Interesting Times

It’s been a week since last week’s primaries, in which Hilary Clinton was essentially the presumptive Democratic nominee.  Last Tuesday night, on Facebook, I noted, “Eight years ago, I was so moved to see history made when Barack Obama was the presumptive nominee and I so appreciated Hilary Clinton took it as far as she did then. Now that Hilary Clinton is the presumptive nominee, it’s still something significant that we’re living in history: the first woman all the way!”

(see here for that triscribe post from eight years ago).

I really felt moved by taking a moment that history was made.  I refer you to check out this item at NPR – it has a good overview of women in pursuit of the American presidency.  I realized that this could even go back to when Abigail Adams wrote to her husband, John Adams, to “remember the ladies.” It took awhile and we’re still not there yet (like with all the other “isms”); it’s good to be reminded of history (or even “herstory”).

But, then comes the cold, unpleasant reality: this is a hard slog of a long, long campaign season that has made the process so exhausting and more cynical than ever and will continue to be so. In past triscribe posts, I followed the past presidential campaigns with interest, as history in the making.  But, this one has been really something – almost something else.  I credit Bernie Sanders for taking it as long and hard as he could, and reminding Hillary and others of issues that might otherwise be forgotten.  I really appreciated Bernie and Hillary for making the Democratic debates look like a show with adults.

But, the Republicans… their presumptive nominee leaves so much to be desired, in my honest opinion.  I had to turn away from the headlines of the rhetoric from him and his supporters.

Then, over the weekend, the news of the terrible assault at the gay nightclub in Orlando – I’ve almost become desensitized by the mass shooting events.  I’m all for thoughts and prayers, but I really wonder when we will do something effective?

So, in the interest of trying to point to some reasoned analysis of how much that presumptive nominee for the Republicans and how he’s irrational and saying things that don’t make a lot of sense: see Slate’s William Saletan (pointing to the danger of what Trump says), Slate’s Dahlia Lithwick (pointing to the mockery of words from Trump), Slate’s Fred Kaplan (pointing to Trump’s lies and absurdities in his anti-terror speech), and Slate’s Jamelle Bouie (further pointing to the lies and absurdities of Trump’s speech). I went Slate-heavy there, but let’s be real; it outrages me that the presumptive Republican nominee – that Trump – can go this far and could become president, undermining even thoughts and prayers for Orlando, where terror and hate have combined to tragic proportions.

Sunday night’s Tony Awards telecast was a strange relief, moving and enjoyable.  James Corden was a major fun host (not biting as Neil Patrick Harris, but with this odd sincerity and, hey, he already has his own Tony).  I liked the Gothamist’s overview of the Tony Awards, and also liked Glen Weldon’s post on the Tony Awards over at NPR.org.  And i guess I ought to end this post with words of hope and thoughts and prayers anyway.  The creative minds and talents of the Tony Awards at least said so.

I found some words that will mean more to you than a list of names. When something bad happens we have three choices: we let it define us, we let it destroy us, or we let it strengthen us. Today in Orlando we had a hideous dose of reality, and I urge you Orlando to remain strong… We will be with you every step of the way.

– Frank Langella, forgoing the usual thanks in his winning the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.

[….] When senseless acts of tragedy remind us/That nothing here is promised, not one day/This show is proof that history remembers/We live through times when hate and fear seem stronger/We rise and fall and light from dying embers/Remembrances that hope and love last longer/And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love/Cannot be killed or swept aside/I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story/Now fill the world with music, love and pride

Thank you so much for this.

— Lin-Manuel Miranda, accepting the Tony Award for the Best Score for Hamilton.

Farewell to May 2016…

Farewell to May 2016, hello June 2016.  Times flies.  I guess I’m back from my latest hiatus from triscribe.  Life is funny, in a not very ha-ha kind of way, as I’ve been saying on Facebook, and I’ve been rather introspective – more than usual, if that’s possible – about what is the meaning of life, and why can’t life come with an instruction manual (as I noted on tumblr, to explain a lag in posts).

I’ve also come to the conclusion that I should try to stay away from news headlines, as this has been one of the strangest presidential campaigns.

Anyway, APA Heritage Month is about to close, but APA issues – American issues – don’t go away. See below for APIAVote’s latest PSA for this year’s presidential election (and fits for every election). As Angry Asian Man notes, listen to the Sulus! (and all the other folks who are getting out the vote). (h/t Angry Asian Man’s Facebook page post; Angry Asian Man log post).

 

And between the #StarringJohnCho campaign and the #StarringConstanceWu campaign, I’m just hoping that we keep the dialog going past May about increasing APAs on screen.  I appreciate Amanda Hess’ article in the NY Times on APA actors and actresses’ expressing their concerns of continued invisibility/pursuit for visibility on screen.

Oh, don’t forget behind the screen! I really hope that the Star Trek movie will be at least ok, if not good, if only so that director Justin Lin can keep his own reputation intact. I loved that this Wired article about Lin reminded me that he directed that infamous paintball episode on “Community” (which, if you haven’t seen it, you should; it’s hilarious). With Star Trek about to be a tv show again (well, a streaming one, anyway), Lin ought to get this almost 50 year old franchise going again. And, hey, he and John Cho reunited for the new Star Trek movie; so this has to be good for something!

(disclaimer: I still haven’t seen Lin’s movie “Better Luck Tomorrow,” which has John Cho; go figure).

(and as Angry Asian Man noted, at least with the new Star Trek movie, there’s a movie poster where you don’t have to Photoshop John Cho on it).

Last, but not least, I note that I walked through the Brooklyn War Memorial over at Cadman Plaza Park on Sunday, the day before Memorial Day. I was really moved by the inscription:

THIS MEMORIAL DEDICATED / TO THE HEROIC MEN AND WOMEN OF THE BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN / WHO FOUGHT FOR LIBERTY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1941-1945 / AND ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO SUFFERED AND DIED / MAY THEIR SACRIFICE INSPIRE FUTURE GENERATIONS / AND LEAD TO UNIVERSAL PEACE.

Food for thought, during our interesting times.  I wish the pursuit for peace was really happening… keep hope alive.