Monday, 6/2/97 Asian Americans must stop self-identification as
victims History must be learned but not milked for sympathy
By Reina Maehata I just finished reading another "we poor
Asian-Americans" column and I feel sick. As a person of Asian
descent myself, I cannot bear to see other Asians "uniting" and
pitying themselves about their situation. So there were struggles
in the past. So the people need to know. That’s nice. As
descendants of "oppressed people," Asian Americans these days may
have the duty to tell the society. But when last I checked, we
weren’t the only ones oppressed. I feel that the oppression, if it
could be measured, of the Native Americans and African Americans
was far worse than what Asian Americans faced. I also feel that
it’s so convenient that when we want to make WASPs feel bad, we
unite. I’ve experienced, within the Asian American community, some
nasty division: "Oh, you are really nice, but too bad you are not
Korean American" or "It’s OK, we still like you although you are
Japanese." And then there’s my favorite: "We are Americans and we
fought for our country, but if you mock Kamikaze pilots, I’ll sue
you because those are my brothers." How convenient. Just switch
sides at your will so you can be the victim! I happen to have a
very good friend whose grandfather checked the airplane that
dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. And I happen to have a great
grandfather who died in Hiroshima from the bomb. When we found this
out, I didn’t feel victimized. I felt that my friend got nervous,
but hey, it’s not like it was a personal thing. It was war!
Unfortunately, racism still exists. But things are getting better,
and I personally haven’t experienced anyone oppressing me. Oh, and
the thing about how a majority of "us" live in poverty: When was
the last time you were in Watts? Last time I went to the projects,
there was not a single Asian face. I guess there are Asian
"projects" in other parts of L.A. I salute you for your effort in
educating people. But please don’t victimize or pity yourselves.
History should be learned and not repeated, but at the same time
you cannot take it personally. Maehata is a UCLA alumna.