Money, money, money

Vanpheun Tor/Jayden Phiothong

Vanpheun Tor/Jayden Phiothong, 26, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, Applying to College

I  applied for college since I recently got laid off. The economy is going through a really tough time and alot of people like myself are out of jobs and are struggling to make it day after day. It’s hard to find a good job out there that pays well, and even when you do have a good education, coming out of university or college is still really tough when you don’t have the first stepping stone to get you started with the experience that you need. The family values that are getting us through are sticking together, even though most of my family are in the U.S and back home in Laos and Thailand.

What role does Buddhism play in our modern world?

Sunny Vongchandala, 21, New Britain, CT, Student at University of Connecticut, Sociology and Anthropology major

Today Buddhism in the U.S. and Laos has been secularized. The temple has been turned into a tourist attraction and a place of socialization. I admit that the temple is a place for people to socialize, but the concept of sacredness at the temple is no longer present. The temple does not receive the same respect and reverence it once had. I have heard cell phones go off, people making unnecessary conversation while the abbot is preaching. A majority of the people no longer go to the temple anymore for religious purposes, instead they go to it as a tourist attraction and a place of congregation like one would go to a museum.

I strongly believe the Buddhism (Lao Buddhism), especially in the U.S., has been turned into a business. The flee-market after the service can be compared to the gift shop at the museum. Although going to the service is free, for the flee-market type or temple events afterwards you have to pay say a twenty dollar “donation” in order to enter. It is not a “donation” if it is required and you pay it — it’s a fee. I do realize that the temple needs to make money but disguising a fee as a donation is just wrong in my eyes. How do you think this would look from the eyes of an outsider. They would probably be like “the temple is scamming them and disguising fees as donations.” I don’t mind paying twenty dollars to help the temple, just call it a twenty dollar admission fee and I will have no grievances.

For these reasons I barely attend religious services. The institutionalized religion of Buddhism has become so secularized that it no longer has any meaning. Although I may sound very harsh to Buddhism, I still respect what it used to and is supposed to be, not what it is now. I still practice Buddhism, but not institutionally. I believe that if you live day by day and practice acts of kindness and love, you are practicing Buddhism. You don’t have to go to the temple, fill out any forms, or go through some rites of passage to be or become a Buddhist, you just have to practice acts of love and kindness, which is actually the basis of any religion.

I believe that Buddhism has been disenchanted in the present day and we need someone or some ones to re-enchant the Buddhist world. Buddhism has assimilated so much into western culture that it has lost sight of the middle path and is now concerned with mere money relations. Always wanting to build a bigger and better temple. Buddha preached the middle path and the concept of impermanence. Impermanence is the concept that a building or structure (anything) that is standing today, may not be standing one hundred years from now. It is the concept that nothing is permanent. Wouldn’t one say that building a big flashy temple is over indulgence and a stray away from the middle path? The temple you go to may not be here a hundred years from now. Our lives are impermanent, everyone is going to die, we can’t take our belongings with us. So I believe that the people that have so much, should help the people that have so little. Like Buddha said, life is suffering. Some people suffer too much and some not enough.

There is so much to say and do, but so little time to make thing right. We have many religious and cultural problems. I can go on and talk about the many problems with our society (Lao and Lao in U.S.) today. For instance the dying Lao cultural and heritage in the U.S., but just talking about them wont help, we need to take action. There is so much injustice in Lao and the world in general, I want to do whatever I can to help preserve my culture and better the human race.

Money, money, money

Amelia Amphonphong

Amelia Amphonphong, 16, Moreno Valley, CA, Student at Valley View High School

Interracial marriage

Metmany Noy Leuang

Metmany Noy Leuang, Camrose, Alberta, Canada,  3rd year of Nursing

I am a believer in trans-cultural love. Interracial marriage is more commonly accepted and has open many doors for individuals to find happiness. I only wish that people will love with their hearts and not society’s expectations of what love should be.

Our President is Black

Robert Phongsavanh

Our president is black not only symbolizes the growing strength of the African-American community but the overall minority population. Our acknowledgement of our new president being from African descent signifies a major transition of our social/racial system exerting the empowerment of being a minority in US. Minorities of the US consist around 30% of the overall populace yet we are truly underrepresented in all types of political, social, and economic institutions. However, having such a influential position in the US, Barack Obama has truly become a milestone as the minority population have been oppressed through laws and regulations that would truly benefit only the select few and wealthier classes. We succumb to the fact that there are huge opportunities and chances out there for us as now, in this era, we are able shine not only being part of a minority group but being a strong-willed, prudent, and pompous American. We can conceptualize that many smaller groups have been marginalized throughout history and in result, there are overwhelmingly debilitating effects. Poverty and economic progression are viewed to be much more difficult and cumbersome. In conclusion, having a Black president is a prideful and dignified episode in US politics concerning not just minorities but exhibiting American equality. Expectations should be involved more around the American people. There show be a growth in educational opportunities and social programs for the disadvantaged citizens. Most importantly, we should worry about the economy as the administration should target some types of innovations throughout the economic system or possibly digress into more basic industries like mineral extracting. There is a problem in the economy and it is quite apparent, however if we alter some areas, I think it will get better. The engine to economic success is truly innovation and perserverance.

Robert Phongsavanh

Robert Tony Phongsavanh, 22, San Diego, CA, BA History from UNC Greensburo, Recent graduate

That our president is black not only symbolizes the growing strength of the African-American community but the overall minority population. Our acknowledgement of our new president being from African descent signifies a major transition of our social/racial system exerting the empowerment of being a minority in US. Minorities of the US consist around 30% of the overall populace yet we are truly underrepresented in all types of political, social, and economic institutions.  Having such a influential position in the US, Barack Obama has truly become a milestone as the minority population have been oppressed through laws and regulations that would truly benefit only the select few and wealthier classes. There are huge opportunities and chances out there for us as now, in this era, we are able shine not only being part of a minority group but being a strong-willed, prudent American.  Many smaller groups have been marginalized throughout history and in result, there are overwhelmingly debilitating effects.  Having a Black president is a prideful and dignified episode in US politics concerning not just minorities but exhibiting American equality.

Our President is Black

Anogsack Khampraseuth

Anogsack Khampraseuth, 20, Student at Fresno State University, Vice President of the Lao Student Association and Activities Director of the Lao Youth of Fresno

The white house ain’t just for white guys anymore, with Barrack Obama as the first African-American president of the United State of America. I voted for Obama so he could end the war in Iraq because my brother just got back from Iraq and he said that he might go back. I don’t want him to go back because all of that crazy suicide bombing. My brother is in the National Guard and they are suppose to stay home. I expect Obama fix all of this financial crisis and the unemployment problem. Also provide the people health care. I don’t expect it to happen right away because these things take time. He can’t just make it happen, it has to get approved by Congress. So far some of his plans weren’t approved because of the Republicans aren’t agreeing with it. Lets just hope and see things do change. A lot of people say I look like Obama.

Money, money, money

Gary Sayviseth, 22, Hayward, CA, AA Degree in Liberal Arts, working on B.A. in Art, Graphic Design

It’s tough times for us Americans with jobs cuts, schools shutting down, businesses going bankrupt and the list goes on. For me, my family and I are doing okay but we are struggling like millions of Americans to pay bills on time and living a good life. Life that involves money most of the time. I need to have food, gas, and necessities for daily living and it takes a toll on my pocket. I tend to look for the cheapest prices because I know I don’t have that much and am grateful to have it even if its not the best product. My family tells me to just work hard (school/work) and success will reward later in the future. That’s what I am doing and its keeping me active everyday even though its tough times for all of us now.