STONY BROOK, N.Y., February 6, 2006—Agent Yellow, a film by Christine Choy, and “Embracing the Infidel: Stories of Muslim Migrants on the Journey West,” a discussion and slide presentation, highlight the upcoming programming at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University.
Agent Yellow focuses on the ambiguous role forced upon Chinese scientists and engineers who have contributed significantly to American military research while still remaining largely invisible, except when singled out for disloyalty, as in the recent case of Wen Ho Lee, or the 1950's McCarthy Era case of Tsien Hsueh-sun. It explores pervasive American perception of China in either/or terms: either a sinister threat or a potential partner, and explores how these attitudes have led to a wariness about Chinese involvement in U.S. military technology.
It will be shown on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 PM. The event will include a question-and-answer session with director Choy.
“Embracing the Infidel” will focus on a discussion of the book by the same name and include a book signing with author by Behzad Yaghmaian. The book takes readers on an astounding trip that stretches from the Middle East and Africa to Western Europe and the United States. From 2002 through 2004, the author lived among Muslim immigrants in ghettos, transition camps, and safe houses and recorded their experiences. Many have survived war, brutal imprisonment, and political and social persecution. In the aftermath of September 11th, the situation for these Muslim migrants is increasingly tenuous and for many the quest carries no promise of a better life. At a time when immigrants are too often reduced to statistics or demonized, Embracing the Infidel puts human faces on these marginalized people who simply want to live freely.
The event takes place Wednesday, March 15 at 12:45 in Lecture Hall 1. Books will be available for purchase.
For the full schedule of Wang Center events for the winter and spring, and information on tickets please, visit http://ws.cc.stonybrook.edu/sb/wang/events.shtml.
