China Daily, November 18, 2014.
Qiao Collective is a grassroots media collective of diaspora Chinese writers, artists, and researchers devoted to challenging imperialism.
In May 2017, Yang Shuping took the podium before a packed auditorium. Sporting a black commencement gown streaked by the University of Maryland’s gold sash, Yang stood by university dean Wallace Loh as he tried to pick out Yang’s parents in the sea of seats before them. “You must feel very proud of your daughter. We certainly are proud of her,” Loh remarked as Yang’s mother stood, holding a bouquet of red roses to audience applause.
Unbeknown to them, this simple commencement ritual would spark international controversy. In keeping with the genre of the graduation ceremony, Yang’s speech mobilized tropes of struggle, hardship, triumph, and almost maudlin optimism. But filtered through her experience as a Chinese international student, Yang’s remarks presented a highly politicized affirmation of U.S.
Thursday, 13 May 2021
The Olympic Torch will not now visit the hometown of Mikio Oda, Japan’s first Olympic champion, after a decision to change the format of the Relay given the current status of COVID-19 in Hiroshima Prefecture.
Originally it had been scheduled to visit Kaita on May 18 during a two-day stay in the region.
In 1928, Oda won triple jump gold in Amsterdam, the first Japanese athlete to return home with a gold medal.
By any standard, he was a remarkable athlete. He excelled in the jumps and was also a talented decathlete. In a superb career he competed in three Olympics and set 21 Asian records.