Dear America,
I’m sending you a plea on behalf of all Asian Americans. I know you’re caught up in Linsanity just like we are. It’s a beautiful thing to watch you gaze with jaws dropped at the exploits of the first Asian American marquee player in NBA history. But we really need this to continue, so it’s very important that you let us help you learn how not to ruin it.
Please note that this is a new phenomenon for us. We’re not used to getting this much attention. Correct that. We’re used to being the center of attention when politicians need a convenient scapegoat to distract attention from their failed policies and lack of real solutions. But we’re not used to getting this much POSITIVE attention.
For the most part we’ve been good sports. We’ve joined in the fun of calling Jeremy things like “Linderella” and “Super Lintendo.” Bear in mind, Asian Americans were ready to burn down Abercrombie and Fitch stores a decade ago over t-shirts with bad puns like “Wong Brothers Laundry Service: Two Wongs Make It White.” But it’s a lot more cool when it’s Spike Lee tweeting puns on “Lin” to express mad love rather than the fifth-grade bully calling you names while stealing your lunch money.
And we know you’ve learned a lot already. The fact that you are using the term “Asian American” instead of “the Oriental guy” or “that Chinese dude” or “the latest import from Japan” is epic. Heck, the fact that you even acknowledge that there is an Asian American community in the United States is tremendous progress.
But the road to hell is paved with good intentions and right now they are combined with bad analogies being put forward by writers who’ve caught wind of Linsanity but don’t realize how dangerous a little bit of partial knowledge can be. So please follow these simple steps to ensure that Linsanity doesn’t jump the shark before its time………..
such a good article.
“But we’ve never had a chance to revel in the glory of an Asian American rising above all the slights and stereotypes he and the rest of us have faced to become a true superstar — one that we can embrace with total sincerity alongside millions of Americans of every race, color, and creed doing likewise.”
