Comments on: Portrait of a Tragedy http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/ A formerly anon blogger, trying to make it honest Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:26:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: paully http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7508 paully Thu, 19 Apr 2007 15:43:41 +0000 http://citysparkle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7508 The stereotypes against middle-easterners, black people, and latinos stems from being bombarded since we were little with images of them doing whatever they're stereotyped to be doing. Maybe if Asians were running around all the time doing this stuff there'd be problems, but I think most people who aren't already bigots would consider this incident more the exception than the rule. The only stereotype and fear fueled is of quiet, depressed loners who act like creepsters and write crazy shit. I don't think the Asian community really has anything to worry about. The stereotypes against middle-easterners, black people, and latinos stems from being bombarded since we were little with images of them doing whatever they’re stereotyped to be doing. Maybe if Asians were running around all the time doing this stuff there’d be problems, but I think most people who aren’t already bigots would consider this incident more the exception than the rule. The only stereotype and fear fueled is of quiet, depressed loners who act like creepsters and write crazy shit. I don’t think the Asian community really has anything to worry about.

]]> By: TheGreenMiles http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7507 TheGreenMiles Wed, 18 Apr 2007 22:05:37 +0000 http://citysparkle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7507 For those of us who were hoping this incident would not lead to racial hatred, my answer for you is: http://wonkette.com/politics/crazies/evil-korean-also-democrat-communist-terrorist-253373.php And apparently North Korea = South Korea. Just an FYI. For those of us who were hoping this incident would not lead to racial hatred, my answer for you is:
http://wonkette.com/politics/crazies/evil-korean-also-democrat-communist-terrorist-253373.php

And apparently North Korea = South Korea. Just an FYI.

]]> By: Wyatt http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7498 Wyatt Wed, 18 Apr 2007 19:35:26 +0000 http://citysparkle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7498 "As if the country, and the world was not prejudiced enough." I don't think that the perpetrator being Asian American in this case fuels prejudice -- these are not the kinds of crimes that Asians stereotypically commit, and one incidence does not create a stereotype. If anything, it only suggests that anybody could have committed the crime. If he had been white, or especially if he had been Muslim, then people would have used it to reinforce their existing prejudices. It wouldn't have harmed whites, but it would have harmed Muslims, so if levels of prejudice are the concern maybe we should just all be glad that the guy's name wasn't Ali Khan. And that he wasn't an illegal immigrant for that matter; Bill O'Reilly probably would have <a href="http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/05/bill-oreillys-head-practically-explodes-as-he-screams-at-geraldo/" rel="nofollow">popped an aneurysm.</a> Asian Americans, I think, were one of the best situated groups to handle the blow. I'm not denying that we may see hate crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans for this, but that's only because there are people out there looking for an excuse to spew out hate against anybody. Unfortunately for me, a lot of those people are white. “As if the country, and the world was not prejudiced enough.”

I don’t think that the perpetrator being Asian American in this case fuels prejudice — these are not the kinds of crimes that Asians stereotypically commit, and one incidence does not create a stereotype. If anything, it only suggests that anybody could have committed the crime. If he had been white, or especially if he had been Muslim, then people would have used it to reinforce their existing prejudices. It wouldn’t have harmed whites, but it would have harmed Muslims, so if levels of prejudice are the concern maybe we should just all be glad that the guy’s name wasn’t Ali Khan. And that he wasn’t an illegal immigrant for that matter; Bill O’Reilly probably would have popped an aneurysm. Asian Americans, I think, were one of the best situated groups to handle the blow. I’m not denying that we may see hate crimes perpetrated against Asian Americans for this, but that’s only because there are people out there looking for an excuse to spew out hate against anybody. Unfortunately for me, a lot of those people are white.

]]> By: Elle http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7506 Elle Wed, 18 Apr 2007 18:45:12 +0000 http://citysparkle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7506 I think reasonable, rational, regular people of all colors understand that there isn't a link between race and action. Everyone stereotypes to some degree...it's a form of distancing. When a white person commits a crime, for example, other white people may classify that person as a "redneck." It's all about distancing. You never want to identify with the person who did such a terrible thing. That distancing/othering can become dangerous. It's the acts that we hate, not the race, not even the person--for what sane, loved person could behave in such a way? We have to remember it's the acts themselves that we hate; it's evil itself that is the enemy. I think reasonable, rational, regular people of all colors understand that there isn’t a link between race and action.

Everyone stereotypes to some degree…it’s a form of distancing. When a white person commits a crime, for example, other white people may classify that person as a “redneck.” It’s all about distancing. You never want to identify with the person who did such a terrible thing. That distancing/othering can become dangerous.

It’s the acts that we hate, not the race, not even the person–for what sane, loved person could behave in such a way? We have to remember it’s the acts themselves that we hate; it’s evil itself that is the enemy.

]]> By: Bug http://www.citysparkledc.com/2007/04/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7505 Bug Wed, 18 Apr 2007 17:47:43 +0000 http://citysparkle.wordpress.com/2007/04/17/portrait-of-a-tragedy/#comment-7505 What difference does it make what race the shooter was? It demonstrates that there is no point in deciding that one race is worse than another. People are capable of horrendous things. Not just (fill in racial group here). People who decide that all Koreans are bad because this one Korean kid committed this heinous act can be categorized themselves as threats to society. What difference does it make what race the shooter was? It demonstrates that there is no point in deciding that one race is worse than another. People are capable of horrendous things. Not just (fill in racial group here). People who decide that all Koreans are bad because this one Korean kid committed this heinous act can be categorized themselves as threats to society.

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