LETTERS: Wednesday, February 23, 2000

Don't be complacent Don't be complacentTo the Editor: I am sure His Honor did not exclude Asians from those he described as being marginalized in this society. When I was 19, I too thought the ideals of 1776 and 1863 were in fact reality. But life has a way of driving your face to the concrete when you expect people in power to always look after your interest. As a 28-year Philadelphia resident, I can tell you that city and state authorities have tried time and again to pave over Chinatown (a 150-year-old community) with highways and shopping malls. Philadelphia is also a city with a declining tax base that depends heavily on an Asian immigrant merchant class. However, there has never been any Asian representation in city or state government. Alex, I am sure conditions are better for your generation, just as life was easier for me as a child of the '70s than it was for imprisoned Japanese Americans of the 1940s. I am not saying there is a racist behind every tree. I am saying that we really shouldn't become too comfortable or complacent. Kenny Yuen College '86 To the Editor: Alex Wong claims that he will "let go" of the insecurity that has "driven our people to fight for and obtain equality." He has dismissed the reality that this insecurity has a complex historical foundation in the United States. Asian Americans have suffered greatly the moment Chinese immigrants came to work on the railroads (and were often shot in the name of sport) to recent times in which we have become targets for police brutality and shocking hate crimes. Does Mr. Wong remember the devastating death of Vincent Chin, who was murdered because he was mistakenly identified as a Japanese American (during a time when Japan and Japanese Americans were scapegoats for America's economic problems)? When Mr. Wong speaks of the Asian Americans not being "deprived of education and living," has he opened his eyes to the impoverished neighborhoods of South Philadelphia in which Cambodian and Laotian Americans confront a daily struggle for food and shelter? Mr. Wong may choose to "let go" because he identifies with a generalization in which "Asian Americans are atop? almost every indicator of economic and social well-being," but I choose to forge on with the rest of my people who are tired of being generalized and trivialized. Education, economic security and other advantages should not be used as a reason to escape from facing and fighting the racism that exists in every part of this world. Mr. Wong chooses to label himself as American, instead of Asian American, because he is sick of feeling insecure. Carolyne Jun College '00 To the Editor: When someone says that Asian Americans are at the "top of almost every indicator of economic and social well-being," they are extremely mistaken. Although I must agree that numerous Asian Americans have "made it," there are many that have not. I can understand why an Asian American at Penn would believe this, coming to Penn and meeting other Asian Americans from privileged backgrounds. Their perception of the Asian-American community is based on the Asian-American community at Penn. Even though the model minority myth appears to be positive, do not be fooled. It undermines the fact that not all Asian Americans are well off. From looking at several neighborhoods in Philadelphia, it would be impossible to say Asian Americans have succeeded. The schools are horrible, and many of the Asian-American students drop out to take menial jobs. Their parents work in factories or pick fruit in dangerous settings for low wages and sometimes no benefits. Many do not have chances to learn English. Although some Asian Americans have been able to achieve the "American Dream," many other immigrants have not. At Penn, you can see the disparity. How many Cambodian Americans do you know attend Penn? Laotian? Even Vietnamese? Most of the Asian-American students who do make it to Penn come from upper-middle class backgrounds, just like students from the other ethnic groups. Although this is a wonderful achievement for some, keep in mind that there are numerous Asian-American communities that are often made invisible by the perpetuation of the model minority myth. Rosanna Tran College '03 To the Editor: In a recent letter to the editor, Joe Mazor ("More questions than answers," DP, 2/16/00) expressed his disapproval of anti-sweatshop activism. He believes that the actions of Penn Students Against Sweatshops will ultimately result in lost jobs for sweatshop workers.EThis might be true if it were the workers themselves demanding higher wages. But when it is the consumers who advocate better working conditions and corporate accountability, then apparel manufacturers have no choice but to listen. The members of PSAS are merely exercising their rights as consumers. This does not go against any economic principles. In fact, transparency regarding products that we buy only enhances the economic process.EThis is apparent in the numerous laws we have in this country regarding the disclosure of product information and the close monitoring of government agencies. Mazor also forgets that a key component in economic growth is worker productivity. Better working conditions and education are the main engines of productivity. So, if corporations lose some with regard to cheapness of labor, they'll offset it with gains to productivity. But let's leave the economic argument for a moment.EIt's striking how willingly we hide behind abstractions of realityE-- economic principles -- rather than address the reality itself.E We are not slaves to economics.E There are other factors -- politics for one, personal values for another -- that operate just as forcefully.E How many of us are the rational utility maximizers on which modern day economics is established? Speaking for myself, I don't always make the "right" decisions with regard to my self-interest. Life would be pretty boring and predictable if that were the case. Let me cast my vote as a citizen and as a consumer.EIt would maximize my utility to know that workers who make my clothing are prosperous and healthy. Ji-Eun Son College/Wharton '02