In the last post, I discussed my conflicting thoughts about my pride and shame as a Thai-American and my confusion as to why we haven't united as a cohesive unit in the current generation. In this post, I hope to garner your thoughts as to what we can do to change things.
I am a board member for Thai Americans For the Future, or TAFF. We have had only two events:
1.) A Thai community art show at the Consulate Building downtown
2.) A fundraiser at a sushi restaurant for a playground at Wat Dhamaramma in Chicago.
Why only two events? Because a group of 10 people cannot always group think for an entire generation. We know what we like, but is it necessarily what you want to see and/or attend? I want to meet with my fellow Thais and connect, but I need your help. I need your ideas - only you can tell me the kind of events that would interest you.
Here's my request/your challenge: What can we do to get together as Thais? What sort of events would you like to see? Would you go to a conference if we put one together? Would you like something formal or casual? Sound off in the comments! Your idea might just be the one I take to TAFF and make happen.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Protect our (Thai)dentity
I find myself torn among different feelings when it comes to my Thai identity. I love to acknowledge my heritage. Our food, language, and culture are rich and attract the attention of non-Thais from around the world. From our beautiful clothing, incredible artwork, and mind-blowingly delicious food, being Thai is pretty awesome. However, shadows darken my pride in my heritage as well. Political issues in Thailand can sometimes make the GOP vs. Democratic race to the White House look like hopscotch at recess; issues with crime, poverty, and the sex trade in mainstream Western media make it seem like Thailand is nothing more than a pit filled with the dark desires of humanity. In short, I gauge my audience to see if telling them my cultural and ethnic heritage will be met with positivity or negativity. I have enough negativity in life; my culture should not be a source of it.
Despite the warring emotions above, I find myself wondering how the current generation of Thais and Thai-Americans in Chicago have not banded together to be a solid, cohesive unit capable of making rational and logical decisions. The older generation has held on to power, despite differences in opinion on how to operate, yet our generation seems content to stay on the sidelines. Maybe the older generation has been in power so long that they don't know how to give it up, and maybe we don't know how to take their place. Maybe it's both, or neither. No one thought to write a manual for taking over these roles of cultural power, and very few of us seem willing to apprentice under an elder's wing.
There has been enmity and fighting in the past, disagreements and scandal (true and rumored), but I've noticed that most of the Thais of my generation actually like each other. We genuinely like each other, despite which temple we attended in our youth or what our parents do/did for a living. This generation is full of working professionals with our own families, trading stories and parenting advice as only friends can. We help each other in our daily and professional lives, yet still, so many of us hide and refuse to take part in preserving and furthering the work our parents' generation so carefully built. We have a presence in Chicago, albeit small, but it will shrink to nothing if we stand by and do nothing.
No, it's not perfect. Not by a long shot. Then again, what is? Just over sixty years ago, Blacks were legally second class citizens who couldn't vote, go to prestigious colleges, or hold jobs of any repute. Today, they are legally equal and can hold any job they want, or go to any school they want, yet racial equity is still far away. If we next-generation Thais shy away from continuing the legacy because it's broken or imperfect, then we've learned nothing about how legacies are built or how change is made. We need to keep working, keep improving, and make ourselves stronger so the Thai voice will be heard loud and clear.
Sound off productively, my friends!
Despite the warring emotions above, I find myself wondering how the current generation of Thais and Thai-Americans in Chicago have not banded together to be a solid, cohesive unit capable of making rational and logical decisions. The older generation has held on to power, despite differences in opinion on how to operate, yet our generation seems content to stay on the sidelines. Maybe the older generation has been in power so long that they don't know how to give it up, and maybe we don't know how to take their place. Maybe it's both, or neither. No one thought to write a manual for taking over these roles of cultural power, and very few of us seem willing to apprentice under an elder's wing.
There has been enmity and fighting in the past, disagreements and scandal (true and rumored), but I've noticed that most of the Thais of my generation actually like each other. We genuinely like each other, despite which temple we attended in our youth or what our parents do/did for a living. This generation is full of working professionals with our own families, trading stories and parenting advice as only friends can. We help each other in our daily and professional lives, yet still, so many of us hide and refuse to take part in preserving and furthering the work our parents' generation so carefully built. We have a presence in Chicago, albeit small, but it will shrink to nothing if we stand by and do nothing.
No, it's not perfect. Not by a long shot. Then again, what is? Just over sixty years ago, Blacks were legally second class citizens who couldn't vote, go to prestigious colleges, or hold jobs of any repute. Today, they are legally equal and can hold any job they want, or go to any school they want, yet racial equity is still far away. If we next-generation Thais shy away from continuing the legacy because it's broken or imperfect, then we've learned nothing about how legacies are built or how change is made. We need to keep working, keep improving, and make ourselves stronger so the Thai voice will be heard loud and clear.
Sound off productively, my friends!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Thaidentity is Born!
Welcome to (Thai)dentity, where I will be posting thoughts and ideas about race, equity, and life in the U.S. with a particular slant toward being Asian-American and Thai-American. I welcome open discussion here on any of the posts, but be aware that I will be deleting inflammatory remarks, personal attacks, and any other response designed to destroy the spirit of open discussion.
With that said, please post ideas you have for me to talk about here. I also welcome you to submit a post or article you've written that fits in with the subject matter of the blog; it will be my discretion as to whether or not to post it, so keep that in mind when you send one in.
Here's a particular call to my food addicts here in Chicago: I'm looking for a group of 3-4 people to get together to try a new Thai restaurant or Thai owned restaurant and review it for the blog. It will be featured on Tuesdays for Thai Food Tuesday. Let me know if you're interested.
Thanks for your support and following as I wade into these sometimes questionable internet waters.
With that said, please post ideas you have for me to talk about here. I also welcome you to submit a post or article you've written that fits in with the subject matter of the blog; it will be my discretion as to whether or not to post it, so keep that in mind when you send one in.
Here's a particular call to my food addicts here in Chicago: I'm looking for a group of 3-4 people to get together to try a new Thai restaurant or Thai owned restaurant and review it for the blog. It will be featured on Tuesdays for Thai Food Tuesday. Let me know if you're interested.
Thanks for your support and following as I wade into these sometimes questionable internet waters.
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