Stop white supremacy
Marching on by Penelope Pyo (9th grader, San Francisco)
The tagline, "Stop AAPI Hate," is a necessary and powerful message, but what we really need to name and dismantle is white supremacy.
God's intention is to celebrate the beauty of our diversity. Our call is unity in diversity, but white supremacy has countered that vision. We need to stop upholding white supremacy in this country that has brought violence upon so many lives.
-ReconciliAsian
Anti-Asian violence in Indiana
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice! (Psalm 130:1)
We grieve in deep pain hearing about the horrific death of Shane Nguyenwhose dismembered body was found in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The details of his murder by three young white men have emerged and they are gruesome.
Another shocking news for us as Mennonites is to learn that Nguyen was willing to offer these men a ride in his van from Elkhart to Fort Wayne, but they reciprocated his kindness with this unspeakable crime. In addition, we have learned that the perpetrators were from Elkhart/Goshen area. These are places we know too well.
We pray for the Asian American community, especially our Vietnamese American friends, who are acutely carrying the painful weight of what happened. These ever-increasing acts of violence take their toll on the body. We must slow down. Grieve and gather with friends who don’t need you to explain anything.
You can support Nguyen's family financially through GoFundMe account.
https://www.gofundme.com/.../in-loving-memory-of-shane...
Other ways to show support at such a time, see the latest post from Mennonite Church USA.
Examining peacebuilding in Korea and Ireland: Webinar on April 30th at 3pm PDT
Join Dr. Dongjin Kim this Friday as he shares about the critical role of civil peace organizations and peace activists. Dr. Kim currently holds a teaching position as an ISE Peace and Reconciliation Fellow at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland. Dr. Kim also actively serves as an ambassador for Ministry of Unification Korean Peninsula.
This webinar introduces various civic activities that are striving to improve inter-Korean relations and circulate peaceful values for peace on the Korean Peninsula. Dr. Kim will also examine peace activisim in Korea and Ireland. Lastly, he will provide ideas on how Korean and Korean diasporic bodies can participate in the movement for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
You can register with the google form link below.
https://docs.google.com/.../1tcjJRSgLCd7WEksO.../viewform...
An Open Letter to Mark Ramseyer
By SeongHan Kim | Posted on April 19, 2021
Kim SeongHan is Representative for MCC Northeast Asia and a member of Jesus Heart Mennonite Church, Republic of Korea. This open letter responds to an opinion piece by Harvard Law School professor Mark Ramseyer claiming that World War II-era Korean “comfort women,” who were forced into sex work by the Japanese military, were actually exercising their free, rational choice to sell their labor. Ramseyer’s argument, which he also developed in an academic article, has caused intense anger in Korea and around the world. Ramseyer was reared by American Mennonite missionaries in Japan. For additional background, see Jeannie Suk Gersen’s coverage in The New Yorker (link).
History is somewhat distant. But when one finds the space of your little story in a more extensive history, the color of history begins to change.
I am not a historian, but I know how my family survived during the Japanese colonization era (1910—1945). My grandfather was involved in the independence movement in the 1920s, and he was imprisoned for several years. He passed away in 1966 before I was born, but I heard that he suffered from the aftereffects of torture until he passed away. However, the sad story that concerns me here is about my aunt. My aunt (my father’s only sister) was forced to marry at age sixteen to avoid the national mobilization for labor (it’s possible she would have been forced to become a comfort woman). Her father, who was fighting against Imperial Japan, could not allow them to take away his only daughter. Not surprisingly, this unwanted marriage did not go well. They divorced later, and my grandfather put my aunt’s daughter on his family register as his daughter. My aunt needed a fresh start.
I know this is too personal and too detailed. However, this is one story behind the larger story of the comfort-women-sex-slave story during the Imperial Japanese colonization, which Mark Ramseyer claims is a pure fiction... con't to read at Anabaptist Witness
““Movements are born of critical connections rather than critical mass.” -Grace Lee Boggs”
Ways to practice community care
At such a tumultuous time of anti-Asian bias, we need to remember that we belong to each other and must care for each other. We are each other's keeper. Here are some ways we can practice community care.
1. Check on each other regularly by text or call. Let them know you are checking on them and that you are thinking about them. Ask them specificallly how they are feeling today or how you can pray for them rather than a general "how are you?"
2. Be specific on how you can help. Ask them if they need a meal or a run to the grocery store or the pharmacy. Ask if they need rice from the Asian market, bread from the local bakery, or a cup of coffee from a local coffee shop.
3. Send a letter and care packages. Receiving a hand-written note in the mail is rare these days. Delight a person with a letter, flowers, book or a box of goodies- tangible reminders that they are loved.
4. Go on outdoor walks together. Nature is one of the most healing gifts. Go on a stroll in the neighborhood, walk around a local park or plan a short hike. As we move our bodies, we can release the tension that we are holding and heal.
5. Rest. If you are an employer, you can encourage people to take off some personal days off or offer mental health days. If you recognize people who are burning out, gently encourage them to slow down and to prioritize sleep, water, and healthy diet. Offer tools to relax like tapping or finger holds.
What else would you add to the list?