a*****y
发帖数: 311 | 1 致在美华人，和所有为人父母者的一封公开信
Recently, Jimmy Kimmel, an ABC talk show host, in a skit called 'kids table'
in his show, asked some 6-year-olds what should be done about America's
debts to China, a boy quickly suggested to "kill everyone in China". Kimmel
chuckled and said, "That's an interesting idea". In a follow-up question he
asked "should we allow the Chinese to live?" and he got mixed answers. Later
he led the discussion to swing towards allowing the Chinese to live but
just so that someone can continue lending money.
This was not a live show and nevertheless ABC decided to air it. Not
surprisingly, such rhetoric has triggered widespread protests in the Chinese
community. I think by now most of us probably have already heard about it.
Not sure if the gravity of this incident is fully appreciated, I am writing
this to share with you some of my thoughts and why I think each of us in the
Chinese community, as well as all parents in this country, bear the
responsibility to do something to make sure this will not happen again.
1. Stop the media's practice of racial discrimination against Chinese
For this point, one of my friends put it very nicely in one of his Facebook
posts. And I quote him below.
"... I can only speak for myself. I think Chinese are the most discriminated
ethnic group in the US. We all know the American society is obsessed with
political correctness. For example, ethnic slurs are generally taboo ---
unless it is against Chinese. One bad game for Jeremy Lin, that is "Chink in
the armor". One UCSD professor put "Don't believe anything the Chinaman
says " on his webpage, after receiving protests, after investigated by the
school, he replaced it with videos of US carriers and fighting jets. Do you
think he can get away if he had the N word on his webpage ... Similarly,
imagine that, if Jimmy instead asked about how to solve illegal immigration,
and that boy suggested killing all Mexicans. Do you think ABC would air
this? Personally, I do not get butt hurt over words. I actually think the
idea of political correctness is stupid. As someone said, it is not about
words, just like it wasn't about bus seat for Rosa Parks. For the US society
as it is now, political correctness only protects ethnic groups other than
Chinese. This has to change! If the media continue to openly joke about
killing all Chinese, shit may get real! In 1982, two Chrysler employees
killed Vincent Chin and served no jail time. Killer: "It's because of you
little motherfuckers that we're out of work!" Judge: "These weren't the kind
of men you send to jail... You don't make the punishment fit the crime; you
make the punishment fit the criminal." I feel this may happen again! ..."
I share this view that such rhetoric will be unimaginable if it were used on
any other ethnic group and broadcasted on national TV, but then why it is
okay to say such terrible things about the Chinese? Regardless of how much
sense political correctness makes, it should be applied equally to all
ethnic groups if it is applied at all.
On the other hand, speaking for myself I have to say after living in the U.S
. for nearly a decade I can hardly recall any personal experiences where I
felt being overtly racially discriminated except for only one case when a
few years ago my wife and I were traveling in a southern state. Besides that
, I have to say the vast majority of the Americans that I have met in real
life are open-minded and friendly. However, I am not sure I can say the same
about my experiences with the media.
2. Protect kids of minority backgrounds from race based bullying
Many of us who have kids, or plan to have kids, in this country should be
more concerned about this incident. Although the rhetoric had been portrayed
as a 'joke', we all know the tacit message been sent is that the Chinese
can be picked on without consequences. Little kids are particularly
receptive to such signals and will tend to practice what they see on TV. If
such behaviors go unpunished, chances are the Chinese kids, or maybe even
kids of other minority backgrounds, will more likely become targets of such
racial discrimination based bullying in school. Kids are particularly
sensitive and vulnerable, so as parents it is our responsibility to create
an environment that protects our kids as much as possible from race based
bullying and intimidation.
3. Protect all kids in this country from the culture that promotes violence
Not that I am overly sensitive about ethnic jokes, I am actually very cool
about it and think it can be funny and even thought provoking if tastefully
done, I just find nothing funny about killing/genocide and wonder how anyone
in his right mind would find it a laughing material.
And this brings me to the third point that I want to make, that aside from
the racial part in this incident, it is equally disturbing that violence is
being promoted in the show, and promoted through the manipulation of 5, 6
year olds. The 6 year old boy didn't know better, but his quick response of
genocide as a solution to Kimmel’s question makes me wonder either this
show was scripted or I have to question what kind of upbringing the boy had
at home. I don’t know which one is worse.
As a dad myself, I feel concerned about kids growing up in an environment
where violence is being prompted and even glorified. Maybe this explains why
rampage killing is becoming ever more frequent in this country, which maybe
has now not only been accepted as a way of life, but actually started to be
found somehow amusing. This is disturbing.
4. Act like a citizen to uphold values that make this country great
Despite all the criticisms that I have for the Chinese being one of the most
discriminated ethnic groups in this country (to which we as an ethnic group
collectively also share part of the responsibility for our own inaction),
US is still one of the most tolerate and diverse countries in the world, and
this is one of the important reasons why this country has been enjoying
prosperity for a very long time. The fact that you and me can be here today
to enjoy and also contribute to its prosperity is a testimonial of this
country's greatness.
However, such tolerance didn't come free and easy. It was the civil rights
movement started in the 1950's that fundamentally changed the landscape, the
fact that we can study and work here largely immune from racial
discrimination on a daily basis is an example how we've benefited from this
movement.
The point I am making here is that civil liberty was achieved through the
exercise of rights a citizen is endowed with. Being a citizen means that one
shall act like an owner/guardian of the country, and be responsible for
upholding the values that make the country great. I know some of us are
already US citizens, some of us will become citizens a few years down the
road, and a lot of us, although are not citizens, work here and pay taxes
here and raise children here, and I consider you a de facto citizen being so
integrated into the economy. So exercise your rights as a citizen, act like
an owner/guardian of the country and uphold the values of equality and
liberty that made this country great.
Only when you act like a citizen will you be viewed and treated like one,
only when you stand up for your rights and dignity will you have them.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Dad Who Loves Both China and America |
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