Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Four groups of Chinese Americans on Jimmy Kimmel Show and Apologies

There are probably four groups among the Chinese American Community in this whole JK show.

The first group is those who see nothing evil. They see it as a comedy and are never bothered. They don't even see the need for an apology even though ABC were forced to agree that is "egregious" mistake from ABC. They are basically unconcerned with hate speeches if it was not directly upon them. Some of them may prefer a nuanced implicit comedy-style fight back.

The next group is those who are saddened but dare not to ask for equal rights. They were used to discrimination and anything that's slightly better is acceptable. Their organizations fought and negotiated with Disney/ABC only for minimal concession to show to Chinese Americans why they should exist and get votes or other support at all. They were against any demonstration -- that's not the mild reticent "Chinese" stereotype. Or they grudgingly joined at the last minute to show that they are relevant. They do more harm than their worth in demonstrations by meddling with politics rather than the basic rights. They also claimed victory and credits after the token recession and their minimum contribution.

The third groups are Chinese Americans mostly born after MLK and inspired by equal rights for everyone. They uphold the American value of Equality and Free Speech. They experiences the discrimination every day against Chinese Americans and other races. They want to do something to remedy it. They can see the show as satire but get infuriated with Disney/ABC's "apologies" and under the belt attacks on Chinese American's protests. Most of them are people with post-graduate degrees, good stable income and kids in school. They will not compromise. They believe in their strength, -- they are self-made.

The fourth and last group is very similar to the third group and often goes with the third group. But they are often more rigid on another aspect, rather than principles they trained their eyes on Jimmy Kimmel as a main goal and line in the sand. They are very vocal and direct. Sometimes they can alienate supporters in other ethnic groups by targeting Free Speech and Jimmy Kimmel personally. Trading principles for expedience is not a problem for them. This separate them from the third group.

Group one never participate protest and they were against protest at all. Group two didn't participate in protest either and they eagerly accepted any "apology" and claimed victories. Group three and Group four are core protesters. They are determined to fight on, against Jimmy Kimmel's show and the unacceptable apologies. They are not guest Chinese in American but real Americans, the Chinese American.

Most Americans never knew that by condoning "killing everyone in China", 6-7 times more Chinese were killed in WWII than all Jews combined in the world. Neither did they knew the discrimination against Chinese in American caused four generations' of Chinese American before 1965 unable to get citizenship, marry with other races or reunion with their families in the United States -- they had to go back to the war-torn country and join casualties or refugees there with no chance of coming back if they wanted to see their family or get married. That's why they see Jimmy Kimmel show rather different from Chinese Americans familiar with their history. These Americans even thought comparing Jimmy Kimmel show and the "apologies" thereafter cheapened genocides. The 20-35 million Chinese killed in WWII doesn't register any weight in them. To them, they are more sympathetic if someone threats to kill a stray dog on the street in a show. The same attitude lead to the rude awakening on Attack of Pearl Harbor and loss of 400,000 US lives in the WWII. It is some thing that can be averted by nipping hatred in the bud.

These Americans also doesn't know much about the national debt myth and China's role. Or the decades of similar propaganda that created hatred to China, Chinese or Chinese American out of nothing. In reciprocal we bet that not many Chinese will view American as friendly as they want. The irrational mutual resentment could lead to the next world war and millions of life lost as China inevitably grows stronger, more vocal and tired of being abused. We hope that day will never happen.


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