For visiting a black or Mexican church, that's an easier step. However, you'll be disappointed that I have objections there too: My home church is in a period where everyone is expected to attend if at all possible. If a flash flood hits, I'm free to choose a church not affected by it. In that case, I need to muster enough will to overcome my introverted nature.

For visiting a black or Mexican church, that's an easier step. However, you'll be disappointed that I have objections there too: My home church is in a period where everyone is expected to attend if at all possible. If a flash flood hits, I'm free to choose a church not affected by it. In that case, I need to muster enough will to overcome my introverted nature.

Yes and I hope that when my blind spots are exposed that people will treat me with “grace and humility and empathy”, but sadly that might be too much to ask.

http://mysilentscream.com

I think we have a clash of intellectual ethics here. I am reading with an open mind as best I can, but then I am returning how I perceive the situation. I don't expect that my perception be taken as authoritative, especially to others who are uninformed. I do, however, expect it to be considered seriously by those with other opinions and then commented on. One of my main reasons for taking this approach is that some of the minority members don't understand why someone would hold my opinion. I want to present it in a civil and coherent fashion so the more extreme conservatives aren't the only ones here.

If you are sure that there are none, we will have to agree to disagree that we can “increase understanding on both sides”.

No, I am actually sure there is disrespect and discrimination floating around. This just doesn't fit my idea of discrimination and I'm looking for clarification of why it should.

Eventually, yes, because it makes assumptions that may or may not be true. My sister-in-law was once asked if black women put cooking grease in their hair, and the question offended her. (To that I responded, “But at least she asked!”)

I know, and I was indicating I wasn't convinced.

It's not just the “Asian film industry”; that kind of thing was going on in the mid-1800s on the West Coast.

What kind of thing – Asian sideshows? Assuming that's what you mean, I'll try to connect the next dot. Des a trend with racist origins contaminate all bearers of that trend with racism? Is it possible for the people who catch the trend to be perfectly innocent? If they're innocent, why bother prosecuting?

Note: I'm not implying that the teacher you mentioned is innocent; I think she got racism from another source and applied it to that stereotype (which probably originated as racist).

My point in all of this is that I don't believe the book did any harm beyond the offense taken. While continuing the offensive act would be disrespectful, I want the offense to be rooted out so we don't have to bother walking on eggshells.

As noted above, my practice will remain perfectly neutral on this issue until this sort of humor (or whatever other rhetorical device it might be used for) is socially and morally acceptable.

I've seen so many folks become enraged when the target is their own community but when it's another community (or a kind of bigotry viewed as “lesser than” say, misogyny as opposed to racism), it's all “aw, shucks. They didn't mean no harm. Let's not get too worked up over this.”

I'm thrilled to see these folks coming forward and pointing out the ridiculous imagery. I'm sure the authors will learn a valuable lesson, grow and hopefully create a new dialog around their experience. But I'm not terribly thrilled about the undercurrent of “it's not that bad” simply because the stereotypes are based on Asian culture and deeply ingrained.