Recently Andrew Yang in an op-ed said that Asian Americans, in the face of discrimination due to COVID-19, should do more to show that they are good Americans. While I agree that we should do good things, I don't think we should do so because we are trying to prove our American worthiness. It would be great in this time of crisis that we step up and do more charity or volunteer work. But that is true of all Americans, not just Asian Americans.
No matter what we do, it is not going to convince the racists not to discriminate or attack us. Asian Americans are already stereotyped as the "model immigrants or minority" but that hasn't stop certain people from considering us not as Americans, but as foreigners. As Yang himself pointed out, Asians comprise 17% of the physicians in the country. Many of these doctors along with tens of thousands of healthcare workers of Asian descent are on the front line of defense against this pandemic. But the racists will still attack us anyway.
During our county Chinese New Year celebration, I was honored to introduce World War II veterans of Chinese descent from our county. I spoke about the fact that during World War II, over 20,000 men and women of Chinese descent served in our military. This was 20% of the total population of Chinese in America at that time. This high percentage of service occurred despite the fact that these heroes faced discrimination before, during and after the war. These heroes sacrificed despite not being considered by many to be Americans. They did not have to prove their American worthiness, they just did what was right. Today, we should do the right things, not because we need to prove our American worthiness, but because they are the right things.
Sunday, April 12, 2020
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When I read Yang's comments, I cringed because I know that it was going to rub some Asian Americans the wrong way. I've always thought that Yang was more of an economic-based thinker, so I understand what he is saying. I don't know if he is right or wrong. I know that I've been more self conscious out in public and I want to somehow prove that I am not the enemy. I just don't know how I can do it. I also have a part of me that is telling me that I am not the problem and that it's the racist's.
ReplyDeleteWe are showing signs here in Michigan that things are slowing down. Hopefully that trend will continue. While I agree with some kind of stay at home, I am not sure if I fully agree with our governor's choices. I am not saying that I have the answers but some of the new policies make me scratch my head. They have some of the stores like Meijer, where they are not allowed to sell non-essential items. Same with Home Depot. While I agree in a way with the concept, I would rather have had them just limit the amount of people in the stores and give them a time limit. Did they do the same thing in California?
-LBOAYM
No matter what you do, you are not going to convince the racists you are American as them. So I will just be the best citizen I can be and hope I don't run into a racist with a gun in the streets.
ReplyDeleteWe are required to wear a mask in stores now which was the case in Chinese stores in Monterrey Park from the beginning. The rest of LA just caught up with the Asians. Are masks required in Michigan? I agree that banning non-essential items for sale seems weird. How do you determine what is non-essential? Technically, I suppose you can say toilet papers are not essential. That would be bad news for me! There is no such ban here, thank goodness!
I went to Costco the other day with my nephew. We scored toilet paper! I took him since he is young and 6 feet tall, so maybe nobody will mess with us. He is half white and doesn't look Chinese. I wore a hat, mask and glasses that turned dark outdoors. So I figure also then that we would not look Asian to any racist. On the other hand, I was thinking that maybe some racist would think that I have a son with a white woman and thus more likely to attack us. See, how you can over think things? So in summary, just live the right way!
Hmmm, I guess I will have to hang out with my white partner out in public more! We are not required to wear masks but it is recommended. I figure if the president won't wear one, why should i?
ReplyDeleteRan across this article today. It's things like this that don't help.
https://asamnews.com/2020/04/14/republican-senator-deflects-blame-to-china-and-away-from-trump-for-coronvirus-pandemic-in-us/?fbclid=IwAR34a21PE866tojW3f0DvOiWGCkwxdM42fUQjm9xoCI7AdtlV3wYf9h4h9c
-LBOAYM
Lindsey Graham is a spineless person. His friend John McCain is turning over in his grave, knowing how 180 degree Graham has changed. He was a big critic of Trump before the election and now he is one of his mouthpieces. Trump has not changed, so Graham is the one who has changed.
ReplyDeleteFor all those who blame China rather than Trump for the deaths of Americans, just remember this: South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong all got the same information from China as the U.S. did. Why are these countries so much better off than the U.S.? I can use timeline to defend China against Trump but I don't have to. I just have to compare the American response to these other countries who are more successful than the U.S.
Hey, I think you should wear mask when going out. Should also do so when going to see old folks. Masks are important because there are many who carry the virus and are totally asymptomatic. I think that is part of the reason why SF and other places with heavy Chinese population have done well. We lived in an area that does not have a lot of Asians. So we didn't want to be stigmatize by wearing a mask to the stores in the beginning. Now that it is mandatory, we feel good that we can wear the masks, just like the people did when going to Chinese stores before.
Just saw videos on Youtube about protest in Lansing over the restrictions in Michigan. There were Trump signs, massive number of people walking, standing, talking without masks. One state representative said that people are hurting in her district and need to go back to work, but they will be careful. She did not wear a mask and neither did the people around her. Some said that the media was putting out false information, hyping the danger of the virus.
ReplyDeleteDidn't these people learn about Italy, Spain and New York? Did they know that masks, social isolation have proven to work in South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan? In fact look at California which has 5 times the population of Michigan and much more connection with China, and yet has a lot few cases and deaths than Michigan. A pastor in Virginia just died after continuing his sermons.
What ticks me off is that these people are not just endangering themselves but other people as well. They will end up endangering the healthcare workers who will have to try to save them. I have not seen this type of revolt in other states. If these people win and the restrictions are cancelled, I am afraid that Michigan will end up worse than New York.