Out of My Comfort Zone to Benefit Another

Not long ago I was in line at a local pharmacy waiting to pick up a prescription.  In front of me was a woman who was obviously visually impaired.  She held a guide cane such as blind people often use to help them find their way and it was obvious that her eyes did not focus on any particular object.

When it was her turn at the counter, she said that she was looking for a particular over-the-counter medical product and needed help finding it.  The young clerk told her to look on "Aisle Nine."  The customer said politely, "I am afraid that I will not be able to find it.  Would you be able to help me?" There was a long line and the clerk appeared frazzled.

When the clerk returned with the product, she held it up in front of the customer's face and said, "Is this what you want?"  The customer, not being able to see, did not respond.  I reached over and took the product and read the label to her.  "Yes," she said, "That is it.'  When the clerk asked her how she would like to pay, she said she would like to use her credit card, The clerk then said, "you need to swipe your card." Again, the customer held out her card but was unable to find where to swipe it.  Again, I assisted her and finalized the transaction.  The customer turned and, using her guide cane, began to find her way to the exit.

I don't mean to be critical of the young clerk.  She had never dealt with someone who had to do things differently due to some disability.  But, I ask myself, "Why are so many of us ill at ease around someone who functions in a manner different from what we know to be 'normal'? Why do we find it so hard to adapt what we do to someone who will need to do it differently?

A few years ago I had a client whose young son was born with a portion of one arm missing. There was just a little arm beyond the elbow and no hand on that arm.  This cheerful young mother appeared to take this in stride.  One day she came for her therapy session and she said that she was very frustrated.  She had been calling numerous piano instructors in town and each one told her that they would not be able to teach piano to a child with only one hand.

As I type this now, I feel as I did that day; stunned, speechless, and deeply saddened.  I ask myself why all these piano teachers would be unwilling to try to adapt to someone with only one hand. Then I ask myself, would I be different?

There are people among us that must do things in different ways due to their particular life circumstance.  Sometimes it requires another person to stretch him/her self a bit.  I hope that when that circumstance crosses my path, I will be able to think outside the box.

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Enough with Political Correctness?

A comment often heard in the current political climate is that people are tired of “political correctness,” that it is refreshing to have leaders who are not afraid to be “politically incorrect.”  As I have heard this comment, I have reflected upon the introduction of this term into the vernacular.  My distinct impression is that the term “politically correct” is not used by individuals who are trying to be careful as far as the terminology they use or the views they espouse.  Rather, it is a pejorative term employed by people whose thinking seems to be something like this, “I don’t see a problem with that word or those views and I think most people agree with me. They are probably just avoiding those words/views because it is the popular thing to do.” 

Like many people my age, I grew up hearing and using terms that are now widely avoided because they are unkind, hurtful, disrespectful, inaccurate, and even racist. Certain terms and the assessment of certain individuals whom these terms described communicated that these individuals were of less value and that it didn’t matter if our views or words hurt them. To the degree that society now sees it as unacceptable to use such words, I see that as a good thing.

I have heard well-meaning individuals say that they are proud to be “politically incorrect.” Let’s be clear, the term “politically correct” is a term invented by people who do not want to exercise care in the attitudes they espouse or the words they use. When someone says, I refuse to be politically correct, are they not then saying that I refuse to avoid words or attitudes that offend, hurt or oppress people? 

I lived and worked among people of Asian descent for many years.  It used to be common in America to refer to such individuals as ‘Orientals.’  Some years ago, I was talking to a friend who happened be of Asian descent and I used the word, ‘oriental.’  He felt comfortable in telling me that this term could be viewed as condescending and therefore offensive to some.  I certainly didn’t mean it that way at all!  I could have insisted that the term did not mean that.  I could have stated that there was no reason not to use it and that I intended to continue using it.  But since he was a friend and someone I cared about, it was easy enough for me to adjust my terminology out of respect.

Some would say, “What is acceptable is continually changing. What used to be acceptable now is not.”  This is indeed often the case.  In academic settings, it is now preferable to refer to particular student as ‘developmentally delayed’ rather than ‘retarded.’  There seems to be a change afoot to refer to certain citizens as ‘disabled’ rather than ‘handicapped.’  We can be forgiven if we make a mistake in the term we choose but why can’t we be willing to adjust so as to help others feel less stigmatized?  There are even terms found in the King James Version of the Bible that would certainly earn me angry looks if I were to use them at a dinner party.  Language evolves and sensibilities evolve, thankfully.

There is an idea within a certain now popular political camp that states that it is imperative that the terrorists that we are now combatting in the world be referred to as “Radical Islamic Terrorists” rather than another term such as terrorists or extremists.  The Bush administration and the Obama administration avoided the term “Radical Islamic Terrorism” because of the possibility of offending Muslims (believers in Islam) the overwhelming majority of whom are our allies in fighting terrorism. Muslims have been the victims of terrorism and extremism even more than have people of other faiths.  Why would we want to make it difficult for them to cooperate with us in fighting terrorism? Many insist that avoiding the term is “political correctness” and there is no need to avoid it.  Indeed, the new administration has begun proudly using the term “Radical Islamic Terrorism” during the first month in office (Interestingly the new national security advisor, McMaster, has stated that the term “Radical Islamic Terrorism” is not helpful in fighting terrorism and in fact is not accurate).

An organization that still exists in the U.S. and has come into our consciousness from time to time is the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).  This organization is known historically for its white supremacist views and horrific acts such as the lynching and murdering of blacks.  What a lot of people do not know or do not want to acknowledge is that the KKK is a “Christian” organization.  They use the bible in their meetings and they even burn a cross (a Christian symbol) during their terrorist activities.  When the KKK applies for a permit to have a demonstration, they often apply under the premise that they are marching in support of ‘school prayer.’ 

If you are a member of a Christian denomination (Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, etc.) how would it sit with you if the KKK activities were referred to in the media as “Radical Christian Terrorism?”  I suspect that most would say something like, “That is not Christianity, that is just a hate group that uses the bible to justify their terrible views and activities.”  I would agree.

I suspect that people who are determined to use whatever terms they wish just because they can will continue to do so.  But, perhaps there are some who have unknowingly accepted the fallacy that ‘political correctness’ is something to be avoided.  Whether or not such a thing as “political correctness” actually exists, it can only make the world a better place to avoid words that hurt, offend, tear down, and oppress the lives or others.

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Alabama Judge Roy Moore: A Christian Hero?

Recently a federal judge ruled that Alabama’s ban on issuing marriage licenses to gay couples is unconstitutional.  While this has taken place in a number of states across the nation, what has put Alabama in the spotlight is that State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has instructed all state probate judges to defy the federal court ruling and to continue to deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  A few judges have gone ahead and issued such licenses but most have followed Moore’s directive.  It remains to be seen how this will all turn out.

Moore is the same judge that was removed from the state supreme court some years ago after defying a federal order to remove a large stone monument bearing the ten commandments that he had erected in the court rotunda.  He ran for this office again in 2012 and was returned to the post of Chief-Justice of Alabama’s Supreme Court.

Judge Moore frequently cites biblical morality as the basis for his defiance of federal rulings.   Some evangelical groups and leaders have hailed his actions as noble, courageous, and righteous.   Evangelist Franklin Graham (son of Billy Graham) recently said of Moore’s actions, “I applaud Justice Moore and the many Alabama judges who are upholding the biblical definition of marriage between a man and a woman.”

I would like to suggest that those who feel compelled to support Judge Moore and hold him up as a Christian hero consider the following:

1.    How does it further the Christian mission to alienate a whole segment of society? No one chooses sexual orientation.  Even if one disagrees with same-sex marriage, why take such a public position that likely ensures that gays (and their families) would never want to attend your church?

2.   Jesus never taught his followers to demand that their government make laws that enforce Christian beliefs and traditions. 

3.   Would Jesus have made opposition to a particular segment of society the centerpiece of his work on earth?  Today, many have come to associate Evangelical Christianity with opposition to Gay rights. Jesus, on the other hand, famously refused to condemn someone who was presented to him as being clearly in violation of a Jewish commandment.

4.   Does refraining from marrying someone of the same gender insure a person’s salvation?  If the mission of Christianity is to bring all to salvation, what is the point of insisting on laws that force non-believers conform to Christian practices? 

5.    Many gays who would like to marry their partners are sincere Christians.  It is easy to view gays as individuals who choose to defy God, but the truth is that many attend Christian churches, pray, give, and serve.  Larger cities often have churches that minister primarily to gays.  These believers read from the same Bible and sing many of the same hymns as believers in churches across the country.  Yet, leaders on the Christian right are in the habit of saying that those seeking same sex marriage are bringing God’s judgment on America.  Does this make sense?

6.   Judge Roy Moore has some surprising associations and backers.  Moore’s 2012 campaign was heavily financed (60% of campaign donations) by one individual (Michael Peroutka) who has frequently had to fend off charges of being a white-supremacist and who has close ties to a group which advocates that the southern states may need to withdraw from the United States.  In addition, the Mississippi KKK (Ku Klux Klan) has made a public statement in support of Moore’s efforts in Alabama to prohibit gay marriage.

7.   Are Christians going to someday regret having so ardently opposed gay marriage? Historically, Christianity has vehemently asserted a number of things that now seem absurd;  1) the earth is flat, not round 2) Slavery is an acceptable practice 3) Women should not be allowed to speak in church or vote in elections 4) Women must always cover their heads 5) men must not cut their beards 6) certain races are cursed by God 7) people are not to marry someone of another race, 8) People with mental illness are actually demon possessed, etc. If you come to the conclusion that an individual is gay by no choice of his/her own, then you must eventually accept that it is wrong to deny that person the rights that heterosexuals enjoy. 

I find it sad that many feel that in order to be a good Christian, they must follow Judge Moore's view in this matter.  By allowing gays to marry, government is not forcing anyone to violate their own beliefs nor is it denying non-gays of any of their rights.  This fight does not further Christian ideals and is not a worthy fight. 

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America: Every Individual Valued

I was told that I was scheduled to interpret for a psychological evaluation that was to take place at 2:00PM.  Because I speak Mandarin Chinese, I am called upon from time to time to provide interpretation (translation) when a psychological evaluation is being administered involving an English-speaking clinical psychologist and a Mandarin speaking subject. A psychologist conducts an extensive interview of the person, while I communicate to the person what the psychologist says and then convey the interviewee’s response to the psychologist.  These kinds of evaluations involve intelligence assessment as well as tests and questionnaires that assess cognitive functioning, awareness of current surroundings, etc. 

On this particular day, the assessment concerned a parent’s ability to care for a child. I was acquainted with the psychologist having worked with her previously.  However on this occasion the psychologist told me that a clinical psychology intern, a young Ph.D. student from a local university where the psychologist teaches, would actually do the evaluation. 

What made this particular evaluation memorable was that this young intern was deaf.  She was studying at Gallaudet University, which serves deaf students and is located in nearby Washington, DC.  The psychology student spoke to me very clearly stating that she could hear very little but that she could read lips to some degree.  She and her supervising psychologist conversed in a mixture of speaking and sign language.  I noticed that the intern had a small button-like device, no bigger than a dime attached behind one ear with a tiny wire disappearing under her collar.

I was then introduced to a sign language interpreter who would interpret what was said to the psychology intern.  We began the process.  Each exchange went as follows:  The intern would speak to the interviewee, I would interpret what she said into Mandarin, the interviewee would respond to me in Mandarin, and I would then translate the response into English. Then the sign-language interpreter would translate it for the benefit of the intern.  Review:  Intern, me, client, me, sign-language interpreter, intern.

Sometimes the subject didn’t understand the question.  In this case the subject would ask me for clarification in Mandarin, which I would translate into English, which the sign-language interpreter would translate for the intern.  The process proceeded accordingly. 

The evaluation stretched over several days and as I reflected on it, I marveled at the effort and expense that was put forth to provide this individual and her child with these needed services.  One might ask, “Was it really necessary to have a deaf psychologist which in turn necessitated a sign-language interpreter?”  To this I would respond, it would be a shame if this bright psychology intern were unable to gain the necessary experience to compete her training.  She will go on to provide invaluable treatment for individuals, both deaf and hearing.  She possesses unique abilities that will not be utilized without sign language, and in this case Mandarin interpretation.

From time to time, I have heard criticisms of laws and regulations that require that various accommodations and aids be provided for individuals with certain disabilities.  Usually the complaint is that such accommodations are expensive and serve only a few.   For my part I am extremely proud that in America we endeavor to do everything possible to insure that no individual is hindered due to disability from participation in events and experiences which would benefit and enrich.  In addition I am pleased that we as a society are not deprived of the unique contributions of such individuals who would have difficulty plying their craft were it not for the aid of certain accommodations.  For my part, it is well worth the cost.


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D-Day: An Unlikely Participant

I was recently listening to a program commemorating the invasion of Normandy or "D-Day" as it has come to be known.  June 6, 2014 marked 70 years since allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy, France in what would be a decisive event in bringing about victory over Nazi Germany.  As I listened I recalled a person whom I knew personally who had been one of the soldiers who waded onto the beach that day.

Larry Su had been a member of the Chinese-American church of which I was pastor during the 90's.  He would be very old now if he was still living. I decided to make some enquiries.  I secured his phone number.

Larry Su (I have changed his name to maintain his privacy) was retired and in his 70's when I first met him.  He had operated a Chinese Restaurant in Norfolk, VA for many years.  He was somewhat of a pioneer of the "Chinese Carry-Out" style which is now ubiquitous. Once, he laughingly told me, he was closing his restaurant late at night when someone came in wanting to eat.  All he had left was the crusty blackened rice burned onto the bottom of the rice cooking pot. He decided to see what he could do with it, mixing in a few spices and serving it to the customer who ate it happily.  A few days later the same customer returned requesting another order of the same concoction and "Black-Rice" became a popular item on his menu from then on.

I learned of Larry's military service one day when I was chatting with several of the retired Chinese church members when one of them said, "Did you know that Larry was part of the invasion of Normandy on D-Day?"  This was not something that would have occurred to me.  Larry spoke broken, heavily accented English.  I had assumed that he had come to America much later in life.  When I asked Larry about this he replied in his warm and humble manner, "Yes, I was there.  We were real lucky.  The Marines went ahead of us and we didn't have it too bad."

Larry was born in 1922 in a poor area of Canton, China called Toisan.  Many Chinese who came to the U.S. during the 19th and early 20th century had come from this part of China.  Originally they worked on building the railroad. Later they operated laundries and restaurants.  He told me once that when he was growing up children would find pieces of wood and fashion shoes by threading a piece of rope through a hole in order to secure them to their feet.  Families searched for opportunities to secure better lives for their children.

At age 17 Larry arrived in America.  Like a number of the immigrants in those days, he came under what he called 'false papers.'  One of the ways that this was done was that each time a person who already had U.S. residency papers returned from a visit to his home country, he would declare that he had fathered a child while there.  This name could later be used for someone whose family was desperately searching for a chance to send their child to America.

There were no 'English as a Second Language' classes in those days.  So, when Larry enrolled in school in Norfolk, Virginia he was placed in the first grade, at age 17!  Every few months he would advance a grade or two as he gained language skills.  When he was 21 years old, before he could complete high school, He was drafted into the military.  World War II was raging. Larry at age 23, would be among the solders who invaded France, freeing it from German control ultimately leading to Germany's surrender.

During the years that I served as pastor of the Chinese church in Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Virginia I presided over dozens of funerals for the generation of Chinese who had come during the first half of the twentieth century.  On more than one occasion, as I conducted the grave-side service for one of these men who like Larry had been a restaurateur and spoke broken English, a representative of the United States Military would rise and present an American flag to his survivors in recognition of service to 'his' country.

Yesterday, I dialed the phone number that I had been given for Larry not knowing whether he was capable of talking on the phone at what must be an advanced age.  A familiar voice answered, the 92 year-old sounded just like the day I met him more than 20 years ago.  I asked him again about his experience in the U.S. military.  He said that he had learned so much during his time in the U.S military.  He again told me that he was very lucky that they were able to march all the way through France to Germany while encountering very little combat.

When he went into the Army, Larry said, he spoke very limited English. When he was discharged several years later he had forgotten a lot of his Chinese.  Like so many who seek opportunity in America, Larry was ready to do everything that was expected of an American, whether it was being a 17 year-old first grader or fighting in a foreign land for his adopted country.

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Come On Now, Speak English!

It was 1985 and I had lived in the country of Taiwan for six months.  One morning I decided to try a little of my newly acquired Mandarin Chinese at a small breakfast cart along the side of the road. I had already developed a taste for what was called a “boudz”, which could best be described as a hamburger except that it was a steamed bun with a ball of delicious meat inside. It was very cheap (about 12 cents in U.S. money) and a couple of them for breakfast along with some soy-milk had become a part of my morning commute (bicycle) to language class.

I said to the man, “I would like two steamed buns and some cold soy milk.” The man smiled and politely granted my request.  I think he even said something, which I interpreted as, “You speak Mandarin so well!”

Later I proudly explained to my teacher that I had successfully made this purchase and told her what I had said when ordering my breakfast. She smiled and told me that I had actually made a common mistake for people learning Mandarin. When numbers are used to indicate how many of something, it's a completely different word than when you are counting. So what I had said must have sounded very odd to the man. Yet I saw no evidence of disdain for me. Rather he seemed pleased that I was trying to speak his language. After all he couldn’t speak English so my feeble attempt at Chinese enabled us to communicate albeit in a very limited fashion.

I, along with my family, lived in Taiwan for more than seven years. It was our constant experience that the local people would always praise us profusely for any effort to speak their language. Their response usually went something like, “You speak Mandarin perfectly, how did you learn to speak so well?” (I’m sure our Chinese was far from perfect.) “If only we could learn to speak English as well as you speak Chinese.”  Living there and learning the language was an endeavor that was extremely rewarding.

Recently I was in a fast food restaurant here in the Washington DC area where we live. As I ordered my food the clerk behind the counter spoke to me with English that had a foreign accent but was nonetheless very clear. As she repeated my order back to me the thought occurred to me that maybe I should praise her for her success at learning to speak English so well.  But, I hesitated.  Many of the fast food restaurants in this area are staffed by people from other countries, all of who are required to learn basic English in order to do their jobs. I was afraid that I would appear to be somehow sarcastic or condescending to say such a thing.

This started me thinking of what it must be like for such individuals who have immigrated here and don't have the opportunity to go through a lot of formal training in English. They are working very hard to speak clearly so that they can successfully carry out the duties of their job, often which affords them a minimum wage. I know from experience that learning and using a foreign language can be scary and stressful.  When learning Mandarin in Taiwan, I was met with constant praise and admiration for being willing to come to their country and learn a difficult language and also because I was speaking clearly enough that they could understand me.

The effort and skill that it takes to learn to speak a second language, if it were employed at another endeavor (perhaps a technological field) might earn someone a much higher wage. But in order to function in any position in this country a person must know English and for this effort they are usually rewarded with a minimum wage.

I understand that this may just be a fact of life in this country. However it pains me when I hear negative attitudes expressed toward the many immigrants who work these minimum-wage jobs. In actuality, they have these jobs so that we can buy cheap food or cheap merchandize.  Many, if not most of these jobs are not highly coveted by the majority of Americans.  Yet these immigrants have accomplished something quite difficult, the learning the intricacies of the English language in order to do their job.

I am searching for an appropriate way to convey to these workers, not disdain or even tolerance, rather appreciation and even admiration for their dedication to their occupation.  It would be wonderful if immigrants, when communicating with their families in their countries of origin could say, “Americans are so nice, they are very patient and praise us profusely for our attempts at speaking English!”

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The War on Christmas

A religious organization recently announced that they were urging their members to boycott Radio Shack for one month.  The reason for this was that Radio Shack uses the phrase ‘Holidays’ rather than ‘Christmas’ in its advertising.  A popular television pundit has declared that there is a ‘war on Christmas’ and that there is a group of people who hate Christmas and are trying to eradicate it. 

I find it perplexing that religious people now decry the current diminishing use of the word ‘Christmas’ in the marketing of merchandize as a ‘bad’ thing.  I say this because having grown up in the Bible Belt and having spent many years as an active participant in evangelical Christianity, I remember that every year, the Christmas holidays brought thundering condemnation from preachers who said that a secular society was ‘co-opting’ Christmas in order to sell merchandize.  “Christmas is a manufactured holiday,” they would say which just gives people a chance to overindulge in spending as well as participating in all other manner of excess.  “Christians should shun such hypocrisy!” they admonished. 

One Christian denomination forbids it members from even celebrating Christmas in any religious manner (Rudolf is OK).  They do so because the Bible does not admonish Christians to celebrate Jesus’ birth (cannot deny this) and because there is no evidence to support the belief that Jesus was born on December 25, that in fact December 25 was originally a pagan holiday that was adopted as a date to celebrate the birth of Jesus (also true). 

I am approaching 60 years old, so I remember when America was much less diverse than it is today.  We had very few people around us who did not follow Christian traditions.  Expressions associated with the Christian holiday were everywhere present.  Society is quite different today.  Ease of travel between continents has brought to our country individuals who may not celebrate Christmas, but who bring other equally rich and interesting traditions.   Isn’t adjusting our greeting to something like ‘Happy Holidays’ saying to them that we want to accommodate their traditions and make them feel welcome in this country.  This seems consistent with the admonition of Jesus to treat others as we wish to be treated.

I am certain that the mission of Christianity is in no way advanced by insisting that Radio Shack or Wal-Mart use the word ‘Christmas’ in their advertising or that their employees say ‘Merry Christmas’ rather than ‘happy holidays.’  A couple of weeks ago, our neighbors invited us to their home for a ‘holiday party.’  They happen to be Jewish.  We were honored that they valued our friendship enough to include us in this event. Had we insisted on saying ‘Merry Christmas’ to them it would not only have been rather absurd, it would also have been unkind. 

I remember the Christmas parties and gatherings that my family attended when I was a child.  I suppose ‘Merry Christmas’ was spoken rather than ‘Happy Holidays’ but I don’t recall any talk of worshipping the babe in the manger.  Truthfully for many in those days, the holiday was just as secular as it is now.  It was mostly about gifts, parties, eggnog, yule-logs, deck the halls, Frosty the snowman, Kriss Kringle, fruitcake, Charlie Brown, etc, etc. Some, not all, may have attended a church service.

As much as I love to hear “Merry Christmas’ I also welcome ‘Happy Holidays’ as an expression of kindness and a wish of good will.  And that makes me feel good!  People waging ‘war’ usually do not want to spread cheer.

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