There Ain’t No Doubt, I Love This Land

I was never a really athletic kid. I never did well in team sports. I excelled more in dance or swimming, disciplines that put emphasis on movement and grace. I would see my classmates go to soccer practice, and always happily stayed back. But I did envy them for one thing: The soccer uniforms. And no matter what team, they always had a little patch sewn right across their chests: The black, red, and golden German flag. I would stare at it and admire the unspoken authority with which these kids would step onto the field. This insignia was special to its wearer. It commanded presence and respect. It communicated pride. I understood that back then, when I was only eight years old.

When years later, I grew up to be a teenager and became a new immigrant to the US, I would walk into select Vietnamese American household, and see the (unofficial) South Vietnamese flag (yellow with three red stripes) gracing that family’s wall. I made it a habit to politely smile.  Not because it’s funny, but because it’s kind. After all, these were homes of Vietnam refugees, who had made huge sacrifices in their lives. “We all bled for this flag,” the elders would tell me, and follow up with a brief and emotional account of the Vietnam War. The power of this symbol was very apparent. It served as a somber reminder of the past and the continuous struggle of the present.

Today, however, as I strive to keep myself updated with current events (I even leave comments on online news articles!), I am most of the time confronted by the proud American flag.

I probably should be saluting this particular flag on a more regular basis, especially with elections coming up. I should salute it for the people who are fighting and bleeding for my basic human rights in my adopted country. But I sometimes I just feel trapped when I have to bully myself to hold one flag more valuable than the other. I thought about it more and came to the conclusion, that it is never going to be the piece of colored cloth that I will love and honor. It will always be the idea behind the flag: Freedom. All my three flags have that in common.

I accept the right to vote as a very fundamental human right, and yet unfortunately it is a right that is not fully enforced by all those who have it. Poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, lack of access, lack of education, and lack of interest continue to contribute to a very uneven election process.

Those, who do not vote, are no better off than those, who cannot vote.

So, with that said, I would like to encourage you to once again pretend like you’re in college and study up on all candidates and propositions. You have a vote. Use it.

Have a look at a PSA by my dear friend Viet Nguyen, featuring beautiful Kathy Uyen and Jerry Ying. Oh yeah, I shot it, too. That was my contribution at the time.

When I became a citizen of the United States in 2006, I had to go to a LA Convention Center to pledge my allegiance amongst many other thousand hopeful new citizens.  A few people gave speeches, and then they turned on a big projector screen. They played Lee Greenwood’s music video “God Bless the USA”. At the time, I thought it was cheesy, but when I looked around the room, I saw many teary eyed immigrants. I actually still think the song is very cheesy, but I found another rendition of the same song by Neal E. Boyd that is quite lovely.

My favorite line is:

“And I gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today.”

And that’s how I feel, dear USA. You’ve been good to me. I’ll defend you any time. I’ll also defend my other two countries.

I’d like to take this opportunity to bring some attention to immigration reforms and immigration rights through my photography. This May Day event was a big peaceful protest in downtown Los Angeles in response to Arizona’s SB 1070, a law that gives greater power to local authorities to perform immigration enforcement duties usually done on a federal level. Fears of racial profiling and discrimination caused the Latino community, as well as activists from organizations supporting other groups (including Muslim, Gays and Youth advocates) to come together, totaling to an attendance of about 50,000.

I’m against discrimination. And I’m lucky I’m allowed to say so out loud.