Asians in America : Magazine

If Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Does Twittering Count?

By Michelle Geslani for Asians in American Magazine | June 25 2009

The internet has spread the news of Iran's political turmoil faster than actual word of mouth and quicker than major news outlets could send out correspondents. The question now is whether or not our generation's fixation with social networking via the interweb will translate into real activism and real change.

Apparently a popular equation online amidst Iran's election has been "Tiananmen + Twitter = Tehran," which obviously places a heavy emphasis on the idea that Twittering (or tweeting) has rounded up hundreds and thousands of people behind those protesting Iranians who feel robbed of their voices with the supposed re-election of Ahmadinejad.

It's true- everyday I receive at least 10 "Twitter updates" referring to online petitions I can sign, graphic icons I can create, and listservs I can join, all to show my support. Sometimes as I'm scrolling through them, I feel an indescribable sense of community, as if simply by reading I am declaring "Yes! I'm with you!" But to be honest, the sensation is fleeting.

Asian People Like Stuff Too

By Michelle Geslani for Asians in America | June 18 2009

Do you enjoy naming your daughters after jewelry? Are you a fan of plastic furniture covers? Does the term "being a banana" mean anything to you?

Stuff White People Like seemingly unites together those summer scarf-wearing, coffee-addicted, Michael Gondry-obsessed people, through its ever-growing list of sometimes embarrassing, sometimes absolutely true points further providing [supposedly unequivocal] evidence for ultimate whiteness.

In much the same way, the blog Stuff Asian People Like seeks to round up a general consensus of what makes Asian people...well, Asian.

Of course there are shining moments on the list, which I find very funny. One part of me laughs hysterically because of the undeniable precision of some of the reasons. Like, at first glance, they would speak directly to me and I'd think in my head "THAT IS MY LIFE." There was a sort of resonance within me, one-third a tad embarrassing and two thirds a sense of pride. And when I say pride, I don't mean that "I take pride in consuming a lot of MSG and fish sauce." I mean that "I am proud to be a part of a community."