http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18178194/site/newsweek/
There was talk of a backlash against Korean-Americans after Seung Cho went on his shooting rampage in Blacksburg, but no talk of the same against European-Americans after Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold massacred students at Columbine, nor against African-Americans after Lee Malvo and John Muhammad went on their shooting rampage.
Americans of South Asian descent have reported being ethnically profiled as potential terrorists. But where was the equally fervent rush to profile all Americans of European descent as being potential terrorists after Oklahoma City bombers Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh did their damage?
This disparity illustrates how Americans of Asian ethnic origin are still viewed as not truly being American or otherwise somehow foreign.
What steps would Americans (of Asian descent) need to take in order to be perceived, both on sight and culturally, as true Americans by the American cultural mainstream and the world?
Edit: CrystalEyes, you’re not informing me of anything I do not already know. (Arab-Americans, and, as I pointed out, South-Asian-Americans, were profiled.)
My question is what to do about it and how Asians can cross the divide.
Mr Nice Guy: I can’t say I share your opinion on profiling being media hype.
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Tags: AsianAmericans, being, Both, east, Foreign, should, South, stop, viewed
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I think you are buying into the media hype. I have not witnessed one incident of profiling.
Remember that the media will put any angle they need to on a story to keep it alive.
Thats OK, you dont have to agree with me, I am just stating my opinion.
There is nothing to stop it really. Events like that just shows how paranoid and racist people can be. During World War II the Japanese-Americans were stripped of their farmland and taken in camps away from the coast for the duration of the war but the German and Italian-Americans did not suffer the same treatment. In Hawaii, the governor refused to turn in the Japanese-Americans to mainland America. The thankful Japanese-Americans in Hawaii joined the US army and fought bravely in Italy.
I’m sorry to inform you of this but that backlash you described is shared by all groups in America. Look at how the Muslims were treated after 9/11 or how the African-American community is portrayed.
Even groups of white Americans are ostracized. Anytime France makes a political stand against the US, Americans with French names are teased. Or how the Italian-Americans or always assumed to be in the Mafia.
The problem is that we all need to start looking at each other as Americans.
What’s unique about the Asian-American community is that you guys have the least amount of media representation. You need to start organizing and getting your voices heard more. Otherwise, your voices will be lost among the screams of all the others.
I’m very sorry if you felt that way. It never crossed my mind that he was anything but a disturbed individual. I feel certain at times that Muslims feel persecuted for what is going on in Iraq.
But, no one that I know thought that he was a terriorist once they found out he was from Korea. But some were saying was he a muslim? Associateing that with terriorism.
Actually just the oposite from what you think most Americans do not think of Korea as terriorists. South Korea is democratic and has accepted western customs.
I thought of this when it happened and actually, at my college at least, there was no backlash here. I might be too hopeful to think this is everywhere but there is a difference between fear of backlash and actual backlash itself.
Secondly, there are bound to be bloggers who are on the extreme. Just because a few have voiced their opinions, it doesn’t mean they represent all of america.
I dont know what source you are getting that say South Asia descent are being ethnically profiled as terrorists. The news I have been watching have done a good job of not jumping to conclusion.
Asian community themselves were not known to be very in-tolerating towards other races, especially ones with darker skin. They often won’t mix with other races, I see a lot of asian churches, especially Koreans, are not known to be very open minded and very judgemental of other races, even towards asian themselves.
I ‘m Chinese and used to date a Korean guy, he won’t take me home to see his family, because I’m not a korean.
As for us, Chinese, we’re pretty close minded about others too, for example, my sister dated a hispanic guy, was kick out of the house for awhile. Now she’s marrying this Vietnamese guy, his mother didn’t even attend their wedding.
Now do you see the disparities?? It’s our own fault, we wanted to stick with the likes and pass judgement on other races. That’s why we standout after the Virginia Shooting.
Personally, I think the shooter’s parents and his community that raised him this way is really at fault, there’s an old saying, that it takes a villiage to raise a kid.
Because you are foreign.
All I can tell you is that not all Asians are raving lunatics. Most of them wouldn’t hurt a fly. Maybe you can show them what some Asian Americans have done and continue to do that is good for America. And get a psyche eval and have the counselor write a good report if they need actual proof. Anyway, all you can do is be the best you can be and show by your example that you would never cause harm to your fellow americans. Maybe you can find people who aren’t afraid of Asian people and be friends with them. Leave the others to their fears and paranoias.
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