(Apr 9, 2009): "Asian-Americans Blast Texas Congressman's Call for 'Easier to Deal With' Names" (Fox)

[CGP]

Full Article @ Fox (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/09/asian-americans-blast-offensive-comment-texas-lawmaker/)


Asian-Americans say they are outraged that a Texas lawmaker suggested in a hearing that Asian-American voters should adopt names that are "easier for Americans to deal with" at the polls.

Texas Rep. Betty Brown, a Republican, made the comments on Tuesday as Ramey Ko, an associate member of the Organization of Chinese Americans, testified before the Texas House Elections Committee on voter identification legislation.

Ko testified that people of Asian descent frequently have difficulties voting due to differences in their legal transliterated names and the English name shown on their driver's licenses.

Brown asked Ko: "Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese -- I understand it's a rather difficult language -- do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?"

Brown later said, "Can't you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that's easier for Americans to deal with?"

The Texas Democratic Party called on Brown to apologize on Wednesday.

The exchange, which has appeared on YouTube, has angered many Asian-Americans.

"It really goes to show you that no matter how much progress is made when it comes to race, ignorance still exists in America," said Brad Baldia, executive vice president of the National Association of Asian American Professionals. "It's a slap in the face and it goes to show that there needs to be more education of our government in terms of diversity in America."

Baldia said the comments were particularly "insensitive" as Asian-Americans are becoming increasingly involved in the political process.

Karen Narasaki, president and executive of the Asian American Justice Center, said Brown's comments indicate a lack of understanding.

"I think Rep. Brown owes an apology to the entire Asian-American community," Narasaki said. "But more than that, she needs to show that she understands that that's an unacceptable solution. She probably thinks that President Obama should change his last name too."

Jordan Berry, a spokesman for Brown, defended the lawmaker and said her comments were not racially motivated.

"It had nothing to do with race," Berry told FOXNews.com. "What she was talking about was the Chinese name, just transposing it from Chinese to English."

Berry said Brown apologized to Ko shortly after the hearing.



Article continues at the link...

[CGP]

YouTube - Rep. Betty Brown makes statement on Asian-American names

[Wyoming Dem]

Full Article @ Fox (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/04/09/asian-americans-blast-offensive-comment-texas-lawmaker/)

Article continues at the link...

Well...he is obviously a moron of the highest caliber. Bad enough to think it but political suicide to say it. Amazing that anyone could be this stupid....re-election train just left the station.
Chúng tôi sẽ không bao giờ bình chọn cho bạn moron.
"We will never vote for you moron.

[Jester]

If I had just read the article (which I read well before it showing up here), I would have been amazed that this was being said.

But after watching the video, I have to ask ... is that it? Really? They were discussing voter identification and how to accommodate the fact that a poll worker can't be expected to make leaps and bounds for proper ID. There is something in my name that has given me problems with the government and it is a very simple thing. She clearly was trying to discuss ways to correct the problem, not make it worse.

If you anybody was offended by this, they are looking to be offended.

[NoFear]

If you anybody was offended by this, they are looking to be offended.

As an Asian-American, this is bullsh*t. Don't tell me what I can or cannot be offended by.

if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that's easier for Americans to deal with?".

To me, a statement like this is implying that I'm not American because I have an ethnic name. I was born in this country. I pay taxes just like everyone else. I shouldn't have to change my name to make it more palatable for ignorant idiots just so I can vote.

[CGP]

Betty Brown said:


"Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese -- I understand it's a rather difficult language -- do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?"


"Your citizens" - what the hell is that supposed to mean?

Perhaps her intentions were harmless but her wording was very poor.

[Jester]

Perhaps her intentions were harmless but her wording was very poor.

Her intent was very clear. How to minimize voter ID problems so one's right to vote can be observed properly, not blocked. She isn't going to be the one at the voting booths, so she has to find the best way to satisfy all possibilities.

The point was obviously that the most accurate way would be to just write out the name in Chinese since that is the only truly 100% accurate way to represent a Chinese name. Of course, that would be very problematic. So the attempts used to meet halfway, transliteration create their own problems. Considering not just Chinese but Asian names in general: Is it Eun or Yoon? Is it Yong Kim or Young Kim? Is it Nghi or Knee? Is it Xu, Zhu or Zoo? Well considering the strong possibility that upon entry to America, their father had not mastered the English language, so they were at the mercy of the immigration officer in this transliteration. Maybe a cousin came later and your papers say Xu and their paper says Zu, even though you share the same family tree. And last names are not always sur names.

So yes, if you were offended, you were looking to be offended.

[NoFear]

So yes, if you were offended, you were looking to be offended.



Let me guess, you're not a person she considers one of "your citizens"

[CGP]

So yes, if you were offended, you were looking to be offended.

Unless you are Chinese/Asian, it's pretty hard for you to comment on whether this could have been experienced as offensive by those who are Chinese/Asian.

[lanney]

I am Asian and people get confused with my last name pronunciation. Just last month I noticed my last name was misspelled in my insurance paper. It took me week to correct my name.
For identity purpose it is better to have clarity.

[Jester]

Unless you are Chinese/Asian, it's pretty hard for you to comment on whether this could have been experienced as offensive by those who are Chinese/Asian.

First, the guy was clearly there not representing himself, but an organization that represents the Asian community. As Betty Brown stated, he was very intelligent and she was open to any suggestion to find a solution to the problem of converting Chinese names to English spellings and "Americanized" nicknames. She clearly was not attacking him but trying to find a solution. They ruled out the improbability of everybody learning Chinese (which wouldn't solve the other Asian familiarity).

Second, I'm pretty at ease with my Korean, Japanse, Vietnamese, etc friends since before I can remember. My Asian friends never made a big deal about misunderstandings with their names. In fact, I remember it being a young kid true friend thing to mess with each others name. Mr. Joo was "The Jew Man". Nguyen was "Where", Nghi was nuugee, Shuskae was Suzuki. It wasn't just an Asian thing. Jamal was Jam One, Jam All. Avinus was Venus Flytrap, etc, etc.

Jive Turkey was the only thing that wasn't allowed. Them was throw down words:

YouTube - Jive Turkey - Semi Pro

[Alessandro Machi]

As an Asian-American, this is bullsh*t. Don't tell me what I can or cannot be offended by.

To me, a statement like this is implying that I'm not American because I have an ethnic name. I was born in this country. I pay taxes just like everyone else. I shouldn't have to change my name to make it more palatable for ignorant idiots just so I can vote.

I didn't listen to the video nor go to the link, however, I think it is important to note that over the past century, many immigrants from many countries, including Europe, had their names shortened upon arriving in the United States.

This not a new thing that is happening, it has always been that way. I'm not saying I completely agree with it, but I understand why it was done in the past and lets at least agree that this name shortening has been done to all ethnicities.

[foxyladi]

As an Asian-American, this is bullsh*t. Don't tell me what I can or cannot be offended by.

.

To me, a statement like this is implying that I'm not American because I have an ethnic name. I was born in this country. I pay taxes just like everyone else. I shouldn't have to change my name to make it more palatable for ignorant idiots just so I can vote.

:e5:hillarystamp!

[Jester]

Chinese hookup dot com shows up as my ad for this thread. Sometimes the ads can be so hilarious.

[TheTaoOfBill]

I gotta agree with jester on this one.

There is no harm in what she said. All they were doing is pitching ideas back and forth with how to make the process easier. Her idea wasn't telling people to change their name to bob or some americanized name or something. Just that they use a consistent name on all IDs.

She probably could have worded it better but this was an honest discussion about IDs and I didn't find her tone to be racist or hateful at all. This is wildly blown out of proportion and getting offended over this does nothing productive.

[Jester]

She probably could have worded it better

I have no problem with saying that she didn't choose the best wording, but I bet if most people record themselves talking about issues that can flare up with one misplaced word, we'd be in a constant state of offense.

When I read the article, I was offended. When I watched the video, it was clear they were trying to find a solution ... not create one.

And I still stand by the fact that calling somebody a Jive Turkey is over the line, my friend.

[TheTaoOfBill]

Also can i just state once again how sick I am of people saying "You aren't one of us so you can't comment if something is offensive or not"

I refuse to accept that logic. In fact I find that type of phrase to be 10 times more offensive than what this woman said. If I have an opinion about something I have every right to speak up. Especially if I feel an attack is unjustified.

[NoFear]

Also can i just state once again how sick I am of people saying "You aren't one of us so you can't comment if something is offensive or not"

The flaw here is that you're telling someone that they shouldn't be offended which diminishes or even disregards their opinions in the first place.

I have no problems with knowing your viewpoints regarding the issue being discussed. Just don't tell me that I don't have the right to be pissed off about something affecting me firsthand.

[TheTaoOfBill]

The flaw here is that you're telling someone that they shouldn't be offended which diminishes or even disregards their opinions in the first place.

I have no problems with knowing your viewpoints regarding the issue being discussed. Just don't tell me that I don't have the right to be pissed off about something affecting me firsthand.

I don't think anyone told you you don't have a right to be offended. Just that it's dumb and counter productive to be offended over this. No one is forcing you to not be offended.

[NoFear]

Brown asked Ko: "Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese -- I understand it's a rather difficult language -- do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?"

Brown later said, "Can't you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that's easier for Americans to deal with?"
.

Defend her views all you want but if you look at these 2 highlighted items, it's clear she still views Asian-Americans (naturalized, or not) as foreigners.

[NoFear]

Just that it's dumb and counter productive to be offended over this.

yea..grow a thicker skin, if I just stay quiet like the model minority I should be, things will get better

/sarcasm

[Jester]

Now I have a question about race/gender/sexual preference humor. Today it is more about gay humor than race humor. Going back about 25 years ago, this was funny:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/10356/saturday-night-live-white-like-me

Now it is almost tame when it comes to racially central humor. To me, that means the more you can laugh about something, the less effective the overtones become. I've always thought that humor was the best way for these types of sensitive issues.

So when I see somebody like a Will Ferrell does like this:

YouTube - Step Brothers - Hugging scene

I laugh my ass off. I think it takes the edge off, but I'm *not gay* so maybe it is pissing "your citizens" off? Discuss.

[NoFear]

Now I have a question about race/gender/sexual preference humor. Today it is more about gay humor than race humor. Going back about 25 years ago, this was funny:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/10356/saturday-night-live-white-like-me

Now it is almost tame when it comes to racially central humor. To me, that means the more you can laugh about something, the less effective the overtones become. I've always thought that humor was the best way for these types of sensitive issues.

So when I see somebody like a Will Ferrell does like this:

YouTube - Step Brothers - Hugging scene (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoNCCx0PBHw)

I laugh my ass off. I think it takes the edge off, but I'm *not gay* so maybe it is pissing "your citizens" off? Discuss.

I may have sounded like I was coming off as a stick in the mud, crazy PC liberal but in all honesty, I'm one of the biggest proponents of offensive humor, if it's done well of course. I grew on Dave Chappelle and South Park and watch it to this day. Hell, as crude and over-the-top as the Mr. Kim character is, I still crack up when I hear him say City Wok.

As a huge Will Ferrell fan, I find this hilarious but at the same time, I'm not gay and if a gay person found this offensive, I'd gladly agree.