Opinion
Articles of personal opinion that analyze topics such as pop culture, politics, science, history, racial equity, gender and the Asian identity.

I tried Hoisin Duck wraps from (almost) every UK supermarket
It felt like it didn't matter which supermarket I went to, they would almost always have hoisin duck as an option on their meal deal shelves. So I decided to put that theory to the test: can I find hoisin duck wraps in almost every supermarket? How do they differ depending on where you shop? Why is hoisin duck as a sandwich option almost as common as chicken and bacon, or tuna and mayonnaise, in the UK?

My Body Belongs to the Liberal State:
Decoding the Politics of Control Embedded in India’s Liberal Abortion Laws

Our Prince Charming
It's possible. 25 years ago, on November 2nd, 1997, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella premiered on TV. In the past, there were many adaptations of the beloved tale, but it was Whitney Houston’s TV production that truly made the magic come to life.

Our Favorite Nostalgic Childhood Movies
A study conducted by the National Institute of Health revealed the brain takes meaningful memories and ties it to contextual events which are eventually stored in our long term memory. In essence, the brain associates certain memories to emotions or past events.

"And the prize goes to...": Nobel and Bias in Accolades
Every laureate receiving the Prize in 2022 is white, including only two women out of the eleven (non-organization) winners. Additionally, every laureate is based in Europe or the United States. The prize, tracing back to 1901, has been criticized over its history of eurocentrism. Each year, critics point out the lack of representation of people of color, women, non-Europeans, and non-Americans in the group of winners, particularly in the science categories.

It's All For Show
I’ve come to realize that I have departed from the innocence and spontaneity of childhood friendships, entering into a world where human connections are, more often than not, goal-oriented, unauthentic, distant, and unreadable.

Complacency under Queen Elizabeth's Rule
Today’s discussions declare that it is difficult to disentangle the Queen from colonialism and imperialism. The monarch serves as a symbol for the British empire, and this is exactly what Queen Elizabeth was. She was a symbol for an empire that was built off of genocide and violence, which is why many of those belonging to colonies or former colonies subjugated by Britain have mixed feelings towards her.

Jugjugg Jeeyo: A Modern Romance and its Influence on Divorce Normalization in Indian Culture
This film is important today because it provides interesting insight into family dynamics when faced with relationship strain. Despite its two-and-a-half-hour runtime, I think it’s worth the watch. It presents itself as an interesting film to show your non-Indian friends just how out of hand some relationships can get, especially in different cultures where the rules and social norms are unfamiliar to someone who did not grow up from that background.

Let me tell you about reparations
But it is hard to accept this as the only form of reparation. Through the gaze of those who have felt the legacy and trauma of colonialism, it feels like the barest minimum. Afterall, how, after decades of colonial violence and its bloody legacy, can a nation, community, or religious group feel like their trauma caused by imperial brutality and the effects of white supremacy has been fully appreciated and respected, simply because what was stolen has returned?

The True Meaning Behind Non-Violence
When we think of the word nonviolent, what images do we conjure up? Probably a vision of scantily clothed Gandhi sitting peacefully while being imprisoned by the oppressive British colonizers. We think of MLK walking across a bridge hand in hand with others and singing in unison until they’re tear-gassed and brutally beaten by police. Sound familiar? While these are no doubt examples of non-violent protest, the term non-violent is a lot broader than what we define it to be.

Over the Moon: Bringing Traditional Stories to Modern Audiences
Warning: This Article Contains some movie spoilers
Over the Moon touches on so many important themes of love, loss, family, and friendship. All while also telling an ancient Chinese legend. While the movie may stray from traditional depictions of traditional stories, I believe this is the true power of this movie. The way it tells a touching story while engaging audiences with catchy songs, and comedic characters.

The Slow and Silent Road to Teaching Asian American History in Schools
Asian American and Pacific Islander history is often left out of American school textbooks, although it is a fundamental aspect of United States history and shouldn’t be forgotten. It’s sewed into the fabric of society ranging from entertainment to politics. Let us acknowledge the slow but steady rise of such history.

What Makes an Activist : The Averse Effects of the PWI
I remember having a conversation with one of my Asian-American friends about a mutual white acquaintance of ours where we discussed something this acquaintance had asked my friend regarding their culture and background. It was a question of ignorance, prefaced with the phrase "I don't know if this is offensive..." - an all too familiar phrase we had both laughed at.