| TO RETURN TO FIRST PAGE NEWS, CLICK HERE CLICK TO GO TO >PAGE 1> >PAGE 2> >PAGE 3> >PAGE 4> >PAGE 5> >PAGE 6> >PAGE 7> >PAGE 8> >PAGE 9> >PAGE10> >PAGE11> >PAGE 12> >PAGE 13> >PAGE 14> >PAGE 15> >PAGE 16> |
| WANG NEWS SERVICE An Independent Source of News & Views |
GOT NEWS?
GOT OPINION?
Send your information,
photographs, or
comments to
WANGNEWS for
consideration to be
published in WANG
NEWS SERVICE.
To send, use this
email address:
news@wangnews.net
GOT OPINION?
Send your information,
photographs, or
comments to
WANGNEWS for
consideration to be
published in WANG
NEWS SERVICE.
To send, use this
email address:
news@wangnews.net
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Reach out to the
decision-makers, opinion-
shapers, and change-
agents of Greater
Cincinnati and the World.
ADVERTISE with
WANG NEWS SERVICE.
For terms and conditions,
you are invited to inquire
by email:
advertise@wangnews.net
decision-makers, opinion-
shapers, and change-
agents of Greater
Cincinnati and the World.
ADVERTISE with
WANG NEWS SERVICE.
For terms and conditions,
you are invited to inquire
by email:
advertise@wangnews.net
| Current U. S. Eastern Time: |
GOT RICE?
| Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin (1759). |
October 2008 Extra
For September Extra, Click Here
For September Extra, Click Here
For Upcoming Sunday
Seminars on Current
Issues at Christ
Church Cathedral in
the City of Cincinnati
click here.
Seminars on Current
Issues at Christ
Church Cathedral in
the City of Cincinnati
click here.
After the Storm
Reflections On Life In the Turn Lane & Beyond
Beverly Jones - September 27, 2008
Surprise! The sun actually did come up this morning. In times of crisis finding certainties to hang onto comes
down to basics such as this. The other one that helped me this week was seeing the constellation Orion,
hanging out over my house when I went out to get the newspaper. Why, my goodness....it’s still there! And
I’m still here! But all is not well in our civic house.
It is our civic house that is on my mind. Aside from the splintering of our economy and presidential campaign,
I’m acutely aware of the splintering of community. As in personal crises of death or serious illness in the
family, it is the comfort and presence of friends and family that sustain. Well, it seems to me, these are times
of devastating crises for our communal life and reaching out for shared comfort comes up empty handed in our
iPod, texting, on-your-own society. You never think about air until it disappears .
With mixed emotions I “communed” with 500 others at a recent afternoon with Wendell Berry, essayist and
agrarian philosopher whose main tenet is community. He read poems and a short story, made self-
deprecating asides –he considers himself “marginal”. The audience laughed in recognition of our own
marginality. It was wonderful to have this physical, rather than virtual presence and connection and to hear
about human values, human scale, human foibles. This rapt audience gave Berry and his ideas (our ideas too)
two standing ovations and spontaneous applause. It was bittersweet to be part of the “gathered” and to know
that this energy, concern, love for humanity and our communities would then disperse, each of us going back
to our do-it-yourself daily lives - the healing spell of community broken.
So it’s no wonder that now I hunger more and more to hear reinforcing ideas, to grab whatever solace of
community I can find; to have less and less energy for engagement with opposing ideas and negative
energies. Others may be feeling this too from the looks of “forwarded” emails in my in-box.
John M. Buchanan, Presbyterian minister, editor of Christian Century, was another port in this storm. He shed
light on the source of much of my frustration over the religious “left-right” split and the apparent impotence of
progressives. “...liberals don’t like to fight, but instead are always trying to accommodate people, to be
inclusive even of those trying to exclude them. ...I concluded that the first things on the minds of my
conservative brothers and sisters when they get out of bed in the morning is fighting liberals, whereas liberals
get out of bed trying to figure out how to live with conservatives.” Christian Century Editor’s Desk, 10-07-08.
Liberals haven’t made much headway in figuring that out – so at least let us gather together for comfort and,
maybe in addition to finding courage, we would find ways to counteract and restore some balance to this
shouting match we call political dialogue. I shudder to think how this looks to the rest of the world.
Since we’re reduced to electronic gathering here’s my offering for our community’s conversation: Sojourners*
has put together materials that emphasize how we can vote our values; how we can straighten up our civic
house disheveled by these storms and maybe make it a home. Our broad Christian values can inform our
political decisions, no matter our policy or candidate conclusions. As they say: “This can inform you as your
write letters to candidates or to your local newspaper, call radio shows, and ask candidates at forums or town
hall meetings questions based on these principles.” Principles and Policies for Christian Voters. Uh huh!!
Sneaky! They’re trying to nudge us into action, aren’t they? Even so, it’s a good reminder to use our
principled Christian faith perspective on these civic issues: Compassion and Economic Justice; Peace and
Restraint of Violence; Consistent Ethic of Life; Racial Justice; Human Rights, Dignity and Gender Justice;
Strengthen Families and Renew Culture; and Good Stewardship of God’s Creation.
While I ponder that, I go back to Wendell Berry, (I can do two things at once):
When despair for the world grows in me
And I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood-drake rests in the beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water
and I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
The Peace of Wild Things
So I look up. Orion speaks to me of eternity and the political world snaps back into perspective.
© Beverly Jones 2008. Do the Doing. Together. 115 days
* Sojourner’s Guide: Principles and Policies for Christian Voters: http://www.sojo.net/action/alerts/VOP_voter-guide.pdf
Reflections On Life In the Turn Lane & Beyond
Beverly Jones - September 27, 2008
Surprise! The sun actually did come up this morning. In times of crisis finding certainties to hang onto comes
down to basics such as this. The other one that helped me this week was seeing the constellation Orion,
hanging out over my house when I went out to get the newspaper. Why, my goodness....it’s still there! And
I’m still here! But all is not well in our civic house.
It is our civic house that is on my mind. Aside from the splintering of our economy and presidential campaign,
I’m acutely aware of the splintering of community. As in personal crises of death or serious illness in the
family, it is the comfort and presence of friends and family that sustain. Well, it seems to me, these are times
of devastating crises for our communal life and reaching out for shared comfort comes up empty handed in our
iPod, texting, on-your-own society. You never think about air until it disappears .
With mixed emotions I “communed” with 500 others at a recent afternoon with Wendell Berry, essayist and
agrarian philosopher whose main tenet is community. He read poems and a short story, made self-
deprecating asides –he considers himself “marginal”. The audience laughed in recognition of our own
marginality. It was wonderful to have this physical, rather than virtual presence and connection and to hear
about human values, human scale, human foibles. This rapt audience gave Berry and his ideas (our ideas too)
two standing ovations and spontaneous applause. It was bittersweet to be part of the “gathered” and to know
that this energy, concern, love for humanity and our communities would then disperse, each of us going back
to our do-it-yourself daily lives - the healing spell of community broken.
So it’s no wonder that now I hunger more and more to hear reinforcing ideas, to grab whatever solace of
community I can find; to have less and less energy for engagement with opposing ideas and negative
energies. Others may be feeling this too from the looks of “forwarded” emails in my in-box.
John M. Buchanan, Presbyterian minister, editor of Christian Century, was another port in this storm. He shed
light on the source of much of my frustration over the religious “left-right” split and the apparent impotence of
progressives. “...liberals don’t like to fight, but instead are always trying to accommodate people, to be
inclusive even of those trying to exclude them. ...I concluded that the first things on the minds of my
conservative brothers and sisters when they get out of bed in the morning is fighting liberals, whereas liberals
get out of bed trying to figure out how to live with conservatives.” Christian Century Editor’s Desk, 10-07-08.
Liberals haven’t made much headway in figuring that out – so at least let us gather together for comfort and,
maybe in addition to finding courage, we would find ways to counteract and restore some balance to this
shouting match we call political dialogue. I shudder to think how this looks to the rest of the world.
Since we’re reduced to electronic gathering here’s my offering for our community’s conversation: Sojourners*
has put together materials that emphasize how we can vote our values; how we can straighten up our civic
house disheveled by these storms and maybe make it a home. Our broad Christian values can inform our
political decisions, no matter our policy or candidate conclusions. As they say: “This can inform you as your
write letters to candidates or to your local newspaper, call radio shows, and ask candidates at forums or town
hall meetings questions based on these principles.” Principles and Policies for Christian Voters. Uh huh!!
Sneaky! They’re trying to nudge us into action, aren’t they? Even so, it’s a good reminder to use our
principled Christian faith perspective on these civic issues: Compassion and Economic Justice; Peace and
Restraint of Violence; Consistent Ethic of Life; Racial Justice; Human Rights, Dignity and Gender Justice;
Strengthen Families and Renew Culture; and Good Stewardship of God’s Creation.
While I ponder that, I go back to Wendell Berry, (I can do two things at once):
When despair for the world grows in me
And I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood-drake rests in the beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief.
I come into the presence of still water
and I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light.
For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
The Peace of Wild Things
So I look up. Orion speaks to me of eternity and the political world snaps back into perspective.
© Beverly Jones 2008. Do the Doing. Together. 115 days
* Sojourner’s Guide: Principles and Policies for Christian Voters: http://www.sojo.net/action/alerts/VOP_voter-guide.pdf
| Christ Church Cathedral announces an Interfaith Conversation: Faith, Values and Choices Wednesday, October 22, 7:00 PM– 8:30 PM at the Cathedral in downtown Cincinnati. On Wednesday, October 22, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM, Christ Church Cathedral will present An Interfaith Conversation: Faith, Values and Choices. Growing out of the moral and ethical responsibility all citizens have to participate in the political life of society, this interfaith conversation will focus on the 2008 presidential election. Four local religious leaders, representing the Buddhist, Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths, will tell how the values of their faith shape their decisions of public policy and leadership. Within communities of faith, political judgments and choices emerge from the values of religious teachings. The program is an opportunity for persons of faith, no matter their religion, to come together to support, consider and discuss faithful citizenship. Panelists will include Dr. Inayat Malik of the Islamic Center; Dr. Susan Einbinder of Hebrew Union College; the Rev. Paula Jackson of the Episcopal Church of Our Savior; and David Tape of the Gaden Samdrup-Ling Buddhist Monastery (Tibetan Buddhism). The Very Rev. James A. Diamond, Dean, Christ Church Cathedral, will serve as moderator. There will be time for questions and answers. Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 East Fourth Street (the corner of Fourth & Sycamore in downtown Cincinnati). The program is offered at no charge and is open to all. For more information, contact 513.621.1817 or go to www.christchurchcincinnati.org, Faith, Values and Choices under Action with a link to download poster. |
| FREEDOM CENTER HOSTS STRATEGIES FOR RESOLVING CONFLICTS |
| On October 7, 2008, the National Underground Railroad FREEDOM CENTER hosted a Community Forum to discuss peaceful strategies for resolving conflicts. Shown in photo from right to left are Dr. Carl Westmoreland, Moderator, Chad Sloss, Director of SPARK (Strenghtening Partnerships and Resources for Kids), Roula Allouch, Council on American Islamic Relations - Ohio, and David Weaver, Director of Programs at Bridges for a Just Community |
| CINCINNATI HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION CALLS UPON COMMUNITY TO SIGN UNITY STATEMENT AGAINST THE MAILING OF THE "OBSESSION" DVD |
The UNITY STATEMENT is as follows:
We unite in solidarity with the Muslim community, concerning the DVD “Obsession:
Radical Islam’s War against the West.” We understand and sympathize with their
community and to further marginalize the Muslim community which is already
victimized by false characterizations and misunderstanding.
At the very heart of American democracy is the belief in the freedom of religion and
the right of people to choose and follow their own religious teachings and practices.
Those who distribute materials that use highly inflammatory images and language to
falsely characterize all Muslims, whether in the name of another religion, or in the
name of their own distorted vision of what American society should be, are, in fact,
spreading the very hatred that they claim to condemn. In so doing they insult and
stain all Americans and betray the principles upon which our country was founded.
We call upon all people who believe in the American democratic ideals to join us,
not only in condemning this type of fear-mongering but to work together within their
own communities to promote fellowship and harmony with all of our neighbors
regardless of religion, race, or cultural background.
We unite in solidarity with the Muslim community, concerning the DVD “Obsession:
Radical Islam’s War against the West.” We understand and sympathize with their
community and to further marginalize the Muslim community which is already
victimized by false characterizations and misunderstanding.
At the very heart of American democracy is the belief in the freedom of religion and
the right of people to choose and follow their own religious teachings and practices.
Those who distribute materials that use highly inflammatory images and language to
falsely characterize all Muslims, whether in the name of another religion, or in the
name of their own distorted vision of what American society should be, are, in fact,
spreading the very hatred that they claim to condemn. In so doing they insult and
stain all Americans and betray the principles upon which our country was founded.
We call upon all people who believe in the American democratic ideals to join us,
not only in condemning this type of fear-mongering but to work together within their
own communities to promote fellowship and harmony with all of our neighbors
regardless of religion, race, or cultural background.
| CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI HOSTS TOWN MEETING FOR CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES |
On October 2, 2008 Christ Church Cathedral hosted a luncheon Town Meeting for
local candidates who are running for the U. S. Congress. Shown in photo above
from left to right are the candidates who participated: David A. Krikorian
(Indepedent for 2nd District), Steve Driehaus (Democrat for 1st District) and Rich
Stevenson (Independent for 1st District).
local candidates who are running for the U. S. Congress. Shown in photo above
from left to right are the candidates who participated: David A. Krikorian
(Indepedent for 2nd District), Steve Driehaus (Democrat for 1st District) and Rich
Stevenson (Independent for 1st District).
 |  |  |
Nay to Fear-Mongering
Last Friday 10/3/2008, the United States Congress approved the $700 billion that President
Bush had insisted on in a drastic about-face on the state of the economy the week before.
The President had painted a dire portrait of the economy, predicting that if Congress did
not accept his $700 billion bail-out plan, we will be facing “a long and painful recession.”
Mr. Bush had speculated that "Without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial
panic, and a distressing scenario would unfold," which in my mind conjured up images of the Great
Depression which started with the stock market crash of 1929. This surreal prediction eerily reverberates
the fatalism of Mr. Ahmadinejad who last month explained to an American newspaper that the woes on Wall
Street are due “to the imposition on the U.S. economy of heavy military engagement and involvement around
the world ... the war in Iraq.” Then at the United Nations, Mr. Ahmadinejad predicted that "American empire
in the world is reaching the end of its road." Perhaps, having attended the annual opening of sessions at the
United Nations himself, the President has fallen under the beguiling spell of Mr. Ahmadinejad's rhetoric.
Notwithstanding the availability of $700 billion of tax-payers' money, financial markets did not immediately
stabilize; Wall Street remains in the cold grip of fear. The effectiveness of the President’s plan is yet to be
seen;the accuracy of the words of both Mr. Bush and Mr. Ahmadinejad remains to be tested by time. I truly
hope that the rescue will be quick but I am sorely distressed by the yet another resort to fear at this late
hour by Mr. Bush to get Congress and the American people to go along with a midnight program.
The good news is that over the years. Mr. Bush’s choice of words has been shown to be not well grounded
in fact. For example, I can take comfort in recalling on Mr. Bush’s insistence on the existence of nuclear
weapons in the hands of Saddam Hussein. I would like to discount Mr. Bush’s dire pronouncement on the
economy as we now have on the hyperbolic reason for the invasion of Iraq. While the sun may well have set
on the current administration, under our system of democracy, the dawn will arrive with the new.
Main Street is not Wall Street.
It is true that our economy has been impacted by the mortgage banking crisis, but the United States as a
Nation is not yet bankrupt and the American people, while in the fell clutch of circumstance, far from
panicked. Indeed, we are a resolute, self-reliant, and unbowed people who have faced the menace of the
years and have taken heart from another President who proclaimed during his first inauguration in 1933,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” An Opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang 10/08/2008
Last Friday 10/3/2008, the United States Congress approved the $700 billion that President
Bush had insisted on in a drastic about-face on the state of the economy the week before.
The President had painted a dire portrait of the economy, predicting that if Congress did
not accept his $700 billion bail-out plan, we will be facing “a long and painful recession.”
Mr. Bush had speculated that "Without immediate action by Congress, America could slip into a financial
panic, and a distressing scenario would unfold," which in my mind conjured up images of the Great
Depression which started with the stock market crash of 1929. This surreal prediction eerily reverberates
the fatalism of Mr. Ahmadinejad who last month explained to an American newspaper that the woes on Wall
Street are due “to the imposition on the U.S. economy of heavy military engagement and involvement around
the world ... the war in Iraq.” Then at the United Nations, Mr. Ahmadinejad predicted that "American empire
in the world is reaching the end of its road." Perhaps, having attended the annual opening of sessions at the
United Nations himself, the President has fallen under the beguiling spell of Mr. Ahmadinejad's rhetoric.
Notwithstanding the availability of $700 billion of tax-payers' money, financial markets did not immediately
stabilize; Wall Street remains in the cold grip of fear. The effectiveness of the President’s plan is yet to be
seen;the accuracy of the words of both Mr. Bush and Mr. Ahmadinejad remains to be tested by time. I truly
hope that the rescue will be quick but I am sorely distressed by the yet another resort to fear at this late
hour by Mr. Bush to get Congress and the American people to go along with a midnight program.
The good news is that over the years. Mr. Bush’s choice of words has been shown to be not well grounded
in fact. For example, I can take comfort in recalling on Mr. Bush’s insistence on the existence of nuclear
weapons in the hands of Saddam Hussein. I would like to discount Mr. Bush’s dire pronouncement on the
economy as we now have on the hyperbolic reason for the invasion of Iraq. While the sun may well have set
on the current administration, under our system of democracy, the dawn will arrive with the new.
Main Street is not Wall Street.
It is true that our economy has been impacted by the mortgage banking crisis, but the United States as a
Nation is not yet bankrupt and the American people, while in the fell clutch of circumstance, far from
panicked. Indeed, we are a resolute, self-reliant, and unbowed people who have faced the menace of the
years and have taken heart from another President who proclaimed during his first inauguration in 1933,
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” An Opinion by Charleston C. K. Wang 10/08/2008
| "When will she blink?" 2 Live models posing as mannequins at the Tri-County Mall |
This is a 2/18/2007 photo
by Charleston C. K. Wang
by Charleston C. K. Wang
THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR has gotten bigger - we are now on the air weekly on public radio WAIF-CINCINNATI 88.3 FM and our broadcast time has moved to prime-time Monday evenings, 5 - 6 PM. THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR will continue to feature talk, and music, and other good things with a discernable slant towards Asian American affairs, immigration, and many other issues of interest to our community-at-large. THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR is produced and hosted by Charleston Wang with Mary Joan Reutter as co-host, together with our distinguished guests. So, tune in to THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR on WAIF-CINCINNATI 88.3 FM. every Monday 5-6 PM. Get the latest on the Asian American community in Cincinnati, the fast growing & mobile community in the Tri-state. After listening to the THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR, e-mail us direct feedback and thoughts by clicking here. If you or a friend wish to be a guest on THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR, please let us know. Tune in to THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR every Monday 5 - 6 PM on WAIF 88.3 FM Cincinnati on the air - Or on the internet streaming audio by clicking here, |
| THE ASIAN AMERICAN HOUR on WAIF 88.3 FM Cincinnati IS NOW A WEEKLY PRIME-TIME SHOW EVERY MONDAY EVENING 5 - 6 P.M. Informing the People of Cincinnati (and Beyond) since 6/7/2001. asianamericanhour@wangnews.net |