There’s Something About Nadia

Published on by Lisa Category: Uncategorized

If ya’ll don’t know what it means to have a strong, articulate womyn in your life, then you’ll never know what it means to be inspired. I mean, truly inspired.

I won’t go into how BA and I are riding the same wavelength that propelled each of us to write a post specifically for Nadia. We have different reasons. BAs got her own reasons here, ones that I fully endorse. (Scroll up after you hit this link.)

Mine are of a more personal victory.

Nadia and I were IMing about coordinating with another fanfreakingtastic WOC writer about a joint piece that would be featured in Make/Shift magazine. Of course, we begin talking about other things and I eventually spill some of my own beans about a situation I was struggling with:

I had contacted a fellow Pinay for an interview and potential publication. Planning on pitching it to a few different mags and potentially some online group blogs, I was eager to do this interview. At first, the interviewee agreed and my pen was ready to print.

Then, mysteriously, I get an email from her Big Manager, asking to first solidify the publication so it was a sure-fire deal before the interview took place. Uh, the request is fine. The timing (remember, she already agreed to do the interview) was way off. Forgetting our agreement, the interview was cancelled until I had a definitive approval that it would run. You know, so she doesn’t waste her time. Let’s not forget that “the New York Times and Wall Street Journal have already interviewed her.”

Hi, I’m trying to do an interview, but I actually can’t fit in the room to conduct it because your manager’s ego is the size of Nevada.

So, I’m weeping because I’m emotional, frustrated, and hate Big Media and all their Big Hype.

Cue: Nadia.

Let’s put it this way. This womyn sets the record straight with appropriate and fitting usage of the world BULLSHIT and phrase like YOU’RE DOING HER A FAVOR, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. These ions of support were decorating the main thrust of the argument that alternative media – blogging, zines, online features – are hardly something to snuff and early misbehavior toward journalists equals decreased support from said journalist’s constituencies.

Yeah – what she said. Take that!

And so, 2 weeks passed, and it was not until I could no longer deny that I was pissed and I’m A Person Too reasons, I emailed my side of the story, gave a I Don’t Give a Fuck Who You Think You Are But You Don’t Recant An Interview Offer kind of explanation.

And you can stuff that NY Times and Wall Street Journal bit up in the areas where the sun don’t shine.

Oh I got responses – with a few more bullshit lines and then, eventually, an apology.

Their I’m Sorry wasn’t what tickled me purple. It was recognizing the power of one. The power of one person to support you, affirm a wrong – no matter how small – and BE in your state of anger with you.

So, raise your laptops to Nadia:

May your words never die,
and your Fierceness never stop.
You
are
beyond
necessary.

In gratitude,
Sudy

Asian Americans for Obama

Published on by Lisa Category: Political Dirt

Last week I attended an Obama rally.

I was bit by the OBAMA BUG because when I left, I felt fired up. I felt good.

It’s a week later and I still feel fired up.

What felt so good?

I don’t know. Maybe it was when he said, “Most politicians count on you on not believing. They bet you on being jaded and disinterested. They want you to be apathetic. This way you feel so disempowered you don’t want to do anything. This enables them to sound like they’re going to solve your problems and when they can’t, claim the issues are too large for one person.”

Let’s be honest. It’s all about perception in politics. But I’m looking to cast a vote for someone that I actually believe in and holds that miniscule possibility of doing some good for this desperately seeking country.

H/T to Angry Asian Man for the heads up.

Obama’s campaign created Asian American and Pacific Islanders National Leadership Council and where some notable AA and API folks are endorsing this presidential candidate. Read more on his site here.

What else can I say? I was swept away by the debates, his rally, and this newest piece of news.

I’m shameless too. I can’t help it. I think he’s quite dreamy.

Pinay for Peace

Published on by Lisa Category: Feminist Photojournalism

In addition to winning the World Series, which caused a huge ripple of energy through the city, I have been trotting along the city and photographing presidential hopefuls (Obama rally) and a huge peace rally.
All photographs were taken by and belong to the author of this blog. All rights reserved.

Peace. Peace.
No rape, no racism, no theft.
With abundant ideas, stimulated children, and compassionate citizens.
End of sanctions, limited theory, explosion of art.
Breathless laughter, stretching skin and smooth, warm lips in the winter.
A healing system, a conservation of the Mother Earth, and blue, blue skies.
Rich, clean waters and swimming through pools of generosity.
There is no charity, only love.
And action.

Judge drops rape charges in gang rape

Published on by Lisa Category: Current Events, Sexual Assault

This was forwarded to me and I just laid my head in my arms for awhile to revel in my disbelief and heartbreak.

Even if you aren’t able to attend, please do spread the word and equally as importantly voice your opinion to Judge Teresa Carr Deni at the polls on Tuesday, November 6, 2007.
***************************************************************************­***************** PRESS CONFERENCE Thursday November 1, 2007 1pm Outside Municipal Court (Criminal Justice Center) 1301 Filbert St, Philadelphia
Monday October 29, 2007 To the Editor:
We were appalled to learn that on Oct 4 Municipal Judge Teresa Carr Deni dropped all rape and assault charges in the case of a woman gang-raped at gunpoint. Because the woman was working as a prostitute, Judge Deni decided that she could not have been raped and changed the charge to “theft of services.” Deni later said that this case “minimizes true rape cases and demeans women who are really raped.”
As groups organizing against rape and in support of victims, we could not disagree more. *All* women have the right to protection from violence. The idea that any woman is “asking for it” is a lie that we fought for decades to destroy. It is especially offensive to see it revived by a female judge, who reached her position as a result of the women’s movement and is now using her power to deny justice to the most vulnerable women.
Deni told Daily News columnist Jill Porter that the victim met another client before reporting the rape. We have learned that this is completely untrue; the transcript of the hearing proves it. For a judge to make a false (and self-serving) accusation against a victim in the press, in addition to her prejudiced and reckless contempt for women’s safety, confirms that she is unfit to serve. The outcry following Deni’s decision shows how out of step with public opinion she is and that most people believe that prostitute women deserve the same protection from violence that we all have a right to expect.
No woman is safe when prostitute women aren’t safe. Serial rapists and murderers often target prostitute women knowing that they are more likely to get away with it. Labeled criminals by the prostitution laws, women are less likely to report violence for fear of arrest themselves. When sex workers do report, the violence is often dismissed. Here, the same man and his friends gang-raped another woman four days later. Decisions like Deni’s are a green light for further attacks.
The victim in this case was a Black single mother with a young child. In Philadelphia, where one in four people lives in poverty and welfare has been almost completely dismantled, many women have been forced into prostitution to survive. This should not make them fair game for rapists.
We are glad that the District Attorney is pursuing the original rape charges. The public can make *our* voices heard in the November 6 election: vote “No” on the retention of Teresa Carr Deni as Judge of the Municipal Court of Philadelphia.
*Mary Kalyna* On behalf of Global Women’s Strike Philadelphia, PA
and Women Against Rape US PROStitutes Collective Black Women’s Rape Action Project (BWRAP) Legal Action for Women Every Mother is a Working Mother Network Wages Due Lesbians Payday Men’s Network
— STOP THE VIOLENCE WEAR RED ON OCTOBER 31, 2007 http://documentthesilence.wordpress.com/