Editor's corner/ Over a cup of tea
Heidi M. Pascual*
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
Publisher & Editor
* 2006 Journalist of the
Year for the State of
Wisconsin (U.S.-SBA)
| "Cultural anomaly" gag |
Recently, I received two feedbacks about an article and a video report in this magazine (print
and online) referencing Asian American women’s experiences and their struggles against
traditional beliefs and family values. I was asked to impose a media gag on myself about the
issue of rape inside a “holy” place and the issue of problematic young Asian American women of
Muslim parents being caught in the middle of two cultures. I was told that Asian Wisconzine is a
positive-only publication that shouldn’t print controversial issues that may hurt the sensitivities
of people belonging to certain religious beliefs or closed cultural traditions.
I was saddened upon hearing these feedbacks. Indeed, Asian Wisconzine is focused on
positive things about Asian Americans in Wisconsin and Asians elsewhere, but I also want to
bring into light certain anomalies or negatives that may not have been created by traditions but
by those who implement them or those we look up to. Only in exposing these anomalies can
positive things happen in particular circumstances.
As a journalist, I am looking for stories of Asians in Wisconsin, what drove them away from
their native countries, their failures and successes, their realities as well as their dreams. Many
of the stories I have written about were success stories, but there were struggles behind each
of them, and I think such deserve equal attention, especially if we truly want to correct certain
wrongs in our communities.
Last month, April, was Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the United States, and Madison,
through various agencies and nonprofits such as the Rape Crisis Center, hosted several events
to inform our community about the severity of this problem against women. We in the Asian
American community are not in a bubble. While we respect our own beliefs, we should also
respect our rights as American citizens. If we don’t speak up, no one else will speak up for us. I
am glad Asian Wisconzine is in the U.S.A. And I refuse to be gagged.
and online) referencing Asian American women’s experiences and their struggles against
traditional beliefs and family values. I was asked to impose a media gag on myself about the
issue of rape inside a “holy” place and the issue of problematic young Asian American women of
Muslim parents being caught in the middle of two cultures. I was told that Asian Wisconzine is a
positive-only publication that shouldn’t print controversial issues that may hurt the sensitivities
of people belonging to certain religious beliefs or closed cultural traditions.
I was saddened upon hearing these feedbacks. Indeed, Asian Wisconzine is focused on
positive things about Asian Americans in Wisconsin and Asians elsewhere, but I also want to
bring into light certain anomalies or negatives that may not have been created by traditions but
by those who implement them or those we look up to. Only in exposing these anomalies can
positive things happen in particular circumstances.
As a journalist, I am looking for stories of Asians in Wisconsin, what drove them away from
their native countries, their failures and successes, their realities as well as their dreams. Many
of the stories I have written about were success stories, but there were struggles behind each
of them, and I think such deserve equal attention, especially if we truly want to correct certain
wrongs in our communities.
Last month, April, was Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the United States, and Madison,
through various agencies and nonprofits such as the Rape Crisis Center, hosted several events
to inform our community about the severity of this problem against women. We in the Asian
American community are not in a bubble. While we respect our own beliefs, we should also
respect our rights as American citizens. If we don’t speak up, no one else will speak up for us. I
am glad Asian Wisconzine is in the U.S.A. And I refuse to be gagged.
