated this model myth and should have acknowledged the complex reality of the AAs in America today.
What I think the article does point out well are two larger problems facing AAs: first, the lack of engagement in the issues and controversies of today, and the contradictions in many AAs between adherence to traditional values and adopting America's values. AAs are well-known for skirting unpopular and controversial issues, mostly for their own good, but I feel that should not be an excuse for passiveness. I think AAs, especially the young, should be more politically active - such as through voting - and engaged with the greater social and economic developments in America today. Sitting on the sidelines has contributed to the marginalization of AAs and their interests in the greater political discourse. Finally, I think many AAs face, either day to day or every once in a while, an identity crisis. Should they follow the traditional values of their forefathers or should they buck the trend and be more American? Can AAs be traditional - in their values of hard work, emphasis on education and family, and respect for others - but still be liberal and adapt to different and changing times? Many, including I, believe the two sides are opposite and culturally incompatible, but who knows - like the Jews of yesteryear, perhaps AAs and their values will be assimilated enough into American culture one day and become part of the mainstream.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
An election up for grabs, the downtrodden Red Sox, and Supreme Court balancing in the middle
I watched the first presidential debate in a pub on Wednesday and came away impressed with Mitt Romney. The onus was on him to put in a strong performance and he did in several ways. He showed a sense of urgency about the nation's problems, while showing his compassionate side and ability to understand. He was aggressive throughout and criticized President Obama without appearing solely partisan and obstructionist on every policy issue. Romney also gave some specifics about his policies, which allows wonks to dissect and contrast them against Obama's. Without doubt Obama's insipid performance helped Romney shine, and with Romney scoring the style points, I must wade through both contenders' policies for substance and see what they really want for the nation beyond the rhetoric.
Obama desperately needed Friday's jobs numbers and he got what he wished for. I think it will have a huge impact, especially on those undecided voters who are finalizing their choices right now. The jobs numbers, especially the drop in unemployment below the dreaded 8%, would shore up Obama's appeal and help him maintain an edge in the polls. Underneath though, all the papers and economists suggest that the jobs recovery remains steady but very slow. The two biggest barriers to jobs growth are 1) the fiscal cliff come January and businesses' uncertainty (and hence their reluctance to hire) and 2) ongoing weak demand from emerging economies such as China and recessionary Europe. Obama may be partly responsible for the former, but not the latter.
Onto our national pastime, the Red Sox finally put us fans out of our misery with an absolutely atrocious season. I could not be more disappointed in the team and where it has gone and is going. Much of the blame, I agree, should start at the top with the ownership and front office. The players, too, I emphasize are not blameless. The Red Sox's problems are so deep that they would take many years to fix. I am unsure whether the Fenway Sports Group can turn it around and maintain the support of the fans. For me, the season was a mix of apathy, disgust, bewilderment, and mostly disappointment.
Finally, the high court resumed its term this past week and the cases thus far promise to make this term as interesting as the last. For those who keep track of cases based on ideology, last term's main cases did not turn out to be as conservative as the court's reputation is - mainly helped by Chief Justice Roberts's U-turn in the health care case. We'll see about this term, in which Justice Kennedy will continue to play his role as a swing vote. I will definitely be paying attention to the headline affirmative action case of Fisher v. University of Austin, as well as others to follow, especially if the Court takes up DOMA or Proposition 8.
Obama desperately needed Friday's jobs numbers and he got what he wished for. I think it will have a huge impact, especially on those undecided voters who are finalizing their choices right now. The jobs numbers, especially the drop in unemployment below the dreaded 8%, would shore up Obama's appeal and help him maintain an edge in the polls. Underneath though, all the papers and economists suggest that the jobs recovery remains steady but very slow. The two biggest barriers to jobs growth are 1) the fiscal cliff come January and businesses' uncertainty (and hence their reluctance to hire) and 2) ongoing weak demand from emerging economies such as China and recessionary Europe. Obama may be partly responsible for the former, but not the latter.
Onto our national pastime, the Red Sox finally put us fans out of our misery with an absolutely atrocious season. I could not be more disappointed in the team and where it has gone and is going. Much of the blame, I agree, should start at the top with the ownership and front office. The players, too, I emphasize are not blameless. The Red Sox's problems are so deep that they would take many years to fix. I am unsure whether the Fenway Sports Group can turn it around and maintain the support of the fans. For me, the season was a mix of apathy, disgust, bewilderment, and mostly disappointment.
Finally, the high court resumed its term this past week and the cases thus far promise to make this term as interesting as the last. For those who keep track of cases based on ideology, last term's main cases did not turn out to be as conservative as the court's reputation is - mainly helped by Chief Justice Roberts's U-turn in the health care case. We'll see about this term, in which Justice Kennedy will continue to play his role as a swing vote. I will definitely be paying attention to the headline affirmative action case of Fisher v. University of Austin, as well as others to follow, especially if the Court takes up DOMA or Proposition 8.
Sunday, 30 September 2012
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?
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?
Monday, 20 August 2012
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.
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.
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