AA students comment on media handling of hunter shootings

[katinmn]

http://www.spokesman-recorder.com/News/Article/Article.asp?NewsID=51485&sID=16

EDITORIAL

Media mishandled Hmong hunter story
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 12/15/2004

--snip--
In both print and television media there has been a juxtaposition made between the recent Hmong New Year and the funerals in Wisconsin. One community celebrates, while another community mourns their dead. This sensationalistic approach to this story is meaningless and racist.

--snip--
This case exemplifies a classic problem in the United States, the “Us verses Them” mentality, “us” being White Americans and “them” being everyone else. As a result, this forces communities, in this case the Hmong Elders, to feel obliged to speak on behalf of a diverse population, declaring their opinions on events, such as the killings in Wisconsin, as unified and monolithic.

The Hmong elders apologized on behalf of the Hmong community for one Hmong man’s actions, but they do not speak for all. We, as Asian Americans, do not have to apologize for Mr. Vang’s actions because we were not there holding the gun, shooting at the eight victims. By the same token, no one would expect the White community to apologize, much less feel a connection to a random White person’s actions.

-snip--
This commentary was provided by a group of Asian American students from a local institution of higher learning who asked that they not be identified by name.

[Fovea]

1. Absolutely true

"By the same token, no one would expect the White community to apologize, much less feel a connection to a random White person’s actions."

This seems like an evolved stance that evokes the best in both Asian and American cultural influence.

By the same reasoning, the African American community needs feel no
shame for the Malvo shootings. It is wrong to project on an entire community, the wrongs of isolated individual acts.

[katinmn]

2. Exactly. I found their statement to be a simple truth.

I wonder why the media can't see it.

[cruadin]

3. I think that too often we, as a society, engage in...

group (i.e. race) labeling that has nothing to do with the specifics of the particular situation. Although it's hard to think of a situation where somebody's race is really relevant to to their behavior.
The statement---"a classic problem in the United States, the “Us verses Them” mentality"---definitely summarizes it.
The notion that "THEY" are different than "US" is a sad and lingering legacy of our country's past.
It's refreshing to see people openly confront that legacy with a positive message about being accepted, and judged, as individuals.

[Demrock6]

4. Right on, what a great goup of kids.