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Archive of "Ain't the Way it's Supposed to Be" Category
Real Relief for Haiti
My heart breaks for Haiti. Sadly, many do not know about the ongoing problems of Haiti.
It is one of the poorest countries in the Western hemisphere, with around 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line and 54 percent living in abject poverty, according to the CIA World Factbook. More than two-thirds of the labor force are believed to not have formal jobs, and just 62.1 percent of adults over age 15 are literate, according to the United Nations Human Development Report.
Haiti also has among the world’s lowest levels of gross domestic product per capita. [via New York Times]Historically, Haiti has been taken advantaged of for years and forced to pay for their freedom with high interest loans from a host of countries that include the United States. It’s time to bring real relief to Haiti.
Does it have to take destruction and loss of countless lives for us to be aware of injustice? We may not have control over natural disasters but we can certainly do something about poverty and injustice. We can right some of the wrongs. We can bring real relief to Haiti.
Congress is still considering The Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation. This bill would help countries like Haiti get their debt canceled, without making that cancellation conditional on things like closing down free schools or raising the cost of fresh water. This may be a good time to contact your representatives about about this bi-partisan measure.
If you’re praying, great. Then put your money where your prayers are too. Let me also add that it’s easy to throw money at causes. It’s distant love. We are called to do much more. This is a time for the church to shine and respond with the love of Christ.If you’re praying, great. Then put your money where your prayers are too. Let me also add that it’s easy to throw money at causes. It’s distant love. We are called to do much more and we actually can if we open our eyes and hearts.
Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help
The Huffington Post has a growing roundup of ways to help
You can also text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross
One Day’s Wages has set up a relief fund
More Links
For all things Haiti: (haiti.alltop.com)
Haiti’s Economy (NYT)
Haiti Earthquake Relief: 9 Ways to Help Now (Mashable)Healing for South Philadelphia High School Asian Students
The moment that Asian students from South Philadelphia High School have been waiting for finally arrived yesterday, 8 days after the violence they experienced. They were able to meet with District Superintendent Arlene Ackerman and other school officials with translators and community leaders on neutral ground at CCCNC. It was a closed door ‘conversation’ between school officials and over 30 students that comprised of Asian students who have not been back at school since the attacks as well as students that belonged to an Ambassador program. In the end the students were strongly urged to return to school today otherwise absences will be counted against them and ultimately hurt their academic careers. What mattered from when this whole ordeal began was whether these students felt heard or not. It was a really powerful moment for me to see and hear the deep appreciation that these students had for the many leaders that rallied around them to get this conversation going and continue to stand by them. This is just a first step in this process of healing for these students, the school community and the surrounding neighborhood. The goal is healing. It’s going to take more conversations and the efforts of both adults and students to bring healing to this school and community. Apologies help. Empathy too. And of course, forgiveness.
I really wonder, throughout this whole process leading up to today, what have they learned?
Students were told that they can make the difference, they have a voice and it’s basically up to them. This is true to a certain extent but we cannot just place the burden for action and change solely upon the shoulders of students. Adults need to come alongside and speak up for them. That goes for teachers, administration, parents and the rest of us as neighbors. Right now it’s a question of whether these students feel safe enough and are able to trust the adults appointed there to protect, teach and care for them. Many of these students did return to school today but the healing will take time.
Links to Recent News
Asian Students Return to South Phila. HS After Talks
Nutter backs Ackerman’s handling of S. Philly High
Asian Students Back to Class at S. Philly High
Opinion:What are we teaching our kids?RadioTimes on Tensions among students at South Philadelphia High School [mp3, 27mb]
26 Asian Students Attacked at South Philadelphia High School
An incident occurred last week involving 26 or more Asian students being targeted and attacked at South Philadelphia High School. The school is 18% Asian and has been designated by the state as persistently dangerous. Racial? The situation is very complicated. The media can’t capture the complexities of the situation but violence against Asians in this neighborhood is not uncommon. What’s really upsetting the lack of outrage by school officials and others in response to this situation. Sure suspensions were given out and apparently have been given out for the past 18 months. They are also increasing police presence but what does that do except provide a band aid solution over racial tensions and misunderstandings. These circumstances will undoubtedly shape the hearts and minds of students, families, and communities for years. Racist attitudes will grow like mildew and mold. This a real opportunity for the school district, community leaders, and students to retool and reshape the school culture and larger community.
NEWS LINKS & TIMELINE
Friday
26 Asian Students Attacked at Philly High School [philly.com]
26 asian students attacked at south philadelphia high [Angry Asian Man]
Philly school’s racial tensions lead to fights [AP]
Racial assaults at S. Philly: What went wrong [The Notebook/Helen Gym]
South Philly High students meet with officials after attacks [philly.com - press conference at cccnc]Saturday
Many Asian students fear return to South Phila. classes [philly.com]Monday
Asian students boycott S. Phila. High [philly.com]
Asian students plan walkouts [philly.com]Foxwoods Defeat. Good News For Chinatown.
Interesting things always happen in my absence. I should go away more.Last Friday, good news came to Chinatown and all those who have been opposing the plans for slots casinos in Center City as Foxwoods pulled their plans for pursuing the 8th and Market St site (Formerly the Strawbridge & Clothier building). Foxwoods is revisiting their original site plans in South Philly and will likely be confronted by angry protests there as well. However, this time protests are a city wide effort and the Chinatown community will continue to add their voice to making Philadelphia casino free.
For now we can claim a major victory for Chinatown. I’d like to see Casinos entirely out of Philadelphia no matter how desperate we are to fix the doomsday budget outlook here.
Links
Looks Like it’s Back to South Philly for Foxwoods Casino, [Philly.com]
Beating the House, Helen Gym [Metro]
DiCicco: Foxwoods Ruling “Damages Philadelphia’s Fabric”
Mayor Nutter: Foxwoods Ruling “A Step Backwards”Twitter Updates from Casino Free Philly
My Posts on “Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown”
[Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Part 8]Justice for Kwok Wai Ho
Opening arguments began yesterday in the trial of Marcquis Walker-Williams a teenager (19) charged with the murder of Kwok Wai Ho, a member of our church back in 2007. I posted about it here. He was taking his nightly stroll when he was attacked by Williams just steps away from his Northeast home. Williams said he wanted to “catch a body” to rob. He may likely have had no idea or intention of this horrific outcome but now he has to pay for his crime. We’re waiting to hear whether Williams will be tried for first or third degree murder. I’m not wishing the worst for him but that somehow good would come from this. I don’t know what that would look like. The love of Christ beckons us to see clearly what’s so wrong with the world, more specifically what’s so very wrong with us – with me! — and compels us to love people, even the ones that hurt us most deeply. This is not an easy path to consider. It comes at a cost to us personally especially if we’re the victims but I think it will cost us even more if we don’t choose to love.Stupid. Reckless. Juvenile. Those words were used to describe the actions of the guilty.
What if those were the words that would describe our effort to heal and love rather than harm?Seriously, what would justice really be here?
Would Williams being put away for most of his life heal the pain inflicted on Mr. Ho’s family and the communities he was an integral part of?
Most likely not.
Join me in praying for the Ho family and Philadelphia.Links:
Opening arguments begin in teen’s murder trial
Aint the Way it’s Supposed to Be — in Philly.*TYSK China
*Think You Should Know: China
Links and news updates
Nearly 1 million people evacuated from Fujian and Zhejiang provinces
Typhoon ‘Morakot’ hit Taiwan this weekend unleashing record rains, causing what officials said was the worst flooding in half a century [NYTimes].China performs more abortions than any other country in the world.
Report says 13 million abortions a year in China [Associated Press].
“Sex is no longer considered taboo among young people today, and they believe they can learn everything they need from the Internet,” Yu Dongyan, a gynecologist, “But it doesn’t mean they’ve developed a proper understanding or attitude toward it.”Saying No To Casinos in Chinatown Part 8
Some highlights from the No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition press conferenceIt is amazing how many Chinese churches/orgs have joined this coalition. They may not be at the forefront speaking but they can certainly get things done and mobilize Chinese in the Philadelphia and surrounding regions just as we have seen them do in their collection of over 24k petitions. This has really become a diverse citywide effort that I’m proud to be a part of.
The real star in this coalition is activist Helen Gym. She really adds the passion to this movement like no other. Her list of accomplishments and accolades are too long to mention. One statement that really stood out was when she urged officials to say no to shameful “unfair predatory gain in this time of greatest economic need.” I think that cuts to the heart of the issue. Hasn’t the city learned from the existing economic crisis with regard to unfair predatory practices?
It’s also a pleasure to see the active participation of Luella Trip, wife of Dr. Paul Tripp of Tenth Presbyterian Church. They moved into the Chinatown area a few years ago and since have solidly expressed their heart for the area and convictions to minister to the people of Center City. That’s a rare find. We need more people like them.
News Links
“Churches Join Anti-Casino Protest” – The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 19, 2009Next Up:
Philadelphia City Planning Commission Community Meeting on Preliminary Findings for the Market East Strategic Plan
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 7 pmJefferson University
Dorrance Hamilton Auditorium
1001 Locust Street
For more information contact Laura Spina 215.683.4638Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown Part 7
UPDATE: The battle against proposed casinos in the heart of Philadelphia ensues. It’s now a citywide effort and not just a Chinatown matter. The thing is that it was never just a Chinatown matter but now a coalition has been formed (The No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition) that includes major groups like The Black Clergy of Philadelphia and AAU amongst many others. The coalition’s first move is a press conference at the Bellevue Hotel (Broad & Walnut Sts) Headquarters for Gov. Rendell and PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust), Wednesday, February 18, 11am.
Download the full press release
Link to AAUSpeakers include: Bishop Peggy Johnson, Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church; Pastor Ellis Washington, president, Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity; Tom Earle, CEO, Liberty Resources; and coalition partners.
Below is the statement of Beliefs and Commitments of this new coalition.
No Casino in the Heart of the City Coalition
Statement of Beliefs and CommitmentsWe, the undersigned organizations, enter into coalition with each other, united by the following beliefs and commitments.
By joining the Coalition, each of our organizations commits to mobilizing our constituency and bringing our own strengths and resources to the work of the Coalition.
OUR BELIEFS:
1) We oppose putting a casino in the heart of our city.
A Center City slots parlor aims to take money from the pocketbooks of Philadelphians who can least afford it (especially low-income, elderly, and people of color, riders of mass transit, center city workers, Chinatown workers and residents, and Gallery shoppers).2) We decry the unfair fast-tracking of the Gallery casino.
It is patently discriminatory for our public servants to work to protect some communities from this noxious industry and then to move at a feverish pace to impose it as quickly as possible in a place that will expose the maximum number of Philadelphians to it.3) We reject actions by our public officials that make them active partners with the casino industry – promoting gambling to our residents and transit riders and redesigning our central historical, business and residential corridor around a gambling anchor.
The slots business is a predatory industry that profits off addiction and impoverishes its clientele. We do not build a healthy economy or a balanced budget by increasing levels of poverty and addiction among our citizens.4) We reject the choice of any site for a casino that would threaten the health and welfare of any neighborhood.
No casino should be sited in any neighborhood that would change the nature and character of the neighborhood, or interfere with that neighborhood’s sustainable economic development.OUR COMMITMENT TO EACH OTHER:
- The Coalition will operate utilizing a fair and open process.
- The Coalition will share its knowledge and all relevant information with the community.
- The Coalition will speak with unity. At the same time, the multiple voices of our members make us stronger. Individual organizations and persons are encouraged to voice their own issues and perspectives within the broad unity expressed in this statement.
- The Coalition will collectively make strategic decisions, especially regarding lobbying, meetings with politicians and other decision makers, and significant public statements.
- Coalition members commit to speaking openly with each other about differences, mistakes, criticisms, and rumors. We enter into this Coalition with a spirit of unity, generosity, and good will.
SIGNATORIES (as of December 17, 2008)
Arch Street United Methodist Church, Outreach Committee
Asian Americans United
Black Clergy of Philadelphia & Vicinity
Cambodian Association of Greater Philadelphia
Casino Free Philadelphia
Chinese Benevolent Association
Chinese Christian Church & Center
Chinese Christian Herald Crusade
Chinese Overseas Association
Family, INC
Folk Arts-Cultural Treasures Charter School
Germantown Clergy Initiative
Greater Germantown Business Association
Greater Philadelphiaa Chinese Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Learning Partners Charter School
Liberation Fellowship CDC
Media Mobilizing Project
New York Tai Look Association
ODUNDE, Inc.
On Leong Chinese Merchants Association
Palmer Foundation
Philadelphia Chinese Dragon Boat Association
Philadelphia Guang Dong Association
Shalom Center
Students Against the Gallery CasiNO!
Temple University Chinese Student Assoc.
Teo Chew Association of Philadelphia
Tsung Tsin Association
University of Pennsylvania Chinese Student AssociationIf your organization is interested in joining the many groups that have signed on to the coalition, please contact Helen Gym at 215.808.1400 or HGBF @ aol.com
On Community Development and Displacement
I was so privileged to be part of a panel this past weekend that included Andy Toy to speak about Community Development and Displacement at the Asian Arts Initiative. There’s such a strong connection with humans and land. We’re all searching for a home to call our own. Since the Garden, displacement has been part of our DNA. It definitely is in the DNA of Chinatown. At the end of our time, it was asked, what can artists do? There’s much to say about that but I recently came across shirt.woot! a tshirt site that’s a cross between Threadless and Woot!. I love tshirts and companies like these that use community feedback to select and print artist submitted designs. What caught my attention was this one shirt that expressed much of what I am experiencing through this engagement with the city.
It’s been depressing in Philadelphia and it’s only Tuesday. This week it’s like everyone has something to protest about regarding the city’s economic plight. In my neighborhood bright neon signs hang on homes to speak out against the closing firehouses in our district. There are communities demonstrating on the steps of their libraries urging the Mayor to reconsider closing down an important piece of their neigborhood. On Sunday Mayor Nutter signed legislation to officially rezone The Gallery Mall at Market East as a Community Entertainment District allowing for Slots Gaming from Foxwoods to commence.
The description for this shirt is so poignant for how I feel and what many residents may be experiencing.
Shirt: Watch It Grow
Designed by Tgentery [ =( who's has apparently moved away from shirt design]Don’t wear this shirt: when you’re around some stupid developer who sees dollar signs in every vacant lot. You’ll suddenly have eminent domain all over your chest and then in two weeks you’ll be shirtless and he’ll have sixteen brand new condos drawn in with a Sharpie.
This shirt tells the world: “Please don’t sell my future just to improve your present.
We call this color: The Grass On The Other Side.
Saying No to Casinos in Chinatown Part 6
***Updated***
WHYY, “Now Chinatown must take the fight directly to Foxwoods”
- John Chin, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development CorporationPressure must to put on the City Planning Commission, City Council and the Mayor to ensure that this process that they enacted is an “open and transparent” process. They must be held to the highest standards to ensure that the citizens have every opportunity to participate in all discussions. If this is not the process, then the CED legislation needs to be amended. Anything less would be unacceptable.
Philadelphia Chinatown always seems to get shafted and nothing’s different today as City Council by vote of 14 to 1 passed re-zoning the Gallery at MarketEast as a Community Entertainment District despite such clear community opposition. Does anyone care about Chinatown other than Chinese people?
Here’s a question, Do you think gambling should be considered community entertainment?
This is a big step for Foxwoods but there are many other steps ahead and if we were able to gather 20,000+ signed petitions with broken English (or for some us very bad Chinese) we’ll be sure to meet the City and Foxwoods each and every time.
With Mayor Nutter declaring a $1Billion dollar shortfall this week and budget cuts leading to the closing of area Fire Departments and Recreation Centers, all this does not bode well for the city cited as “The Next Great American City.”
Links
NBC Philadelphia, Philly City Council Clears Way for Gallery Casino
KYW Newsradio 1060, City Council Approves Casino Zoning for Foxwoods at Gallery
The Evening Sun, Philadelphia’s Chinatown seeks to keep out casino
Events
"HERO" An EPIC MOVEMENT EAST COAST Conference January 15-18, 2010, Philadelphia
Verge Missional Community Conference,
February 4-6, Austin, Texas
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