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Martin Luther King Jr. I Have a Dream Speech

When MLK was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 he spoke of his aspiration for global peace and brotherhood. We know that this isn’t a far reaching aspiration because it’s something that we are naturally inclined towards. Mfume openly spoke about the crisis occurring in Haiti and the magnitude of the tragedy (more than 45,000 killed). The number of casualties and the amount of suffering is tremendous and mind blowing. Yet, he reminded us that everyone in this nation and around the world has stepped in during this difficult time to aid victims in Haiti in various ways, by sending supplies, rescuers, and equipment to monetary donations and support - actions revealing our true human spirit. If only we could be just as involved in alleviating social problems locally and globally that inevitably impact the health and development of various populations, and not only during times of immediate crisis.

Kweisi Mfume

Something salient that Mfume touched upon in his speech is that we sometimes forget that we’re all interconnected and part of a larger community. It’s no wonder when our news concentrate only on local crime and violence and barely make mention of our nation’s relationship with other countries and the national and global societal and health issues that are pervasive. What’s amazing is that our country doesn’t make health care a right, but a privilege, and even more amazing that there’s a strong movement against health care reform. What supporters of this movement fail to understand is that working towards widening the gap in health disparities not only drains our country’s resources and efforts, but sends us backwards, further from our goal of social equality and justice.

The final and most pertinent thing Mfume spoke about was a major aspect of MLK’s philosophy that originated from Mahatma Ghandi’s teachings. It was one of Ghandi’s many wise sayings that he took to heart:

My life is my message

And this was how MLK tried to convey his message, through the non-violent actions he took to fight for equality, justice, dignity of his people, and peace. It’s a reminder of how we should live our lives. Whether it’s standing up to injustices, promoting peace and brotherhood, or working towards a social goal, we have to remember that it takes a community of people who believe in MLK’s dream to make it happen, as he so famously said in he speech in 1963, We cannot walk alone. And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. And so on Martin Luther King Jr. Day let us not only remember a great man with an even greater vision, but let us live his dream.

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Dr. Clarke’s H1N1 Rap (from flu.gov web site)

As we enter the flu season
The subject of vaccination has begun to re-surface in various forms. I’ve seen flyers distributed, state mandates issued, casual debates taking place, the usual myths being passed around, and Dr. Clarke’s awesome rap on H1N1. The very issue of vaccination brings up the inherent conflict between individual rights and public health’s “for the greater good” doctrine. Inevitably, people are going to disagree and the same myths will continue to circulate.

But what’s different about this season?
It’s unique because we will be combating both the usual flu strain and the H1N1 strain - infamously known as the swine flu. It seems quite likely that the incidence of flu may increase this season, which is all the more reason to get vaccinated. However, there was a lot of talk about the H1N1 vaccine at work and people were hesitant to get it despite vaccination trials and FDA approval. One of the most common concerns voiced was,

“It’s too new and we don’t know what will happen.”

I admit that I was quite worried about the vaccine for H1N1 after hearing all the concerns from my co-workers. So I decided to do some research.

The first web sites I went to were CDC’s web site on H1N1 www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu and www.flu.gov.

I found the following facts about the new strain:

Here are a couple of good mythbuster sites about the flu vaccine:

What’s more concerning is how easily the virus can spread
According to the CDC the flu virus can survive on surfaces for 2 to 8 hours, which can then infect a person. Infected people may be able to infect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after getting sick.

So wash yer hands and stay home if you’re sick!

Making a choice
I must say that I felt loads better after reading about H1N1. It seems that the strain was no worse than the usual one, but it was more severe for younger people, pregnant women, and those with complications. Also, the vaccine is just like any other flu vaccine that I’ve been getting for years, but simply targeting a different strain. The concern about the “newness” of the vaccine is not really that much of a concern since each year the flu vaccine is essentially a new vaccine. It’s made the same way each time so it’s not any different this year. I get the seasonal flu shot every year and so far nothing adverse has happened to me. I’ve even had the vaccine when I was pregnant and my baby did not have any issues. But the most important reason for getting vaccinated is to prevent the spread of the flu to my children, family members, co-workers, and other people who I may come into contact with. It becomes a never ending chain of contagion, with one person contaminating the next. So I’ve decided to get the H1N1 vaccination not only because I am a believer in the “greater good” doctrine, but also because I’ve made an informed decision - I won’t let you down Dr. Clarke!…Now I just hope they’ve produced enough supply of it this year.

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From left to right: Rick Barot (faculty poet), Monica, and Sarah Gambito (Kundiman co-founder).

I have a confession. Before I arrived here in Charlottesville, I was harboring a forbidden question buried under my pile of busy madness. Quietly, inside, I wondered: “Why bother?” It was a symptom of self-defeat that started forming like moss over the creative questions I slowly began shrinking from. Basically, I was in a rut, and unsure if I would be able to make it out alive.

Kundiman changed all that for me. It is an Asian-American poetry retreat, directed by Sarah Gambito, taking place at the University of Virginia, bringing together selected fellows with writing faculty and staff from across the country. This year our star faculty included Rick Barot, Myung Mi Kim, and Staceyann Chin.

The days are filled with intense workshops, salon readings, as well as group challenges to analyze and reinterpret poetry on the spot — I found myself constantly on my toes and sitting on the edge of what I thought I could do and what I never imagined I could do. I think that is the beauty of such spaces - to push us to the uncomfortable spaces that our lives desperately want to grow from.

University of Virginia in Charlottesville

The most enriching experience for me was simply getting to know the other fellows who are each deeply involved in causes that they deeply believe in and who are passionate about the projects that they are pursuing. Their courage and ability to “own it” really moved me. They not only made me aware of what was possible, but also reflected back to me how much I needed to push past the self-constructed barriers. I think the thing about Asian identity politics that I’m still learning to shake off is the profoundly ingrained habit of perpetual politeness. It disables honesty. And without honesty, it is impossible to create.

The Kundiman love is infectious though. Kudos to the staff who worked so hard to make us feel welcome, comfortable and free to take chances. I went home from Kundiman with more drive and plenty of new ways to experiment with language and creative process. I also recommitted to designing a daily life where I can dedicate more serious time to my work.

I look forward to the next retreat as well as other Kundiman events in the area. As an artist who is always making work about displacement and translocation, I have to tell you that I finally feel at home.

From left to right: Hyejung Kook, Diana Park, Gein Wong, Monica, and Esther Lee