On October 13th, SFYAD held a hiking event out to Angel Island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay. Because the event was held on the weekend of the Chinese Double Ninth Festival, SFYAD chose to visit Angel Island, where the history of struggling Chinese immigrants are recorded. The event was both the perfect getaway from the industrial metropolis and a way for participants to reflect on and learn about their heritage. A way for the current generation to learn about the hardships of their ancestors.
Angel Island was used as a transit point for immigrants from the west to enter the United States in the early 19th century. The immigration detention center on the island has examined and detained about one million new immigrants, most of them from coastal China. Due to the passing of the Chinese Exclusion Act, the newly detained immigrants on the island were deprived of liberty, placed in uncomfortable living spaces, and exposed to mental torture and isolation. From the explanations of the park administrators, the on-the-spot visits, and the poems that were left on the wall, the group found themselves emotional as they began to understand more.
On the return boat, everyone shared their feelings about their day on Angel Island. There were mentions that the purpose of immigration in the past was to find a better life, and this purpose also brought about various behaviors. Some people risked smuggling, some chose to discriminate, and some chose to become volunteers. The purpose of the intention itself is not good or bad, however, it is the final act that brings about the difference between the good and the bad. Young people tell their own experiences, to make behaviors that are beneficial to society, to cultivate empathy, to learn to empathize, to correctly judge and make behaviors that have a positive impact on society.
舊金山青年重陽登高 天使島緬懷先人
舊金山佛光青年分團10月13日於舊金山灣區天使島舉辦歷史自然爬山活動，共14位青年朋友們參加。本次活動舉辦恰在中華傳統重陽節的周末，因此大衆選擇來到記錄美國西岸早期中國移民血淚史的天使島，一方面登高健行遠離城市煩囂，另一方面參訪島上的記錄早期管理和審查新移民的博物館，緬懷先人的艱苦。
位於舊金山灣的天使島在19世紀前期作爲懷揣美國夢的移民們從西岸進入美國的中轉站，島上的移民羈留所曾審查、拘留約一百萬新移民，其中大部分是來自中國沿海地區。由於當時《排華法案》的通過，島上被羈留的新移民們飽受從身體上被剝奪自由、住宿伙食不適，到精神上被歧視、隔離帶來的折磨。大衆從公園管理員的講解、實地參訪，以及留在墻上的當年的打油詩都能深深感受到，因此紛紛感概萬千，不忍落淚。
在回程的船上，大家分享對今天活動的感受。其中提及了當年移民的目的是爲了更好地生存，而這一目的也帶來種種不同的行爲，有的人冒著危險偷渡，有的人選擇以歧視對待，有的人選擇成爲志工獲得心靈滿足。但是意圖目的本身并沒有好壞，帶來對社會不同好、坏影響的是最後做出的行爲。青年們以自身經歷講述，要做出對社會有益的行爲，需要培養同理心，學會換位思考，才能正確判斷及做出對社會有正向影響的行爲。
美洲：
10/3 舊金山佛光青年分團於舊金山灣區天使島舉辦重陽登高活動，共14位青年朋友們參加。大衆登高健行遠離城市煩囂，也參訪了島上記錄早期管理和審查新移民的博物館，緬懷先人的艱苦。位於舊金山灣的天使島在19世紀前期作爲懷揣美國夢的移民們從西岸進入美國的中轉站，島上的移民羈留所曾審查、拘留約一百萬新移民，其中大部分是來自中國沿海地區。由於當時《排華法案》的通過，島上被羈留的新移民們飽受從身體上被剝奪自由、住宿伙食不適，到精神上被歧視、隔離帶來的折磨。參訪后，青年們結合自身經歷，談及開始的意圖與行爲導致結果好壞等因緣法。青年還體會到應以同理心與換位思考，做出更多對社會有正向影響的行爲。