Social Secretary and the Love That Dare Not Speak Its Name - 社交秘书和不敢言名的愛

Image source: sfgate.com

It has been widely reported, such as in San Francisco Chronicle, "The White House made history Friday by announcing the appointment of Jeremy Bernard as the first male, and openly gay, social secretary."

Many other media reporting, inevitably mentioned Mr. Bernard's being openly gay.

When I first read this, I felt a little uneasy.  Why does his sexual preference matter for a man taking on a typically viewed as women's job?  Then, I accepted that this is part of the story and the reporters need to tell the whole story, if they are to report on anything.

This story even made it to the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper - People's Daily.  It was an exhaustive report, including the background the the duty of what a social secretary of the White House does.  However, it had a glaring hole - it failed to mentioned the fact that Mr.s Bernard is gay.

However Chinese people or government want us to believe that China is a progressive place, same-sex love there is still "the love that dare not speak its name".

据如舊金山紀事報和其他媒体廣泛報導，"白宮週五宣布任命傑瑞米·伯納德作為第一個男性, 公開的同性戀者, 总统社交秘书，而創造了歷史。"

其他許多媒體報導，也不可避免地提到伯納德是公開的同性戀者。

當我第一次讀到這里，我感到有點不安。為什麼在这个男性首次担任通常被視為女性工作职务的故事, 他的性傾向問題值得报道？思考一会儿，我承認這是故事的一部分，需要記者报道，如果他們认为故事值得报道。

這個故事，甚至登到中国共产黨的機關報-人民日報。那是一個詳盡的報告，包括白宮社交秘書的背景和責任。但是，它有一個明顯的漏洞- 它沒有提到一個事實，即伯納德先生是同性戀。

不论中國人和政府怎么希望我們相信中國是一個進步的地方，在那里, 同性愛還是 "不敢言名的愛"。

Shark Fin Debate in San Francisco - 旧金山鱼翅的辩论

San Francisco Chronicle recently reported, Calif. shark fin bill would ban Chinese delicacy, that

A law that would ban the sale and distribution of shark fins in California, preventing hundreds of restaurants from serving an ancient Chinese delicacy, was introduced Monday, igniting an emotional debate between conservationists and Asian leaders.

The bill, introduced by Assemblymen Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, and Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, would halt all California trade in shark fins, which are used to make Chinese shark fin soup, a tradition at banquets among Chinese people around the world.

Assembly Bill 376 says the California market for the expensive dish is helping drive rampant illegal shark finning in international waters. The practice involves cutting off the tails and fins of living sharks, which are then thrown back into the ocean to suffer and die.

The shark fin trade is believed by many scientists to be responsible for a catastrophic collapse in the worldwide shark population.

The proposed law, coming on the heels of a similar ban passed in Hawaii last year, faces considerable opposition from Chinese American restaurant and market owners, sea food distributors and fishermen.

State Sen. Leland Yee, who is running for mayor of San Francisco, called AB376 an "attack on Asian culture."

Mr. Yee's argument is pure nonsense.  Asian culture doesn't lie on shark fins.  Many Asians never had any chance to sample a drop of shark fin soup.  It had usually be consumed by the super rich and powerful, till perhaps Costco jumped in.  Consuming shark fins had no inherent connection to Asian costume, and it is not a culture.  Even if there was some linkages to certain traditional ways amongst a group of people, it has to change.  Chinese people used to bind women's feet, had emperors, and men had concubines.  Would Mr. Yee oppose the changing of those as well? 

I was glad to see that not all people with Asian heritage agree with his self-serving argument.  SF Chronicle continued: "Shark fin has lost a little luster among some Chinese Americans who are aware of the environmental consequences."

I unknowingly had a serving of shark fin soup more than 10 years ago and had avowed never to have it again and am trying hard to persuade my parents and other relatives to stay away from it.  I hope more enlightened people would realize that some "traditions" must change.

Huan Da Yu, a Chinese herbalist (left), and David Lu conclude a news conference opposing the proposed legislation at the Far East Cafe by eating shark fin soup.     中醫 Huan Da Yu 和 David Lu　以在遠東咖啡廳吃魚翅湯来结束反對立法建議的新聞發布會。
Photo: David Paul Morris / Special To The Chronicle

舊金山紀事報近日報導，美國加利福尼亞州魚翅法案將禁止中式美食：

週一提交的一項法律，將在加利福尼亞州禁止銷售和分發鯊魚鰭，禁止數百名餐廳提供一個古老的中國美食，點燃了亚裔头面人物和环保界的激烈辯論。

由州代表Jared Huffman（民主党-San Rafael）, and Paul Fong（民主党-Cupertino）提交的該法案，將停止所有加州鯊魚鰭貿易，鯊魚鰭是用來做魚翅湯的，一個各地世界中國人宴席的傳統。

議376法案說，加州市場為这一貴菜，正推動在國際水域的猖獗非法狩猎鯊魚鰭。這種狩猎涉及活生生切斷鯊魚尾巴和鰭，然後再把它拋回海裡去，任其受苦和死亡。

許多科學家認為魚翅貿易应为災難性的全球鯊魚數量崩潰負責。

擬議的法律，紧随去年在夏威夷通過的一個類似的禁令，面臨相當大的美國華人餐館和市場業主，海洋食品分銷商和漁民的反對。

州參議員Leland Yee，正競選舊金山市長，稱AB376為 “攻击亞洲文化。”

Yee先生的說法純粹是無稽之談。亞洲文化並不在存在於鯊魚鰭。許多亞洲人從來沒有任何機會來尝一滴魚翅湯。魚翅湯通常被超級富豪消费，直到Costco 之类加入后变得更普及。魚翅不是亞洲习俗不可分的成分，它也不是一種文化。即使有它与某一些一群人的某些傳統方式有聯繫，　它也必須改變。中國人过去让婦女缠足，有皇帝，男子纳妄。 Yee先生也反對改变這些吗？

我很高興地看到，並非所有亞裔都同意他的自我服務的說法。紀事報繼續說：“魚翅一小部分華裔美國人中已經失去了光澤，他们知道其環境後果。”


10多年前，我在不知覺情况下吃了一次魚翅湯。从此，我公開宣稱拒绝魚翅湯，我还在努力說服我的父母和其他親戚不吃它。我希望更多的開明的人都會認識到，一些“傳統”，必須改變。

Rich Food Worry - 豐富食物的擔心

San Francisco Chronicle reported that half of the blood donations in China immediately after lunar new year had to be discarded due to high fat content.  People consume huge amount of high protein and fatty food during the celebratory period.

I spoke to my parents recently and they worry about how to preserve huge quantity of food - fish, meat, poultry, etc.  Their two freezers are full and the temperature is rising so the food in the balcony will not stay frozen much longer.  I asked if they want to give some food away, they said that all the relatives have plenty and share the same worry.

My next question was would they give some to the poor and my dad was dumbfounded by my question.  Once he realized that I was serious about giving the abundant to the poor, he started to state obstacles - people don't give away food, people are leery of food given to them - they even worry about the safety of those purchased from stores let alone free from strangers, the poor had help from the governments, etc.

It is sad to realize that there is still no tradition of sharing with the less fortunate there.  In the US, many people donate goods and time to the poor (though I would rather see no one falls into that category, but that is unrealistic).  Many NGOs help to facilitate such charitable efforts as well.

China is a very tough country to live in for the poor - there are many working poor and unemployed and the helps they got, survived skimping from various levels of corrupted official, were dismal.  Chinese government also does not like organizations not sanctioned by itself.

It is hard to combat poverty if the better offs would not see the needs or usefulness to helping the poor.  US is doing better now but it seems the rich and powerful here are determined to learn from China, and siphon more money from middle class to their ever expanding coffers.  



舊金山紀事報报道，中國農曆新年後一半的捐獻血液被丟棄了，因為它的高脂肪含量。人們在慶祝期間消耗大量的高蛋白質和脂肪的食物。

我跟我的父母最近通话时，他們擔心如何保存大量的食品 - 魚，肉，家禽，他們的兩個冷凍機等都以满了，随氣溫上升，在陽台上的食物也不會凍結更長的時間。我問他們有没有想把一些食物分给别人，他們說，所有的親戚都有很多食品，並有相同的烦恼。

我的下一個問題是，他們會不會把一些食物送给一些相对贫窮的人。我的爸爸觉得我的問題很不着边际。当他意識到我是認真时，他開始狀设障礙 -- 中国人不乱送食物，人們对從商店里購買都懷疑安全性, 对陌生人的赠与食物，他們会更擔心安全，窮人有政府的幫助，等等。

認識道那裡沒有與不幸的人分享的傳統是很让人悲叹的。在美國，許多人向窮人捐贈物品及時间（儘管我寧願看不到贫穷现象，但那是不現實的）。許多非政府組織提供促進慈善的種種努力。

窮人在中國是非常艱難的 - 許多工作窮人和失業者得到了的從各級貪官污吏剋扣后点滴幫助，總是差強人意。中國政府也不喜歡未获它批准的組織。

如果富人認识不到幫助窮人需要或效用，消除貧困是很難的。美國现在做得好些；但是，現在看來這裡的有财有势的人正決心學習中國，以從中產階級虹吸更多的錢，以不斷擴大他們的金库。

Price Tags and Store Return - 价格标签和商店退货

Yesterday, I prepared a work-related thank-you gift and took off price tags from the merchandises we were to send out.  I only learned not to reveal the costs of gifts in the U.S.  When I was back to China and tried to remove price tags from some gifts I was about to send out, my mother felt that it was rather peculiar.  There, people would rather leave the price tags on and let the receiver know the value of the gifts, therefore notice that how they were values by the gift givers.

Price tags in the U.S. can also facilitate returns of unwanted merchandises back to the stores.  In the U.S., within the stated periods, usually 30 days, with receipts and original packages, unused merchandises generally can be returned for full value, unless they were on sale when purchased or have been discontinued.  Without receipts, a store credit might still be issued for the returned goods.

In China, it would be VERY difficult to return anything, with or without receipt.  Customers who dare to try to return any goods, run the risk of being ridiculed and scolded and perhaps even cursed.  Mega stores with capitals from overseas are doing better job there now.

昨天，我準備一些與工作有關的感謝禮物，并揭下我們要寄出去商品的價格標籤。我在美國學會了这个不透露禮物價格的习惯。當我回到中國，並試圖揭下禮物的價格標籤时，我母親覺得這很奇怪。在那裡，人們願意讓接收人知道礼品價值，因此看到他們是在送禮者眼中的價值如何。

在美國的價格標籤也可以加快商品退货。在美國，在規定期限内，一般為 30天，只要有收據和原包裝，未使用商品一般都可退回的全部價值，除非他們在折价購買或已經商店下档。如果沒有收據，貨物仍然可能退掉，以换得商店信用。

在中國，退货是非常困難的事，不论有或沒有收據。顾客誰膽敢嘗試退返任何商品，要冒被嘲笑和斥责，甚至詛咒的风險。有來自海外的資金的大型商店现在做得好些。

Kampf， © Matthew Felix Sun

我没有说话 - I Did Not Speak Up

"First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me." This well-known speech by Pastor Martin Niemoller, First They Came..., now inspired a new version in Chinese language websites:

“首先他们冲共产党员来， 我没有说话， 因为我不是共产党员。 接着他们冲工会成员来， 我没有说话， 因为我不是工会会员。 接着他们冲犹太人来， 我没有说话， 因为我不是犹太人。 然后他们冲我而来 却没有剩下来的人 为我说话了。” 马丁·尼默勒牧师的这个著名的言谈，启发了中文网站的新版本：

我没有说话 他们封Blogger的时候， 我没有说话， 因为我不写博客； 他们封Youtube的时候， 我没有说话， 因为我不看视频； 他们封Twitter的时候， 我没有说话， 因为我不用微博； 他们封Facebook的时候， 我没有说话， 因为我不交友； 他们封Google的时候， 我没有说话， 因为我用百度搜索； 最后我发现， 我再也没有地方说话了。

I Did Not Speak Up When they closed down Blogger, I did not speak up, because I did not write blogs; When closed down Youtube, I did not speak up, because I did not watch online videos; When closed down Twitter, I did not speak up, because I did not write tweets; When closed down Facebook, I did not speak up, because I did not make friends; When closed down Google, I did not speak up, because I used Baidu to search; Finally, I found out that I have no place to speak up.

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