Ignorance

Today, I want to write about this little "hum-dinger" of an article. The folks at sfgate wrote about various reactions to the story. There's a lot of response and outrage to this guy's article. He's written a lot of inflammatory crap like "Proof that Whites Inherently Hate Us" and "Why I Hate Asians" for AsianWeek. Pulitzer type stuff here? I think not! I have never read AsianWeek and if the editors decided to print this for more readership, don't hold your breath.

It makes me sad. It makes me sad that some Asians in my generation are still holding true to the virtues and mentality of the parents and grandparents. The mentality that I speak of is the general disdain for anyone not the same as they are. I don't speak for everyone, but of the older Chinese generation that I've met, it is usually the same issue.

They embrace the familiar and never seek out the unknown. Go to a buffet in Vegas or Reno. You see a plethora of food from all over the world... Mexican, Italian, Soul Food,... etc... the possibilities are endless. Now go abroad and follow where a Chinese tour group explores... to eat. Chinese food from Italy, Chinese food from India... do you sense a running theme? So when Chinese people go to Vegas or Reno and stop at a buffet to eat, they can try and explore other foods because the buffet price is all inclusive. They will no doubt embrace the noodle dishes and the rice dishes and the beef with broccoli dishes. But this is the one time when they can try a tamale or try bread pudding or try Prime Rib and if they don't like it, they didn't waste money. The smiling faces of the older Chinese men at buffets, make me laugh. Why? Because these people were exposed to something new without any considerable risk. And look at them... all happy. Ahhh... if the world could be one buffet.

So where am I going with this? The young man who wrote that article about why he hated Blacks... it is just so damn irresponsible, for him and the editors at AsianWeek. He obviously has had many bad experiences in life and is very frustrated. So it seems he wants to lash out and vent. (Write a blog then). But all his reasons make no sense to me.

Take the first argument:

"Blacks hate us. Every Asian who has ever come across them knows that they take almost every opportunity to hurl racist remarks at us.

In my experience, I would say about 90 percent of blacks I have met, regardless of age or environment, poke fun at the very sight of an Asian. Furthermore, their activity in the media proves their hatred: Rush Hour, Exit Wounds, Hot 97, etc."

Like I said, he's obviously had some bad experiences in his past. But to cite Rush Hour, Exit Wounds, Hot 97 as your sources of media? Don't forget Romeo Must Die! Come on! Has he ever heard of movies like the Joy Luck Club? Saving Face? or has he heard of a new movie called the Painted Veil? Activity in the media? He probably chose the very worse examples imaginable. And I don't know if he also watches TV, but Asian faces are all over. Positive strides have been made for all Asians in TV, so much that even the fact that they're Asian isn't a story line anymore. Examples? Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Heroes, Gilmore Girls, The Office. Even your tired reality shows have been extremely diverse. Survivor was in the news for having a very diverse cast.

I am not going to even respond to the absurd remarks about "weak-willed" and "easy to coerce". It takes a truly warped sense of reality to make those comments.

His last argument:

"Blacks don't get it. I know it's a blunt and crass comment, but it's true. When I was in high school, I recall a class debate in which one half of the class was chosen to defend black slavery and the other half was chosen to defend liberation.

Disturbingly, blacks on the prior side viciously defended slavery as well as Christianity. They say if you don't study history, you're condemned to repeat it.

In high school, I only remember one black student ever attending any of my honors and AP courses. And that student was caught cheating."

I just don't get it. His reasoning... I just don't get it. He says Blacks don't get it. He talks about a class debate about slavery and liberation. Talks about how some were given the task of defending slavery as well as Christianity. Talks about repeating history.

Uh... was there a point you were getting to? What don't Blacks get? Is there something about slavery and Christianity that was supposed to be ironic or something?

Then he talks about his honors and AP courses. Talks about the one black student he saw in those classes and that student was caught cheating.... yeah he was caught cheating... it wouldn't... by chance... be you that was caught... right? Hmmmm?

Anyway, I don't understand his argument... it's flawed and obviously incoherent and I've realized I've given this guy too much of my time dissecting it. This person was obviously picked on and bullied by numerous people, from all walks of life, for a variety of reasons. His attitude more than anything will prevent him from meeting people that he could find interesting. It's a shame that he will forever judge people in general (in this case Blacks) as how that one person or handful of people treated him.... but I... hope you will not judge all Asians... by this one ignorant person.

Life is too short to hold grudges on people. Meet as many people as you can... it's a lonely world out there if you don't.

LeeZy