While we are constantly (re)defining what Asian America means to us as the youth, the new generation - what's going on with our elders?

"NEW YORK – According to a survey recently published by the Asian American Coalition, poverty among elders in the United States is dropping overall, but poverty among elders in New York city is rising, from 10 percent in the 90's, to 22 percent today. The poverty ratio for Asian elders is even higher, at 29 percent. China Press cites that in 1959, the poverty ratio among elders was 35 percent in the United States. After the federal government made efforts to help elders, the number went back down to 15 percent.

This economic crisis has hit Asian Americans particularly hard. Not only are they the fastest growing ethnic group in the U.S., but Asian Americans are becoming elders faster than any other group. There are currently about 90,000 Asian elders living in New York City and that number is expected to grow to 190,000 by 2020."

China Press

http://news.ncmonline.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=1f0ed215534ba053cdae6ec5109058b9

Maybe the only thing that will make your sleepless, working night better is a spoof on Asian toddlers and Oriental products, you say? Well, here you go.

Courtesy of Asian American Alliance Political Committee member, Vivian, via GChat:

Vivian: What do you call a fat chinaman?
me: oh no
what?
Vivian: a chunk
me: LOL
hahahahahaah

And, scene.

World-famous Glenn Magpantay sends voting rights volunteers the following notice about AALDEF internships. Heads up, underclassmen - y'all want to do this.

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

SPRING and SUMMER INTERNSHIPS 2009

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), founded in 1974, protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans through litigation, advocacy, and community education. For more information about AALDEF, visit our website at www.aaldef.org. Internships are available for the following:

· Anti-Trafficking Project, legal research on the Trafficking and Violence Protection Act (TVPA), as well as outreach, community education, and advocacy on the rights of women and youth trafficking survivors.

· Community Health Care Initiative, research, as well as community education and outreach in the areas of immigration, government benefits, language rights, and health care access;

· Economic Justice for Workers, litigation on behalf of garment, restaurant, and other low wage workers;

· Educational Equity and Youth Rights, legal services, policy work, community education, research and litigation concerning educational equity, juvenile justice, affirmative action and post 9-11 hate violence and racial targeting;

· Housing Justice Project, direct legal services, community outreach/education, and litigation on housing and land use issues affecting low-income Asian immigrant communities;

· Immigrant Access to Justice, litigation, legal services, and organizing/outreach with communities impacted by 9-11, including special interest detainees, special registration, voluntary interviews by the government, the 9-11 absconder initiative, and local and state enforcement of immigration laws;

· New Jersey Asian American Legal Project, community outreach, education, and legal services to Asian Americans in NJ, as well as community organizing and litigation on employment-related claims for Asian immigrant workers in NJ.

· South Asian Workers Project, direct legal services on employment-related claims to South Asian immigrant workers, as well as community education and advocacy; and

· Voting Rights, legal research and fact development under the Voting Rights Act and Equal Protection challenging anti-Asian voter discrimination, advocacy on bilingual ballots, and state and local election reform; produce reports and organize public forums.

Description of Internships.

Interns are supervised by staff in specific program areas. Legal interns work primarily on legal research and writing, legal and policy advocacy, community outreach and education, and client intakes. Undergraduate interns work on policy advocacy, community outreach and organizing, and some client intakes. Each program area differs in emphasis. These internships are not paid positions, but academic credit can be arranged. Spring interns work anywhere between 8 to 25 hours per week and usually commences with the start of classes. Summer interns work full time for 10 weeks.

To Apply:

Any bilingual ability should be stated in the resume. Bilingual ability is helpful but not required. Spring applicants should also state the number of hours they can work per week and a possible schedule. Send a resume and cover letter to:

Spring / Summer Intern Search

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF)
99 Hudson Street, 12th floor
New York, New York 10013-2815
Fax: 212-966-4303

Email: info@aaldef.org

For more information, contact Jennifer Weng at 212-966-5932, ext. 212 or jweng@aaldef.org.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) recently released preliminary results from its 2008 General Election Asian American exit poll. Check it out here.

Various Blaaagers and members of the Columbia Asian American Alliance were poll monitors for AALDEF on November 4th. We were assigned to various locations, among them Queens, Brooklyn, and, in my case, Philadelphia. After twelve hours of monitoring, some of us became delusional, others suffered caffeine induced seizures. My favorite experience that day involves a drunk voter at my poll site who enjoyed calling everyone "Chiquita".

Nothing, however, will ever be on the same level as an encounter I had at a Chinatown poll site during the 2007 Democratic Primary. I asked a voter what his ethnicity was for the survey, and this was our conversation:

Me: What is your ethnicity, Sir?
Voter: Sexy.
Me: Um, could you specify?
Voter: I am sexy.
Me: Okay...

Perhaps readers of the Blaaag (yes, all THREE of you out there in cyberworld) will be motivated to volunteer with AALDEF in the next election, so they, too, can be harassed. It's partly offensive, partly amusing, and TOTALLY EMPOWERING!

In Florida, an Initiative Intended to End Bias Is Killed

"An obscure ballot initiative in Florida intended to end a legacy of bias against Asian-Americans was defeated Tuesday, apparently because voters incorrectly assumed it would prevent illegal immigrants from owning property."

Also, in my home state of Nebraska, they banned affirmative action. And we all know about Proposition 8 in California. There were similar referenda in Arizona and Florida. Obama is President-elect, and the symbolism (and potential) in his presidency is very potent, but there is obviously much more to be done, especially in light these setbacks. As I have been reminded by various blogs and commentators, progress is not linear, and we can't stop now.

On my Google Reader today: After Obama Win, Black Muslim Teen Beaten With Bat on Staten Island.

Overheard in the Barnard Economics computer lab:
"So after the election, this guy I know said, 'I can't wait until Obama gets shot.'"
"God, that's terrible."
"People in the Midwest suck."
"He's going to have to ride in the Popemobile."

Also overheard:
A friend from North Carolina was coming back to Barnard after Election Day. While on the plane, some (obviously Republican) guys talked about their disappointment over the President-Elect. One of them stated, "Whatever, he's going to get shot anyway."