The Grey Dolphin Tours & Vacations makes a great leap by registering its business with Facebook to showcase globally its line of travel services. The trend of business marketing is now shifting past from periodicals to electronic media and there is no greater carrier of promoting a travel business than through the worldwide audience of Facebook.
The Grey Dolphin will make you relax and enjoy the pampering aboard luxury liners like Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise and Royal Caribbean Cruise Line. Imagine finally having your family reunion on a cruise in the Caribbean or in Alaska on board Carnival Cruise Lines or Celebrity Cruises.
You may want to explore the exotic places in the Philippines with a personal guide or cruise the Yangtze River in China or throw a coin in Trevi fountain in Rome. If you are the adventurous type, go on sports vacation and try the scuba diving in the best reefs in the world.
If you are a newly wed or celebrating anniversary, spend your honeymoon or special time in the romantic shores of South Pacific or in the poetic cottages in Mexico.
The Grey Dolphin will put together a vacation package that suits your interests, desires and price. You and The Grey Dolphin will work together to find the perfect destinations for you and your family.
For further information about the travel services, you may reach The Grey Dolphin via e-mail at inquire@thegreydolphintours.com. You can also visit its interactive website at http://www.thegreydolphintours.com. The Grey Dolphin Tours & Vacations is proudly affiliated with Montrose Travel, a top five host agency in North America.
The Grey Dolphin Tours & Vacations cannot wait to hear from you and send you and your family somewhere fantastic! Remember, everyone deserves a precious moment!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Essential Tool in the Ministry: The Pastor’s Israel Study Tour
There is no powerful message than a Pastor standing behind the pulpit telling his congregation first-hand information about places and stories in the bible where he visited and studied personally.
Although we do not discount the power of the Holy Spirit to convict others, but a Pastor who traveled, witnessed and studied personally important biblical places like the Sea of Galilee, Cana, Nazareth, Mount Carmel and Bethlehem has an edge over others.
A pastor who has been in the bible land on a study tour has more authority on his subjects than the one who only read such places in the bible concordance.
Those who traveled to Israel and saw in person the birthplace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the site where the Romans crucified Him have marveled of a life-changing experience after the tour.
Some unexplainable feelings happen in biblical land that results to the transformation of spiritual lives of the travelers. The trip accordingly gives them meaningful reasons to live a victorious Christian life and has strengthens their faith even more.
It is not yet late for a pastor to see for himself and to enjoy and experience the wonderful journey to bible land. There are tour operators who cater mostly to faith-based travelers and one of them is the Ya’lla Tours that offers the famous Pastors Israel Study Tour.
This year the Ya’lla Tours offers 3 nights in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and 7 nights in Jerusalem from November 29-December 10 2009. The details include tour of Galilee and Golan Heights, boat ride on the sea of Galilee, tour of Old City Jerusalem, visit the mountain fortress of Masada, take a float on the Dead Sea and learn more about Israel.
The tour is for the pastors and their spouses only. The good thing about this trip is that Ya’lla will refund the cost of the travel if within 18 months of returning from this tour (by June 15, 2011) the pastor books a group of at least 25 passengers to any of Ya’lla’s exciting destinations: Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Morocco or Cuba.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Combatting Terrorism in the Philippines: Four Decades of Nightmare from the Three-Headed Monsters
A proactive approach by the Philippine government through a comprehensive and systematic counter-terrorism program will surely bring to an end the terrorists’ threats in the country and avert the spill over of terror activities to the neighboring countries.
The Philippines is the only country in the world that is combating terrorism on three diverse fronts - communism, secessionism, and Islamism - all at the same time. Terrorists belonging to these threat fronts have different aspirations and possess varied ideological persuasions, but espousing similar violent methods to achieve their ultimate cause.
The communist groups want to change the social and political structure of the Philippines from capitalism to communism through protracted armed revolution. On the other hand, the secessionist groups want to secede from the Manila government and establish an independent state in Mindanao. The third front -the Islamist groups - is a mixture of local and trans-national terrorists dedicated to create a Pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
The terrorist groups belonging to the communist front are the Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army (CPP/NPA)and its urban hit squads, the Sparrow Units (SU)and the original Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB)– now known as the National Partisan Squad (NPS). Added to these communist terror groups are the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa ng Pilipinas. The CPP/NPA and ABB are listed in the US government's Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list.
The SU and ABB gained notoriety through assassinations of military and police personnel including civilians whom they tagged as reactionaries and fascists. One of their infamous killings was the assassination of Colonel Nick Rowe of the Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) in December 1989 while the American was on his way to JUSMAG HQS in Quezon City.
The secessionist groups are composed of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Breakaway Group (MNLF-MBG) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). These groups do not see eye to eye, as each one has its own stakes in their struggle against the Manila government. During the height of the skirmishes with the Philippine armed forces in the 1970s, these groups gained support from the powerful Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), particularly Libya.
The hard core members of the MNLF-MBG and MILF engage in killings politicians and Christians, arsons, kidnappings and bombing of public places.
On the other hand, the Islamist front is composed of the local Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group and the Al Qaeda (AQ) network. These three terror groups who work hand in hand are in the FTO list as well.
The spate of bombings and kidnapping activities perpetrated by ASG in the past years deteriorates the peace and order situation in Mindanao and Metro Manila. So far, the worst terror attack conducted by ASG was the firebombing of a passenger ferry off Manila Bay last February 2003 that killed more than 100 people. The so-called “Valentine’s Day” attacks on 2005 in General Santos City, Davao City, and Makati City may not be as deadly as the Super Ferry attack; however, the way they were carried out by ASG denotes a grim signature of Al-Qaida style operations seen in Madrid bombings on March 11, 2004 and the London bombings on July 7, 2005.
The JI and AQ are actively sowing terror in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia - which this author called as the “Triangle of Terror” because of their geographic location. In this regard, the Philippine government needs the cooperation of its neighboring countries in the south to contain the widespread activities of the AQ network and JI members in the country.
JI has a direct connection with the MILF and ASG through operational, financial, and training linkages. A captured Indonesian JI member named Rohmat @ Zaki revealed that JI funneled P100,000 to ASG leaders who in turn channeled the money to MILF leader Abu Basit to fund bombing activities in Mindanao intended to be carried out by JI, ASG, and MILF members sometime March 2005.
The destabilization plan did not materialize according to plans, but the revelation by this JI leader strongly revealed the close association of JI terror group with the ASG and MILF. The operational ties between JI and ASG elevate the war on terror in the Philippines to the next level. Philippine government officials believed that JI activities in the country has the full blessings of the AQ operational command.
The Philippine government also needs to secure the cooperation of the United States and the Australian government who have economic and security interests in the Asian-Pacific region. To the Americans, this is a forward-containment of terrorists in third world country to avert a repeat of another Project Bojinka; to the Australians, this will prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to Oceania.
The influx of foreign terrorists in Mindanao and their association with the local terror groups is a serious threat to national security that needs immediate and clear-cut government response.
It is important to note that the Philippine government has been battling terrorism for about four decades now, yet it has not gained full control of the security situation in the country. Considering the experiences gained in the long years of fighting terrorism, the police and military forces should have decimated the mentioned terrorist organizations and could have successfully established peace and order in the country. However, the current internal security condition in the whole archipelago dictates otherwise.
The CPP/NPA regular units along with hit squads in the rural and urban areas are still forces to reckon with in Luzon and Visayas, and Mindanao – the three main islands in the Philippines. The MILF, MNLF-MBG, and ASG are actively engaging the police and military forces in Mindanao. The operational ties of the JI terror group and the AQ network with their local Muslim counterparts are getting stronger as days go by, and alongside with the ASG, they are able to perform terror activities in Metro Manila.
The probability of neutralizing or minimizing terrorism in the Philippines is great depending on the political will of the incumbent administration to make it happen. A lukewarm approach will only bolster the communists, secessionists and Islamists to advance their political and religious cause.
The Philippine government cannot stop terrorism solely by an independent police or military action. It needs the accompaniment of an efficient and effective anti-terror program management backed up by political will, legislative solutions and judicial actions, which are the best components to winning the war on terror.
The Philippines is the only country in the world that is combating terrorism on three diverse fronts - communism, secessionism, and Islamism - all at the same time. Terrorists belonging to these threat fronts have different aspirations and possess varied ideological persuasions, but espousing similar violent methods to achieve their ultimate cause.
The communist groups want to change the social and political structure of the Philippines from capitalism to communism through protracted armed revolution. On the other hand, the secessionist groups want to secede from the Manila government and establish an independent state in Mindanao. The third front -the Islamist groups - is a mixture of local and trans-national terrorists dedicated to create a Pan-Islamic state in Southeast Asia.
The terrorist groups belonging to the communist front are the Communist Party of the Philippines/New Peoples Army (CPP/NPA)and its urban hit squads, the Sparrow Units (SU)and the original Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB)– now known as the National Partisan Squad (NPS). Added to these communist terror groups are the Rebolusyonaryong Hukbong Bayan of the Marxist-Leninist Party of the Philippines and the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade of the Rebolusyonaryong Partido ng Mangagawa ng Pilipinas. The CPP/NPA and ABB are listed in the US government's Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list.
The SU and ABB gained notoriety through assassinations of military and police personnel including civilians whom they tagged as reactionaries and fascists. One of their infamous killings was the assassination of Colonel Nick Rowe of the Joint US Military Advisory Group (JUSMAG) in December 1989 while the American was on his way to JUSMAG HQS in Quezon City.
The secessionist groups are composed of the Moro National Liberation Front-Misuari Breakaway Group (MNLF-MBG) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). These groups do not see eye to eye, as each one has its own stakes in their struggle against the Manila government. During the height of the skirmishes with the Philippine armed forces in the 1970s, these groups gained support from the powerful Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), particularly Libya.
The hard core members of the MNLF-MBG and MILF engage in killings politicians and Christians, arsons, kidnappings and bombing of public places.
On the other hand, the Islamist front is composed of the local Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), Indonesian-based Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terror group and the Al Qaeda (AQ) network. These three terror groups who work hand in hand are in the FTO list as well.
The spate of bombings and kidnapping activities perpetrated by ASG in the past years deteriorates the peace and order situation in Mindanao and Metro Manila. So far, the worst terror attack conducted by ASG was the firebombing of a passenger ferry off Manila Bay last February 2003 that killed more than 100 people. The so-called “Valentine’s Day” attacks on 2005 in General Santos City, Davao City, and Makati City may not be as deadly as the Super Ferry attack; however, the way they were carried out by ASG denotes a grim signature of Al-Qaida style operations seen in Madrid bombings on March 11, 2004 and the London bombings on July 7, 2005.
The JI and AQ are actively sowing terror in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia - which this author called as the “Triangle of Terror” because of their geographic location. In this regard, the Philippine government needs the cooperation of its neighboring countries in the south to contain the widespread activities of the AQ network and JI members in the country.
JI has a direct connection with the MILF and ASG through operational, financial, and training linkages. A captured Indonesian JI member named Rohmat @ Zaki revealed that JI funneled P100,000 to ASG leaders who in turn channeled the money to MILF leader Abu Basit to fund bombing activities in Mindanao intended to be carried out by JI, ASG, and MILF members sometime March 2005.
The destabilization plan did not materialize according to plans, but the revelation by this JI leader strongly revealed the close association of JI terror group with the ASG and MILF. The operational ties between JI and ASG elevate the war on terror in the Philippines to the next level. Philippine government officials believed that JI activities in the country has the full blessings of the AQ operational command.
The Philippine government also needs to secure the cooperation of the United States and the Australian government who have economic and security interests in the Asian-Pacific region. To the Americans, this is a forward-containment of terrorists in third world country to avert a repeat of another Project Bojinka; to the Australians, this will prevent the spillover of terrorism from the Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia to Oceania.
The influx of foreign terrorists in Mindanao and their association with the local terror groups is a serious threat to national security that needs immediate and clear-cut government response.
It is important to note that the Philippine government has been battling terrorism for about four decades now, yet it has not gained full control of the security situation in the country. Considering the experiences gained in the long years of fighting terrorism, the police and military forces should have decimated the mentioned terrorist organizations and could have successfully established peace and order in the country. However, the current internal security condition in the whole archipelago dictates otherwise.
The CPP/NPA regular units along with hit squads in the rural and urban areas are still forces to reckon with in Luzon and Visayas, and Mindanao – the three main islands in the Philippines. The MILF, MNLF-MBG, and ASG are actively engaging the police and military forces in Mindanao. The operational ties of the JI terror group and the AQ network with their local Muslim counterparts are getting stronger as days go by, and alongside with the ASG, they are able to perform terror activities in Metro Manila.
The probability of neutralizing or minimizing terrorism in the Philippines is great depending on the political will of the incumbent administration to make it happen. A lukewarm approach will only bolster the communists, secessionists and Islamists to advance their political and religious cause.
The Philippine government cannot stop terrorism solely by an independent police or military action. It needs the accompaniment of an efficient and effective anti-terror program management backed up by political will, legislative solutions and judicial actions, which are the best components to winning the war on terror.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Divorcing the Christian Family: The Bitter Fruit of Sin
The preservation of marriage in this present time is hard, but if only couples would let Christ rule their lives instead of their proud hearts, surely the road to a lasting and joyous relationship is attainable.
There is no saddest thing than to hear a Christian family breaks apart over the so-called irreconcilable differences of husband and wife. Nowadays, even the most sacred institution that God has created does not escape the negative influences of liberal ideas.
The breakage of relationship goes across the board - from ordinary church members to those occupying key positions in the ministry. The marriage vows they once lovingly recited before God and men have become meaningless oaths meant to be broken in the trying times.
The Christian Post (not associated with this blogsite) reported the result of a research study made by Barna Group indicating that in 2008 the divorce rate among Christian couples is 32 percent, almost identical to the national average rate of 33 percent. This suggests the degradation of spirituality of the believers today, that some would even embark in moral relativism at the expense of their children and testimony in the community. It is sad to say that even evangelical Christians fell into this temptation.
There are many reasons why husband and wife untie the knot of holy matrimony and issues like unfaithfulness, financial, fornication, partner abuse and even in-laws play significant factor in the dissolution of marriage. But saying that “you’ve lost that loving feeling” as a cause of separation seems mind-blowing in the Christian perspective.
What happened to the sweet promises of being there all the times? Like the pledge to hold each other hands for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health and to love and to cherish each other until death separates them both? Is the Christian commitment now gearing towards the Hollywood-style relationships of love at first sight and ends at first fight?
The beak-up of relationship does not only bring deep emotional scar to the husband and wife, but more so, to the children who will carry the burden for the rest of their lives. Lest anyone forgets, whatever parents sowed in the hearts of the adolescents, the seed will eventually bear fruits in the years to come. The emotional seed planted in a broken family oftentimes grow into a tree with unsavory fruits.
Although the author does not endorse the idea for children to live in a dysfunctional home or sanction the thought of acrimonious dwelling, a research study shows, however, that their emotional state is better than those kids living in a single-parent home.
According to the Ten Findings from a National Study on the Moral and Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce(Elizabeth Marquardt), children living with parents in a low-conflict marriage do better emotionally compared to those who live with parents that have good divorces.
Moreover, the emotional price of divorce and separation is not quantifiable, but the financial cost is. For one, the legal and all the charges associated with the litigation proceedings are astronomical. There is also the question of child support and alimony, which is onerous to the non-custodial parent if there is no shared custody agreement.
The children are not the only ones who suffer when parents separate, and being part of the congregation, the local church suffers as well too. Break-ups between Christian couples stifle the hearts of the brethren and surely blemish the testimony of the local church in the community.
The local churches, not Oprah or Dr. Phil, play a significant role in repairing broken relationships of Christian couples before it reach to the point of divorce. The spiritual mandate for the church to steer its erring flocks to the path of righteousness has never been more vital in this challenging time.
Support groups definitely can help struggling couples get back to each other arms. As an example, the Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA has several ministries (e.g., Grace Groups, Spiritual Care) that respond to the struggles of the couples like "family issue, difficult habit, or challenging relationship." Christians must be sensitive to needs of their fellow brethren because the pain of one is the heartache of the body of Christ.
Lastly, there is no such thing as irreconcilable differences in Christian marriage, only selfishness and carnal excuses. Even if only one partner would commit to make the marriage works and patiently waits for the intervention of the Holy Spirit, their togetherness would one day result to forgiveness and lukewarm relationship would evolve into a meaningful partnership in Christ.
There is no saddest thing than to hear a Christian family breaks apart over the so-called irreconcilable differences of husband and wife. Nowadays, even the most sacred institution that God has created does not escape the negative influences of liberal ideas.
The breakage of relationship goes across the board - from ordinary church members to those occupying key positions in the ministry. The marriage vows they once lovingly recited before God and men have become meaningless oaths meant to be broken in the trying times.
The Christian Post (not associated with this blogsite) reported the result of a research study made by Barna Group indicating that in 2008 the divorce rate among Christian couples is 32 percent, almost identical to the national average rate of 33 percent. This suggests the degradation of spirituality of the believers today, that some would even embark in moral relativism at the expense of their children and testimony in the community. It is sad to say that even evangelical Christians fell into this temptation.
There are many reasons why husband and wife untie the knot of holy matrimony and issues like unfaithfulness, financial, fornication, partner abuse and even in-laws play significant factor in the dissolution of marriage. But saying that “you’ve lost that loving feeling” as a cause of separation seems mind-blowing in the Christian perspective.
What happened to the sweet promises of being there all the times? Like the pledge to hold each other hands for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health and to love and to cherish each other until death separates them both? Is the Christian commitment now gearing towards the Hollywood-style relationships of love at first sight and ends at first fight?
The beak-up of relationship does not only bring deep emotional scar to the husband and wife, but more so, to the children who will carry the burden for the rest of their lives. Lest anyone forgets, whatever parents sowed in the hearts of the adolescents, the seed will eventually bear fruits in the years to come. The emotional seed planted in a broken family oftentimes grow into a tree with unsavory fruits.
Although the author does not endorse the idea for children to live in a dysfunctional home or sanction the thought of acrimonious dwelling, a research study shows, however, that their emotional state is better than those kids living in a single-parent home.
According to the Ten Findings from a National Study on the Moral and Spiritual Lives of Children of Divorce(Elizabeth Marquardt), children living with parents in a low-conflict marriage do better emotionally compared to those who live with parents that have good divorces.
Moreover, the emotional price of divorce and separation is not quantifiable, but the financial cost is. For one, the legal and all the charges associated with the litigation proceedings are astronomical. There is also the question of child support and alimony, which is onerous to the non-custodial parent if there is no shared custody agreement.
The children are not the only ones who suffer when parents separate, and being part of the congregation, the local church suffers as well too. Break-ups between Christian couples stifle the hearts of the brethren and surely blemish the testimony of the local church in the community.
The local churches, not Oprah or Dr. Phil, play a significant role in repairing broken relationships of Christian couples before it reach to the point of divorce. The spiritual mandate for the church to steer its erring flocks to the path of righteousness has never been more vital in this challenging time.
Support groups definitely can help struggling couples get back to each other arms. As an example, the Grace Baptist Church in Santa Clarita, CA has several ministries (e.g., Grace Groups, Spiritual Care) that respond to the struggles of the couples like "family issue, difficult habit, or challenging relationship." Christians must be sensitive to needs of their fellow brethren because the pain of one is the heartache of the body of Christ.
Lastly, there is no such thing as irreconcilable differences in Christian marriage, only selfishness and carnal excuses. Even if only one partner would commit to make the marriage works and patiently waits for the intervention of the Holy Spirit, their togetherness would one day result to forgiveness and lukewarm relationship would evolve into a meaningful partnership in Christ.
Friday, April 10, 2009
The Jiverly Wong Syndrome: Plight of Asian Americans
Just like Jiverly Wong, many Asian immigrants face difficulty assimilating to the mainstream America and in their struggle they become hateful of the society. An early crisis intervention is surely beneficial to them as well as to the community to help avert another Binghamton-type incident.
On a rainy morning of April 3, 2009, the news of the hostage-taking incident in Binghamton, NY has captivated the attention of the nation. The crisis was not about a terrorist demanding political concession from the United States government or a case of domestic violence that had gone berserk.
The case was about a dejected immigrant who miserably failed to adjust to the stressful living in mainstream America and decided to end his life in a vicious rampage.
Jiverly Wong, a despondent Vietnamese American, reportedly entered the American Civic Action - a non-profit organization helping the needs of immigrants in the surrounding areas of Binghamton – and started pumping bullets on everyone inside the building before taking his life.
The ensuing carnage had resulted to the death of 13 innocent people and likewise inflicted serious wounds on a number of individuals.
Just like Wong, many Asian Americans are also experiencing difficulty adjusting to the immigrant-life in United States. Those who have migrated while already in their adult life have found it harder assimilating to the country that they now called home.
The process of assimilation to the western society is tough considering the extreme contrasts between Asian and American culture. The Asian culture is more of a traditional and submissive type as oppose to the American that is modern and domineering. The cliché culture shock has never been more fitting to the Asian Americans.
There are numerous reasons why Asian immigrants struggle with their integration to the western society, and issues like language skills, social values, religious belief and fear of discrimination are the most common problems that hinder them in their transition period.
In the case of Wong, the New York based Daily News reported his difficulty communicating in English was one of his frustrations in life. This language skill deficiency made him a target of jokes in his employments and in social gatherings. In addition, his problem speaking in his native tongue has affected even more his social life.
In the midst of the turbulent economic crisis, Wong lost his job and ended up receiving unemployment benefits from the government. Other contributory problems like his divorce with his wife years ago that cost him his kids in California and alleged encounter with the cops in the past that had haunted him for years were the angry seeds that sowed hatred in his heart.
Wong's failure to integrate and succeed in the United States apparently had slowly diminished his self-worth and in the end viewed his life a total failure.
Many Asian Americans are in the same boat with Wong, hoping and trying to assimilate in the American society. Their expectation to succeed in the so-called Promised Land has altered their sense of purpose in life. Their disappointment turns into bitterness, bitterness to hate and hate to insanity.
They need help and an early crisis intervention to assist them cope with the challenges and difficulties in living in United States would someday help avert another Binghamton-type incident.
Church-based groups and non-profit organizations can reach out better to the Asian immigrants with the financial assistance of the government only on a limited basis. Too much government involvement and intervention in the personal lives of the citizenry would only worsen the situation.
On a rainy morning of April 3, 2009, the news of the hostage-taking incident in Binghamton, NY has captivated the attention of the nation. The crisis was not about a terrorist demanding political concession from the United States government or a case of domestic violence that had gone berserk.
The case was about a dejected immigrant who miserably failed to adjust to the stressful living in mainstream America and decided to end his life in a vicious rampage.
Jiverly Wong, a despondent Vietnamese American, reportedly entered the American Civic Action - a non-profit organization helping the needs of immigrants in the surrounding areas of Binghamton – and started pumping bullets on everyone inside the building before taking his life.
The ensuing carnage had resulted to the death of 13 innocent people and likewise inflicted serious wounds on a number of individuals.
Just like Wong, many Asian Americans are also experiencing difficulty adjusting to the immigrant-life in United States. Those who have migrated while already in their adult life have found it harder assimilating to the country that they now called home.
The process of assimilation to the western society is tough considering the extreme contrasts between Asian and American culture. The Asian culture is more of a traditional and submissive type as oppose to the American that is modern and domineering. The cliché culture shock has never been more fitting to the Asian Americans.
There are numerous reasons why Asian immigrants struggle with their integration to the western society, and issues like language skills, social values, religious belief and fear of discrimination are the most common problems that hinder them in their transition period.
In the case of Wong, the New York based Daily News reported his difficulty communicating in English was one of his frustrations in life. This language skill deficiency made him a target of jokes in his employments and in social gatherings. In addition, his problem speaking in his native tongue has affected even more his social life.
In the midst of the turbulent economic crisis, Wong lost his job and ended up receiving unemployment benefits from the government. Other contributory problems like his divorce with his wife years ago that cost him his kids in California and alleged encounter with the cops in the past that had haunted him for years were the angry seeds that sowed hatred in his heart.
Wong's failure to integrate and succeed in the United States apparently had slowly diminished his self-worth and in the end viewed his life a total failure.
Many Asian Americans are in the same boat with Wong, hoping and trying to assimilate in the American society. Their expectation to succeed in the so-called Promised Land has altered their sense of purpose in life. Their disappointment turns into bitterness, bitterness to hate and hate to insanity.
They need help and an early crisis intervention to assist them cope with the challenges and difficulties in living in United States would someday help avert another Binghamton-type incident.
Church-based groups and non-profit organizations can reach out better to the Asian immigrants with the financial assistance of the government only on a limited basis. Too much government involvement and intervention in the personal lives of the citizenry would only worsen the situation.
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