Smeared Type

Maya Lin with her fans at ITT

Last week, Maya Lin, best known as designer of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D. C., came to Chicago to give a talk about art and the environment to a packed auditorium of 500 people at the College of Architecture, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT).

I learned about Lin when I was doing my graduate studies at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. My landlady Margaret was a close friend of Lin’s mother and I heard about the controversy on the Vietnam Memorial from them. Over the years, I came across Lin’s name at various occasions and knew she had become a well-known architect, but never followed her work or activities.

The Wall by Lin

Listening to Lin, I learned for the first time about her large-scale outdoor and indoor designs that immerse themselves with their natural surroundings. Lin stated that is a balance of art, architecture and monuments. Her talk at IIT was focused on art and environment and the work her foundation “What is Missing” strived to achieve: advocating for a sustainable living world.

She uses recyclable and sustainable materials for her artwork. Terra Bench, one of her artwork, is selected in “Design for a Living World” exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago. It is made from red maple that was certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and was sustainably harvested from Maine forests. It showcases the beauty of a tree while presenting forest terrain in the seat base.

Terra Benby by Lin

“I’m an landscape artist of the 21^st century, balancing between outdoor and indoor designs,” Lin said. “I want to create a different relationship to the world around us.”

Lin showed short videos from “What is Missing” that aimed to bring “awareness about the present sixth mass extinction of species,” and to “prevent deforestation.” She advocated it as “a wake up call and a call to action.”

“We spend more time planning what to have for dinner than what our great grandchildren will have,” she said. She urged Americans to reexamine their lifestyle and consume less.

I gained a new level of respect and admiration for Lin’s work and her devotion to the protection of the environment as an artist and citizen.

By Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Mulberry Child has been developed into a feature-length documentary film by award-winning director and is narrated by Jacqueline Bisset. For more information, visit www.mulberrychildmovie.com, www.moraquest.com and www.mulberrychild.com.

“]

It’s hard to believe it’s been 10 years since September 11—the day that defined the “before” and “after” and the words “9/11” became a phrase that is loaded with meaning and emotion.

I looked out of my apartment window early this morning, and was touched by the rising sun, with golden beams coming through a thin layer of scattered clouds. All the trees, in deep green, stood still, and the gusting wind that had swept the city of Chicago every day last week suddenly halted. It looked so beautiful and peaceful along the shore of Lake Michigan.

No one can take a day like this for granted after 9/11.

I clearly remember this day ten years ago. I had arrived at Boston from Chicago for a business trip the night before. A colleague was supposed to pick me up at 9 A.M. at my hotel. My phone rang shortly before 9. A friend from New Jersey urgently asked me to turn on the TV. “A plane hit World Trade Center!”

I had worked in Manhattan for fives years before moving to Chicago. I had been to the World Trade Center numerous times and my neighbor downstairs owns a restaurant there. I turned on the TV and saw the dark smoke rising from one building. I felt the tremor through my body.

When my colleague arrived, we continued to watch the news in the lobby of the hotel, along with other guests and hotel staff. Despite the crowd, there was a deafening silence, and then cries of shock and disbelief when we watched the second plane hit the other tower on the TV screen.

As the time passed by the seconds and minutes that day, we learned two planes crashed had originated from the Boston Logan Airport. The city was in alert and the financial district and many businesses were closed. The city announced free subway rides to help people get home…. My colleague and I were grounded and ended up being glued to the TV most of the day.

I spent the rest of the week trying to book and rebook a flight back to Chicago. Four days later when there was still no news of when flights would be allowed to take off, I rented a car and started driving all the way to Chicago.

The day journey was the longest drive I had by myself. I kept my window down, longing to hear the familiar sound of a plane in the sky. I got off the highway from time to time, driving through some local neighborhoods to calm down, to observe people’s life and to ponder what had happened. It was then I noticed so many American flags waving in the wind on top of government and commercial buildings, and in front of residential houses. I was in tears. I had been living in the U.S. for 15 years at the time and had become an American citizen. But it was then, in the face of the attack and the display of defiance and patriotism by Americans that I strongly identified myself with America.

9/11, a day that changed us and our lives forever.

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com. Mulberry Child has been turned into a feature-length documentary film by award-winning director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011.

Image via Wikipedia

by Nancy Werking Poling,

author of Had Eve Come First and Jonah Been a Woman

and Out of the Pumpkin Shell

So it’s a cool morning, and being retired, I haven’t gone to work but am sitting on the front porch in my hickory rocker, reading the newspaper. A calming experience were it not for yet another article about possible cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. “We must not borrow against future generations,” a congressman says.

The Boomers are to blame, we hear, those born between 1946 and 1964. So many, and what with all the costs of Medicare and Social Security. Those Hippies, the kids in college during the 60s, they’re the ones responsible for the breakdown of American values. Now they expect the next generation to pay for them to play golf and take cruises?

Indeed, thanks to the Higher Education Act of 1965, more students than ever before attended college during the 60s. The federal government pumped money into scholarships and low-interest student loans, as well as into the universities themselves.

Yet those of us fortunate enough to attend college during the 60s tend to forget that most Boomers were not able to take advantage of the new resources. Instead, young men who weren’t in college (a disproportion of them black or Hispanic), and hence unable to get a deferment, were drafted to fight in Vietnam. The majority of young people struggled to gain personal independence, working in home and highway construction, as secretaries, as telephone operators, in factories. These Boomers felt lucky to have enough money to buy a home, set aside a little in a savings account for a rainy day. They did not have extra money to invest in the stock market or in 401Ks. For many of them no employers contributed to a pension fund.

Listen to Eric Cantor rant against wealthy Americans paying higher taxes, and you’ll hear his accusation that it’s all an effort “to incite class warfare.” He’s talking about rich-poor warfare. But consider Rick Perry saying that Social Security “is a Ponzi scheme for … young people. The idea that they’re working and paying into Social Security today, that the current program is going to be there for them, is a lie. It is a monstrous lie on this generation, and we can’t do that to them.”

Perry’s remarks are indeed inciting warfare: between the generations. Having spent two semesters in South Korea, I’ve witnessed the respect Korean young people show their elders, the genuineness of concern for their parents’ and grandparents’ comfort. But in the U.S. Rick Perry and other leaders are telling young people that Boomers are the enemy, that our generation has done nothing to earn respect and a retirement free of want.

All the while Perry and others forget that they are among the more fortunate Boomers: those with university degrees, law degrees, MBAs. They have had money to invest. When they retire they’ll receive government pensions. They don’t need Social Security or Medicare.

In 2008 the median household income for persons over 65 was $30,774, while that of younger households was $56,000   (http://aging.senate.gov/crs/aging25.pdf ). That same year, 3.7 million Americans over the age of 65 had incomes below the federal poverty level, that is below $10,326 (http://www.ncpssm.org/ss_senior_income/). Many senior citizens depend on Social Security and Medicare. They have no choice.

I don’t deny that there will be strains on the federal budget as Boomers reach retirement age. I wish I could offer a solution about where funding is to come from, but I can’t. I only ask that those who want to lead our country consider the ramifications of their rhetoric. Let them model the respect that is due the generation that helped build the economy to where it was before the recession: those who have worked in assembly lines, built our highways, driven the trucks that transported goods, cleaned the office buildings, stocked grocery shelves.

Yes, let all of us model respect.

By Jian Ping

My new toy

Two weeks ago, I bought a MacBook Pro laptop, completing my shifting to Apple products from iPhone, iPad, and finally a computer.

The latest step was made necessary by my new initiative to release books I had acquired and will continue to acquire from publisher(s) in China. I’m excited to make my contribution in bridging cultural differences and promoting cross-cultural communications/understanding by releasing books under MoraQuest, the company I founded two years ago.

The first book I selected during my June trip to China was titled China in the Next 30 Years, a wonderful collection of essays written by more than a dozen Chinese and Western scholars who predict the economic, political, and agricultural development of China in 30 years. I found it very informative and the perspectives from both Chinese and Westerners provided various balanced and in-depth views.

A powerful tool

Armed with my new toy, I learned the basics of page layout and cover design by using Pages, the equivalent of Word in Microsoft Office. I took one-to-one tutoring at the Apple Store on Michigan Avenue and spent hours laboring over templates and graphics and the color “inspector”. I must admit I was and still am quite “technology” challenged. I put aside everything else, including blogging, and “fought” my through step of the way, day and night. For two weeks, I slept four or five hours a day. After many trials and errors. I finally created a file with hyperlinks that would allow readers to click on the table of contents in PDF or ePub files, the basic requirements to release the title in digital format at the three key e-retailers, namely, Amazon, B&N.com and iStore. I’ve made one round of revision shortly after loading up the files. There are still minor issues, I’m sure, that will be brought to my attention. But the digital book is available for sale online now!

A new release in digital format

A few people who read the book generously endorsed it, including Robert Herbold, retired COO of Microsoft. Mr. Herbold wrote in his testimonial: “China has made huge progress over the past 30 years. In this book, some of the world’s best visionaries examine if and how China can now transition to a genuine global leader. I highly recommend this very interesting collection of viewpoints.”

My new toy has helped me embark on a new endeavor. I’ve acquired two more books focused on China issues, mostly its political and democratic systems. They were both written by Westerners and were quite critical of China. I am impressed that these books were released in China, in both Chinese and English. If my newly learned skills doesn’t fail me, I should be able to release these books in the next few weeks.

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com for more information. Mulberry Child has been made into a feature-length documentary film by award-winning director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011.

by Jian Ping

Front Gate of Cook County Jail

I had a special opportunity of visiting the Cook County Jail in Chicago last week at the invitation of Sheriff Thomas Dart. I had never stepped onto the territory of a jail, nor had I ever had any desire to do so. However, I must say it was an eye-opening experience. I first met Sheriff Dart at a dinner hosted by Dean Fennell at the College of Arts and Sciences at Loyola University Chicago. I was the speaker at the commencement in the morning, and Sheriff Dart the speaker at the afternoon commencement. After the commencement ceremonies, I had the opportunity of meeting him and his wife over dinner, along with my husband, Francis, and daughter, Lisa. During a conversation, Sheriff Dart learned that Francis is a horticulturist. He invited us to visit the vegetable garden(s) at the cook county jail.

Francis, Sheriff Dart and me

“We had the largest jail in the country,” he said. “Is that something to be proud of?” I asked, laughing. It never occurred to me that someone should visit a jail unless absolutely necessary. “Maybe not,” he said. “But we do have the largest jail.” He gave a hearty laughter. I must say Sheriff Dart showed a level of energy, sincerity, and warmth that I rarely saw in politicians. I was intrigued. But I dismissed his invitation, thinking it was just a small talk.

I went to China for three weeks soon after. Upon my return, I saw a card from him to me, saying he was looking forward to reading my book Mulberry Child in the near future, and a card to Francis, inviting him to visit the jail garden. I was impressed by his follow up, again with a sense of sincerity.

A jail building

I arranged the trip with Brenda, his assistant. I was surprised to see the large area of jail facilities so close to the city center when we arrived for the tour. Sheriff Dart appeared in a pair of Khaki pants and a blue shirt with white stripes hanging loosely over a t-shirt. He greeted us like an old friend and showed us a map of the jail layout, with each division of the jail from the Boot Camp for younger prisoners to the building that had the maximum security. A total of 96 acres.

Instead of having a Deputy Sheriff to show us around, Sheriff Dart walked out of his office with us and took us to the first vegetable garden. Again I was impressed. (To be continued)

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com. Mulberry Child has been turned into a feature-length documentary film by award-winning director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011.

By Jian Ping

The temporary podium for BenU's commencement ceremony

I created a record by attending two commencement ceremonies in three days—one for giving a keynote speech at Loyola University Chicago, and the other, doing a coverage for Xinhua News at Benedictine University (BenU) in the western suburb of Chicago.

BenU held its ceremony in the football field on campus. A temporary podium was set up, and more than a thousand chairs were placed in the middle of the field for the graduating students. Family members and friends of the students were seated on the benches of raised platforms.  

Faculty members welcoming graduating students as they walked to their seating area

Unfortunately, winter returned to Chicago in the middle of May, at least for the day. A strong wind blew a constant drizzle over the field, making it seemingly colder. Many people came prepared, bringing down coats or blankets. The graduating students braved the wind, holding down their academic caps with their hands as they walked into their seated area, their gowns fluttering.

I shivered in the cold and retreated indoor as soon as the keynote speech by Donna Brazile was finished. I was surprised to find many people crowded in front of computer screens at the Krasa Center to watch the ceremony from inside.

Families and friends all bundled up

A group of 26 MBA students came all the way from China to attend the ceremony. They had completed a 2-year study program offered by BenU, along with its partner universities in China. It was their first time to visit BenU, for that matter, the United States. At the special welcome luncheon organized by BenU’s Asia Institute, Dr. Carroll, President of BenU, greeted them.

Watching the commencement at Krasa Center

“Don’t be discouraged by the weather,” he said. “If you stay in Chicago long enough, you’ll find it changes every ten minutes.”

They all laughed. The bad weather didn’t dampen down their enthusiasm. They enjoyed a variety of Chinese food for lunch, plus many Western style deserts. I interviewed a few of them and wrote a brief feature for Xinhua. Click on the title to read it:  Students from China receive degrees at Chicago area

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com for more information. Mulberry Child has been made into a feature-length documentary film and will be released in 2011.

By Jian Ping

Joel and Jai at the green house

Last Sunday, I joined my husband in visiting the King’s Hill Farm in Mineral Point, WI. We had not been to the organic farm since last fall. We arrived to find the farm a kingdom for vegetables and animals. In addition to the flats of seedlings that were competing to outgrow one another in the green house, we found a mother turkey hatching eggs in a metal barrel in one corner, oblivious to us. The flock of geese out in the field took a different attitude—they squawked loudly as we approached, as if we had invaded their territory. The ducks and chickens stepped away from us when they realized we didn’t bring any food for them. The surprise came when we walked into the house where the young farmers, Kai and Joel Kellum,

Turkey mother busy at work

along with their two children and four interns, live. The two pretty parakeets we saw last year were leading a team of seven birds, with five more tiny eggs being hatched in a cage. The birds flew freely in the house. At one point, a blue-feathered baby bird, who had just learned to fly, landed on Joel’s head. Joel smiled and gently put him on top of the cage.

Making production plans in the field

The Kellums had prepared the field for spring planting. They will sell their produce at two farmer’s markets in the Chicago area this year. They also run a CSA program, which is open for membership enrollment right now. Check out the details at www.kingshillfarm.com and register for their CSA—I’m sure you will enjoy their bounty of organic vegetables, herbs, mushrooms, and a variety of chicken, duck, and goose eggs, in different sizes and colors.

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com for more information. Mulberry Child has been developed into a feature-length documentary film and will be released in 2011.    

by Jian Ping

Bill Keffer, President of the Rotary Club, chaired the meeting

I gave a talk about my book Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China to the Central DuPage Rotary Club early this morning. They meet every Wednesday at 7 a.m. over breakfast. I left downtown Chicago before 6 a.m. and got to the Cantigny Golf Clubhouse in Wheaton just on time. Rick Nelson, Program Chair of the Club, met me at the door and introduced me to the group.

As always, Rotary Club members are a very engaged audience. They are interested in other cultures and participate in activities that help others. Today, two local high school seniors, who are the recipients of college scholarship from this Rotary Club, expressed their gratitude for the honor and support. It is always inspiring to see so many people care and take actions.

Rick Nelson, Program Chair and President Elect, at the meeting

I talked briefly about China’s Cultural Revolution, using my family story to illustrate its devastation. After a short Q & A session, I signed books and engaged in a discussion about today’s China with a few club members. Our topics went from the fast economic developments in China today to their impact on people’s lives and the environment, and the social ramification of the one-child policy.  

 Below are a couple of photos I took at the club meeting.

By Jian Ping

Talking at Tri-city AAUW at St. Charles Country Club

When Diane contacted me to give a talk about my book Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China at the Tri-City American Association of University Women (AAUW) in the western suburb of Chicago, I readily agreed. My grandmother, Nainai, and my mother are two of the most influential role models of my life. And I’m always enthusiastic to share my story with other women.

The branch of the Tri-City, St. Charles, Batavia and Geneva, organized the event at the St. Charles Country Club. By the time I got there for the event scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. last Saturday, most of the registered attendees were already there. Diane and I had communicated via emails many times. When I finally met her in person, I felt as if we had been friends for quite some time.

AAUW members and women from the area getting ready for the talk

We started with an afternoon tea, with a variety of mini sandwiches, pastries, and fruits, with hot chocolate to dip them in. Ten large round tables were set up, with each seating ten women. I chatted with several attendees at the book signing table and was touched to see a couple of families were there with three generations of women.

Christine, President of the branch, gave a wonderful introduction to my book—capturing the essence of the story better than I would. For me, it was a moving moment of connection and resonation.

I shared with the audience images of my family, posters and photos of the Cultural Revolution era, and addressed the questions raised at the end of the session. I was touched by the audience’s interest and engagement and very much enjoyed the experience.  

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China, which is being developed into a feature-length documentary movie by award-winning director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011. For more information, please visit www.mulberrychild.com, www.moraquest.com.

By Jian Ping

Dai Ethnic Dance "Green"

Last Friday, the Confucius Institute in Chicago (CIC) invited Dong Fang Chinese Performing Arts Association to give a performance of Chinese dances and singing to a select group of administrators, teachers and students of the Chicago Public School (CPS). It was an evening of sharing cultural heritage and celebrating the Year of the Rabbit. CPS offers Chinese in 43 of its schools, with more than 12,000 students in the Chinese language program.

I made my way there, partially to learn more about Dong Fang, and partially to watch one of my close girlfriends dance. I must say that I was blown away by the high quality of the performance!

From the elegant dances of “Bamboo in the Moonlight”, “Flowers in the Rain” and “Green”, to the professional level of singing from Puccini’s Opera “Turandot”, the evening’s performance captivated me and the rest of the audience. It was hard to believe they were a group of amateurs. I was thoroughly impressed by my friend’s dance: she was not only elegant and beautiful, but also full of grace. And more, she appeared relaxed and was enjoying every move on the stage! What a talent.  

I later learned that the Dong Fang was founded in 2005. It has over 150 members in 5 groups: chorus, dance, theater, Beijing Opera and Chinese Variety Arts. They have given more than 50 performances since its inception.

I talked with Terry Mazany, Chief Executive Officer of CPS, and Jane Lu, Director of CIC after the performance and was pleased to hear that they were equally impressed.

Jian Ping, author of Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China. Visit www.mulberrychild.com or www.moraquest.com for more information. Mulberry Child is being developed into a feature-length documentary film by award winning director Susan Morgan Cooper and will be released in 2011.