East Wind ~ 8
Journey Into Asia:
"Our Place Under the Sun
JJ
Carol Choe and Lisa Vo
Juniors
The seventh-annual
Journey Into Asia took place
on November 20, 1999 in the
Great Hall of the Student
Union. The traditional multi-
Asian cultural event was
slightly revamped this year
with the inclusion of an Asian
ensemble, a martial arts
demonstration, performances
by Bhangra Elite, and finally a
stand-up comedian from New
York City. With an estimated
300 people in attendance, this
year’s Journey Into Asia
packed the house with its
mouth-watering entrees and
electrifying entertainment.
The Asian-American
stand-up comic, Eliot Chang,
was a welcomed change from
previous Journey Into Asia
events. He dealt with many
serious topics through humor,
especially that of racism and
discrimination, the premise for
the event. His professed style
of being a cross between the
hard-hitting humor of Chris
Rock and the highly animated,
physical comedy of Jim Carrey
had audience members falling
off their seats and rolling on
the floor. His often-raunchy
humor had most guests either
gasping at his audacity or
laughing all the harder.
The theme. Our Place
Under the Sun, was chosen to
remind Asians everywhere
that they have a voice in
society. Too often Asians
experience discrimination,
prejudice, or racism but they
let the comments and actions
pass. This past summer,
several ethnic minority groups
were the passive victims in a
racial hate crime. Of all the
ethnic groups affected, Asians
were the only ones that
grieved privately. They gave
the erroneous impression that
Asians were uncaring and
unfeeling. They surrounded
themselves in their families
and their work while the other
minority leaders held press
conferences over the enormity
of their suffering. Until this
day, the Asian voice has been
buried beneath those of the
other ethnic minorities. It is
time for Asians to stand up for
their rights and give voice to
their opinions. It is time to
show the world that, we, as
Asians, have found our place
under the sun.