January 8th, 2008 by ashieng
Paiwan / Rukai food.
Paiwan is an Aboriginal tribe in Taiwan. Rukai also. I show them here together because the two groups are closely related and share much of the same types of food.
Most people in Taiwan have no experience with Aboriginal cuisine. Perhaps the foreigners and some Han, Minnan are curious and go looking for that food. But it’s not so easy to find.
Tonight (Aug 2006), my friend Andy and I went to Sandimen. I asked Mr. and Mrs. Lu to help me order from a local restaurant there. Mr. Vuruku Lu, is a Rukai and he is a very keen cultural embassador. He and his wife feel a little like family since I have spent much time at their place on the weekends.
We ate together all types of foods like ‘abai’ — this word means any food enveloped by rice flour, taro, etc. We had red bean abai, fish and potato abai, and pork abai. The meat or sweets are surrounded by millet flour, pumpkin flour, or taro and then covered and cooked in banana leaves bound by rattan.
Also we had taro cake, fish, fried egg and green onion, chicken soup, and a kind of pork tamale.
Soon one of the Lu family’s three daughters will marry. Her name is Erlun. She and her fiance were also there eating with us. His name is Jose. Everyone there laughs when they here this name because they know he is just telling me his "church" name and not his Paiwan name which he uses.
We had a really good time together. I suggest that you seek out Aboriginal culture because you are certain not to regret it.
Posted in Food and Drink | No Comments »
January 8th, 2008 by ashieng
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Racism; it’s an evil that maybe we not cure in our lifetime. And some of you think it can’t be cured. I disagree. We must believe it’s possible. What’s the alternative? People we love will suffer and die because of it.
Do you all remember the killing of Mulugeta Seraw in the 80’s? In particular I am speaking to Portlanders who may be the only people to remember this.
I never knew Mr. Seraw. He was an Ethiopian immigrant to the USA. He came to America, like so many thousands of Ethiopians as political or economic refugees. He undoubtedly met many caring friendly Americans. Maybe he started to think of himself as an American.
Just now I was browsing wikipedia. It led me to a reference to a tv show in 1988 which in turn led me to a reference to the incident on Geraldo in which his nose was broken. One of his guests was Tom Metzger, a white supremacist. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1988_in_television
Tom Metzger was not there when Mr. Seraw was killed, but he was the leader of those skinheads that did the dirty deed.
Please let us not forget the evil nature of subtly racist humor, sarcastic racial putdowns, — if these get accepted, what follows is more open preaching of racial superiority.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulugeta_Seraw
Most people in my city, Portland, Oregon, were saddened by Mr. Seraw’s death. It is really tragic to allow the preaching of racial hatred to reach boiling point. It continues today in many places — Malaysia, America, Germany, Russia. Will we ever learn? I have hope.
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Posted in Weblogs | No Comments »
January 8th, 2008 by ashieng
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A Mexican-American taught me all about Gospel.
What’s the purpose of the title? To me it says something about what it means to be a person. In my mind there is no cultural exclusivity. Of course, there is when it’s forced. But there shouldn’t be any such EXCLUSIONS.
In the middle of a mostly African-american neighborhood, a Mexican-american introduced me to all African-american gospel singers.
Where in the world is Eliza? She is probably in California. Amiga ! Te acuerdes de mi? Sabes quien soy?
Sometime around high school or shortly after, I made a very good friend. We were the same age. We got along well and spent time together at her house, at the park, going out. There was nothing romantic between us but … I am sure we both felt there could be or should be. Too bad her religion threw off balance.
I couldn’t get past the idea that if I were to become her boyfriend or more that I would have to put up with — no tv, no movies, no dancing, no secular music and …I don’t know what else.
One very good thing to come out of this relationship that stays with me today is a love for gospel music. At the time I met her I had already lived for a long time in NE Portland with African-american churches in full force most days. Some churches would be shaking from the music and dancing going on inside.
My friend Eliza wasn’t allowed to listen to Bon Jovi, Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, etc.. So she introduced me to her collections of the Winans, Commissioned, and more.
I miss our talks, advice, your face, hair, and voice. The last time we talked on the phone must have been more than 15 years ago ? You told me you got married. Any kids? Let me know how you are (if there is any chance you might happen to read this). And thanks for the music!
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Posted in Religion | No Comments »
January 8th, 2008 by ashieng
His Highness Susuga Malietoa Tanumafili II
Our world has few highly respected leaders. King Tanumafili was one of them. I deeply mourn his passing. Although I have never been to Samoa, King Tanumafili was a Baha’i and so I remember learning about him when I was a teenager.
I urge those of you who don’t know anything about him to read up. He is a good example of the qualities you should expect in your leaders.
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