My life’s a bit of an open book. The roots go back to the beginning of
the cosmos depending on how you want to read it, but more recently, in
1973 I’d been adopted by an American pilot and his family whose
grandparents had come to the US from Norway. One of the many sons of
Ole, the family was renamed at Ellis Island as Worra, a
transliteration of a small village they’re said to have come from,
although I’ve yet to find it on a map.

Interestingly, you can find the city of Worra in Nigeria in the
Nassarawa province, and another city called Worra in Burma. But then
again, Worra was also the leader of the flying monkeys in the Russian
translation of the Wizard of Oz and the name of womp rat in Star Wars.
So, make of that what you will.

Coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. Not as much as Balzac who was
slinging away fifty cups a days (which had its consequences, but go
figure) Some say a picture is worth a thousand words, and others a
word is worth a thousand pictures, but in either case, a human should
have lots of pictures to paint. Lao tradition suggests we’ll be coming
around many more times again in the future, but just in case you
don’t, you should say what you have to say in this lifetime, and try
to say it well. Or if not well, interestingly. And barring that, in a
funny voice. If you can keep a smile and a good laugh throughout much
of your lifetime, you’ll be ahead of the pack.

There are many different mysteries about how it should play into one’s
life. It’s a key axis to understanding much of my work. It’s not
something a Lao American writer can escape. It’s more of a question of
varying degrees of overtness in any given piece.

I often think we need to take a cue from Langston Hughe’s ‘The Negro
Artist and the Racial Mountain’ where he writes “One of the most
promising of the young Negro poets said to me once, “I want to be a
poet–not a Negro poet,” meaning, I believe, “I want to write like a
white poet”; meaning subconsciously, “I would like to be a white
poet”; meaning behind that, “I would like to be white.” And I was
sorry the young man said that, for no great poet has ever been afraid
of being himself. And I doubted then that, with his desire to run away
spiritually from his race, this boy would ever be a great poet.”

Over time, I hope many others find that there are in fact many
different ways to be Lao and that a strength of our community is our
ability to embrace many different and diverse ways of thinking and
approaching the world yet still identifying as Lao without lockstep
dogma. Many folks are discussing the Dawin quote of late “It is not
the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent
that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
And while Social Darwinism is an odious thing, there is wisdom in the
idea that for us to embrace adaptability is to gain strength.

I would contend that the great golden age of the Lao has not yet been
reached, nor is it here, but with concentrated effort and good
intention, we all can usher that era in, wherein we might become a
people capable of reaching the stars, transforming souls and worlds,
and hopefully for the better, more often than not.

Life for art’s sake.

If you cannot express your world, you cannot change your world. If you
cannot express a future, you will have no future. If you cannot
express your past, you will have nothing to pass on to your children,
and they will be taught by strangers who have no stake in preserving
any memory of who you are, who you were, and who you might become. For
over 600 years, the children of Lan Xang and Laos thought there was
something worth passing forward from one generation to the next, a
dream of being a people of common customs and worthy values. Many even
thought highly enough of that dream to die for it. You don’t have to
write everything, but every word you write for good is a chance for
change, and an expression of the best part of what we might become. If
you use that voice for evil, selfishness, or do not use it at all, you
squander the true treasure, the true legacy of the Lao and all who
journeyed on our roads with us.

You can find out more about Bryan Thao Worra at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Thao_Worra or visit his blog at
http://thaoworra.blogspot.com

-Chanida Phaengdara Potter

This past weekend I decided to throw a Cool Jerk Party. It was simple enough: sticky rice (kao niew), hot pepper paste (jeow bong), mashed mushrooms and peppers sauce (jeow het), and my four flavors of Cool Jerk. Now, I would have added papaya or cucumber salad, but the pantry was sadly empty. I had a couple of Lao friends with me (the best judges of beef jerky, of course) and lunchtime was just around the corner.

I had cut the jerky into bite-size pieces, noted each flavor with labels, dished out my pepper and mushroom sauces, and opened the sticky rice basket. A steam let out and I grabbed a handful of rice. I reached out first for the Native Lao Hot jerky, hoping for sharp stinging sensations, but nothing. My tolerance for hot and spicy food must be native Lao (it is in my blood). I moved on to the Sweet & Spicy, a nice mixture of both flavors, again, not too spicy. Next was the Lemongrass Flavor, a unique seasoning of full-on lemongrass with a hint of sugary sweetness. Of course there was the Original Flavor that I knew too well, a sweetness freckled with sesame seeds—the other carnal pleasure. That day lunch was served.

Across the board, our votes were unanimous. The first place prize went to Lemongrass Flavor for its unique taste. We gave the second place prize to Original Flavor, that which we knew and loved. The third and fourth place prizes were given to Sweet & Spicy and Native Lao Hot, respectively. We’ll definitely be having more Cool Jerk soon.

Cool Jerk is made right here on the prairie in Minnesota. It makes a cool gift and while you’re online also check out the Cool Jerk t-shirts. You haven’t had beef jerky until you’ve had Cool Jerk. Make your next party a Cool Jerk Party. Visit www.cooljerk.net and get your jerky on.

~Danny

Whether apple pies, mae,
Cherry trees,  log cabins, or moon shots:
OUR STORIES CHANGE US.

When and where?

Saturday, February 18th, 2012, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm

Hosted at Hmong American Partnership, Community Room

1075 Arcade Street, St. Paul, MN 55106

Additional details at: http://townhall2012.eventbrite.com/

This event is free and open to the public.

*** Light Breakfast and Refreshments will be available ***

Agenda

·         Registration, light breakfast, and networking (9:30-10:00 am)

·         Welcome and introductions

·         2010 US Census Presentation

·         Panel discussion on the significance and implications of the US Census data

·         Town hall meeting with MN State Legislators

Confirmed Special Guests

Senator Roger Chamberlain (R) District 53, (North Oaks, White Bear Lake, Lino Lakes)

Senator John Harrington (D) District 67, (St. Paul, Battle Creek, Highwood)

Why attend?

1.       Get updated on the latest US Census figures on Asian Pacific populations in Minnesota, including education, economic, and other demographic data.

2.       Network with community leaders from the Asian Pacific community and with leaders that work with the Asian Pacific community.

3.       Participate in a community-wide discussion on addressing a range of issues, such as jobs, education, housing, health, civil rights, and pending state legislation.

4.       Speak to legislators from both Republican and Democratic parties. Advocate on issues you care about!

Who should come?

The event is free and open to the public.

·         Community members concerned about civic issues

·         Decision and policy makers

·         Individuals and organizations that work with the Asian Pacific community

·         Individuals and organizations interested in US Census data on the Asian Pacific populations in Minnesota

Seats are limited, RSVP soon at http://townhall2012.eventbrite.com/.

For questions or comments, contact Brian Kao at brian.kao@state.mn.us, (651) 757-1742 or Kham Moua at khamm@hmong.org, (651) 495-1567.

As I was scanning these quickly aging faces, it was clear they held years of tirelessness  but a sense of hope to see that a young professional was present at the table. We went around introducing ourselves, and each and every one of the elders expressed their gratitude in finally seeing leaders come together to revive our community for an annual celebration.

After a year-long hiatus over temple debacles that tore at the very core of the Lao community, many were left wondering, well, where do we go to practice and celebrate our cultural traditions? We had nowhere to go. It was a crisis year and it was unfortunate that personal politics and poor leadership left our community without the space and place to worship and participate. That big blow proved to be debilitating when the annual Lao New Year celebrations that were typically held in April and Boun Pravet in June passed by in pure silence. What once was a community expectation every year since I was a kid, had stopped and became stagnant in my memory. This was one of the saddest and most unfortunate moments for Lao Minnesotans last year.

So I sat at the table listening and wondering: where are the rest of the young Lao professionals here? There are plenty of us in the state. Are we too busy trying to meet our own personal goals? Every year we let a cultural tradition pass is another year’s worth of heritage we erase from our history. We need to be in the conversation. Our elders and the vibrant culture they hold is right next door to us. It’s apparent our elders are appreciating our emerging role in the community and they’re asking for us to work with them. It’s a torch that they don’t want left burning with no one from the next generation to pass it to.

After the meeting, one of the elders came up to me and expressed, “Well, well, I remember  when you were just a baby. Your parents must be so proud to see their daughter contributing to a community that most your age don’t care about!” I felt the tinge inside. I realized it’s one big torch that the few of us can’t carry on our own, because every day our community is threatened by the fact that with every passing year, we may lose an elder from the table that they’ve been waiting for us to come to for so long.

If you’re a young professional interested in helping plan this year’s annual new year celebration, contact me at chanida.potter@gmail.com!

-CPP

Join the Asian Economic Development Association for “Taste of Little Mekong” to celebrate the Little Mekong cultural district of the University Ave transit corridor! A free celebration & tasting tours of surrounding Asian restaurants. There will be food, music, dancing and appearances by Mayor Chris Coleman and Miss Minnesota Nitaya Panemalaythong.

RSVP here: http://littlemekong.com/

Love between Lao hearts
Takes many shapes: Remember
Dreams share, transform lives.

Which we think was much better than the originally proposed:

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Tom mak hung is tasty
And so are you!

But what are some of your favorite Lao American love poems?

The American Immigration Council Seeks Entries to New National Multimedia Contest

The American Immigration Council is calling all young filmmakers and photographers to submit to the 2012 “Change in Motion” Multimedia Contest. The contest invites young adults to explore the role that immigration plays in their lives and communities through video and other multimedia projects. The first place prize is $1,000! Projects should focus on celebrating America as a nation of immigrants and exploring immigration’s impact on our everyday lives.

Who is eligible?

Young adults between the ages of 16-25 are eligible to submit entries.  Both individual and group entries are permitted, however there is a single cash prize for first, second and third place.

What do we mean by “multimedia”?

Acceptable entries include videos projects or photo essays. (Check out these examples created in iMovie and Power Point)

How technical does my project need to be?

Your story and the way you tell it matter more than how sophisticated your technical abilities are.

Is there a time limit?

Entries should be no more than 5 minutes in length.

How do we enter the contest?

There are two ways to submit entries.

1. Submit a complete and signed entry form and a copy of the multimedia file on a CD or DVD, to the American Immigration Council “Change in Motion” Multimedia Contest , 1331 G Street N.W. Suite 200, Washington, DC  20005.
2. Submit your video entry via your own YouTube account.  Send us an email, attach a complete and signed entry form and a link to the submission on your YouTube account. Type “2012 MULTIMEDIA Contest” in the subject line. We will add the content on the American Immigration Council’s Playlist on YouTube. (When submitting your videos please tag the content with the following: “American Immigration Council’s “Change in Motion” Multimedia contest 2012.)

Who will judge the contest?

The winners will be chosen by representatives of the American Immigration Council, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and a panel of distinguished judges.

What criteria will be used to select the winner?

The multimedia entries will be judged on the basis of concept, originality, creativity, aesthetics, technical execution and relevance.

What is the prize?

There are first ($1,000), second ($500) and third place ($250) prizes. 

What is the deadline?

The deadline is Midnight EST, April 17, 2012.

For more information, including the rules and terms of the contest, please visit our Multimedia Contest page
or email submissions@immcouncil.org

With school, work, and family on your busy schedule, how do you manage a typical day?
I’m not sure!  It’s definitely hard trying to juggle everything but I have an amazing older sister who helps me out a lot so I don’t think I can get through my day without her sometimes.  Oh and of course, I don’t get much sleep!

What is the newest book we’d find on your bookshelf?
I’ve been so busy with everything that I haven’t read an entire book or bought a new one besides my texts books from school in a LONG time!  I’ve heard “Hunger Games” is good though so maybe I’ll have to find time to pick that one up.

If you were allowed one favorite Lao dish, what would it be?
Yikes!  Only one?!  That’s a tough one.  I would say it would have to be pun!*

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I love alternative rock music and my favorite band is Evanescence.  Amy Lee is an amazing singer/songwriter and I hope I get to meet her one day!

If you could be a superhero, what powers would you have? Why?
Hmm…  Is there a superhero out there that has the ability to read people’s minds?  Or am I just thinking about Edward from Twilight?  Wait!  There’s Professor Charles Xavier from X-Men.  It would be cool to be able to move things with your mind, too!  : )

Now that you are Miss Minnesota USA, you are no doubt a role model to many young women. We’re interested to know how you might connect specifically with young Lao women in the US and abroad?
I try my best to respond to messages that people send me on Facebook, Twitter (if I can learn how to use it) and my Miss Minnesota USA email so I think I am able to connect with them that way.  If I haven’t yet, please bear with me!  Otherwise, I think I would definitely like to make appearances at conventions or festivals if I’m invited and meet these beautiful young women in person.  Just remember though, beauty truly does come from within.

Beauty pageants have become more diverse with more women of color deciding to participate. How does it feel to be the first Asian American to be crowned Miss Minnesota USA?
I definitely feel honored and blessed to not only win the title but also, I guess, make history!  I think it’s still surreal to me so it really hasn’t fully sunk in yet.  Maybe it will when the Miss USA competition gets closer?

If there is only one Lao word you want America to learn from you, what would it be?
“Sabaidee”!

Minnesota is home to the third largest Lao community in the US. How do you intend to connect with the community and share your experience of being Lao American in the Midwest?
I would like to attend the Lao New Year festival that Minneapolis will have and start there.  However, word spreads fast within the Lao community so I think it has already gone beyond the Midwest.  I’ve gotten so many wonderful comments and numerous congratulations from so many people from all over the US and all over the world on Facebook and on my Miss Minnesota USA email.  So through technology (can’t really live without it these days!) and appearances I hope to share my experience with those who are interested from all over the world and hopefully be a role model for not only the Lao community and young ladies but really for anyone who has a dream of wanting to achieve whatever it is they set their mind to.

What’s the best advice you’ve gotten in the last year?
The best advice that I’ve gotten (from my sister) is to be true to myself and what I believe in.  And, to also listen and follow my own instincts when there are too many people giving you advice and are sometimes unintentionally leading you astray.

There you have it folks, Miss Minnesota USA 2012—Nitaya Panemalaythong. Let’s look forward to her participation in the Miss USA competition this summer. We will be rooting for her all the way! Stay updated and “like” her facebook page or follow her on Twitter.

~LLOTP

*Note: Pun is a type of lettuce wrap, usually with a choice of meat or fish, with noodles, garnishing, and a dipping sauce.

***For a full local coverage story on Miss Minnesota, read Star Tribune’s “A Quest Fit for a Queen” here: http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/138609309.html***