Protest by social networkers erases idea of Mulan's white savior

In Disney's original animated telling of the legend of Mulan, she had a love interest, but he was Chinese.

REPRINTED FROM ASAM NEWS

THE FIRE has been put out by Disney, at least for now.

Social media was set ablaze after an anonymous open letter published in Angry Asian Man claimed that a spec script purchased by Disney for the live-action Mulan movie featured a White love interest who comes in to save the day.

"The man is a 30-something European trader who initially cares only for the pleasure of women and money. The only reason why he and his entourage decide to help the Chinese Imperial Army is because he sets eyes on Mulan. That’s right. Our white savior has come to the aid of Ancient China due to a classic case of Yellow Fever. In this script written by Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin, more than half of its pages are dedicated to this merchant who develops a mutual attraction with Mulan and fights to protect her in the ensuing battles. To top it all off, this man gets the honor of defeating the primary enemy of China, not Mulan. Way to steal a girl’s thunder."

Online outrage spread like wildfire (via the hashtag #MakeMulanRight) and was stoked by actor Joel de La Fuente’s (The Man In The High Castle) claim that he, too, had read this iteration of the script.

Since the story broke, Vulture reports Disney has brought in new writers and Mulan will have a Chinese love interest.

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• Who would you cast as Mulan?

“The spec script was a jumping-off point for a new take on the story that draws from both the literary ballad of Mulan and Disney’s 1998 animated film,” a source close to the production said. “Mulan is and will always be the lead character in the story, and all primary roles, including the love interest, are Chinese.”

The controversy stoked fears that this was yet another example of Hollywood #whitewashing an Asian story.

(Views from the Edge contributed to this report)

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Baseball's newest baseball hero is an Asian American

Giants left fielder Travis Ishikawa interviewed by Erin Rogers after
 hitting the winning home run in the NLCS, 2014.

YES! YES! YES!

After featuring Kolten Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals, it is only fitting that we say something about the other Asian American in the National League Championship Series - the Giant's first baseman/left fielder Travis Ishikawa.

He just hit the home run to win the game sending the Giants to the World Series. With the score tied 3-3 in the 9th inning, Ishikawa, hitting in the 7th spot in the batting order - not a place in the lineup from which you'd expect a home run - Ishikawa hit it over the right field wall, jets of water shoot up in the air, fog horns blare, fireworks and cheers from 41,000 delirious fans as Ishikawa pumping his fists, yelling at no one in particular, as he runs around the bases.

I think I saw this scene in a movie. I love this game.

Ishikawa, who was drafted by the Giants out of high school in Federal Way, Washington, an Army town just south of Seattle, never reached the heights he dreamed about as a youth. He bounced around eight different teams and finally was resigned by the Giants earlier this  year and played for the Triple A team, the Fresno Grizzlies. He wasn't' even a starter.

This year, at the age of 31, he called a childhood friend and with tears in his eyes, pondered what he could do next to earn a living. He thought his playing days were over. In a bit of prescience, USA TODAY did a feature on Ishikawa a day before this final game.

As fate would have it, the Giants' regular left fielder suffered an injury and the team needed someone who could play right away. In 2010 he was with the Giants as a bench player as the Giants won their first World Series so Ishikawa's experience made him the perfect choice to be called up to the Bigs once more.

But the regular first baseman, Brandon Belt, also returned from an injury leaving Ishikawa the odd man out. He was relegated to the bench again.

Manager Bruce Bochy, going with his gut, asked Ishikawa to play left field, a position he's never played. Eager to stay in the majors, the athletic Ishikawa agreed, even though he had never played the position in his life. After a few games in left field, he found himself playing in October.

Earlier in tonight's game, he misplayed a fly ball to left field, eventually leading to a run and a temporary Cardinal lead. It looked like Ishikawa might become the goat.

Then came the moment when he redeemed himself.

Consider this:

If the Cardinals had won the NLCS, Hawaii-born Kolten Wong would have been a serious candidate as MVP.

Travis Ishikawa should have won the MVP. With one swing of the bat, he added his name to the legendary lore of the Giants. He became a hero to Giants fans, among which I count myself.

Years from now, when people talk about the great series between the Cards and Giants, I'll remember this: Two Asian Americans stood out playing "America's Pastime" on the country's biggest stage; one more swipe at the stereotype of the unathletic Asian male.

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