Shop Talk: Monday, February 21

No problem with this article, but what caught my attention was how it was captioned by an editor in the afternoon email update: “Marybeth Gasman argues that we have become too casual in our remarks about Asians.” To me, that caption undercuts what Gasman is saying. Or perhaps it underscores what she says only too well. To paraphrase Tonto in the old joke, “What do you mean, ‘We’?”

It could be of great benefit for us to better educated as to the tonal inflections inherent and necessary to Asian speech. Lacking an appreciation at even the intellectual level, it is too easy to parody it or any language with sing-song, rhyming syllables, thus mocking it. A PBS television program on this topic would be to the benefit of those of us–myself included–who lack such an appreciation and would thus benefit those who speak the language.

Marybeth, I think this column is exemplary, indeedone of the best I’ve read.

One question: what are the supposed “motives of Asian professors who teach at historically black colleges and universities”??? I’ve never heard of such a charge and I can’t imagine what such motives would be. I hope you address them in a future column.

What are the supposed motives of Asian professors at HBCUs, and who holds these motives to be true? (Blacks predominantly?) “…I was at a conference not too long ago and one of the speakers made unjustified claims about the motives of Asian professors who teach at historically black colleges and universities.” The author’s sentence here is mystifying, especially as the author “urged” the speaker “not to disparage Asians in the way that he did.”

Belief in these motives is suspiciously widely held, as the author writes that “a member of the conference audience chastised me for my comments. He noted that he would begin to care about Asians when people started caring about African-Americans…”

Does the author find the supposed motives too offensive to print?

Rush Limbaugh is always gross beyond words. The thought that so many people listen to him scares me. It’s possible that Alexandra Wallace was one of his many fans….

Of course Rush Limbaugh’s rant directed at the Chinese leader might do infinitely more harm; what if it caused China to call in our debt?

Well put! But in addition shouldn’t students be required to learn a foreign language? The trouble was that Alexandra couldn’t stand the sound of a foreign accent. If she had to learn a new language and speak it with an accent herself, wouldn’t that make her more tolerant of others?

Of course the point is moot. This happened in a time of catastrophe. There was also a tsunami alert for California and the tsunami killed several people on the Oregon coast. Even if Alexandra lacked total empathy for the anguish of the Japanese foreign students, she should have at least had the survival sense to inform herself about the cause of their anguish.

When both Obama and GOP make China-bashing their top policy, it is difficult to curb this kind of racism among the intellectuals and the common population.

…do you live in a parallel universe? Or do you define China-bashing as negotiating for currency adjustment?

With respect,Katisumas (what the blazes does that handle mean?), you are making logical leaps everywhere! How can you possibly know the detailed make-up of foreign students at UCLA? We court Japanese students for the money? Desperately need foreign students for their high tuition? You sir or madam are one seriously sick puppy. Yes, I am indeed one of the LATTER…try English spelling 101. Or better still, pack up your bags for Bagdhad!

South Park is parody, of folks like you:)