Comments on: “Get Over It”? Not So Fast…My Thoughts on the Deadly Vipers Controversy

By: Are Asians Sell-outs? « InterSection

Are Asians Sell-outs? « InterSection — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:36:41 +0000

[...] of controversy caused by the “SPLASH” of the Deadly Vipers controversy (read more: here, here, here, and here), I find myself puzzling anew over the whole issue of how Asian-American [...]

By: More Deadly Viper wrap-ups « Gershom's Journal

More Deadly Viper wrap-ups « Gershom's Journal — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:23:28 +0000

[...] Helen Lee: “we can never really know what another person ’s life experience is or has been. That, however, does not mean that we shouldn’t strive to understand.” [...]

By: an evangelical abercrombie. sort of. « julie j. park

an evangelical abercrombie. sort of. « julie j. park — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:12:30 +0000

[...] both about A&F and DV that evoked a deeply emotional response from the folks involved. Reading this response to DV reminded me of a response by a prof at Wellesley that was circulated during the A&F thing where [...]

By: Hannah

Hannah — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 06:37:53 +0000

“Just this week, she had a group of non-Asian American kids yell “Eww!” at her lunch of rice and kim (dried seaweed). But she’s a trooper, and we’re trying to raise her to be proud of the girl God made her to be — and she’s convinced that these other kids who hurt her feelings are the ones missing out, because they have no idea how delicious her lunch was.”

Love that. You go, papa! Hehe, same thing happened to me growing up, but I was lucky to have some more curious friends too. By the time we were in junior high, people were ASKING me for some geem ever since they found out how “cool” and adult-like eating sushi was becoming! Hahaha…I am so encouraged by all of these developments.

I hope we can encourage people of many different backgrounds to participate, as we often fail to realize that when we say Asian American, we really mean East Asian I’ve found in my own experience that there’s a beautiful API community out there just waiting to be heard!

By: Melody Hanson

Melody Hanson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:46:32 +0000

Thank you Helen. Stories always bring us together. I look forward to “sitting” with others and listening and learning. My heart’s heavy as I listen but I know that that it is the only way for me as a white person to expand my understanding of your experiences. Thank you for risking, by telling just a few of your stories.

By: Judy

Judy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:35:16 +0000

Thank you Helen! I think your perspective puts a human face on this issue. It makes it personal. I have read some of the eloquent perspectives that you speak about, and I think yours brings it down to a personal level better than the rest. I think we can all relate to being made fun of in school and how we remember to this day as adults being made to feel alone at a young age.

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:52:14 +0000

Thanks, everyone, for the encouraging comments. I look forward to hearing more of your stories and seeing them on this website in the future!

Ed: this means a GREAT deal coming from you! When I think of the people who wrote on this issue that I respect and admire, your name is at the top of the list. =)

And absolutely, huge “ditto” in thanking David for being willing to post the piece. I really had no plans to post this anywhere public other than my Facebook page. Your willingness to put in on your blog was a blessing and an encouragement. Love it when the Asian American men go out of their way to affirm and boost up their AA sisters. Can’t wait to work more on the website project with you. =)

By: joel hamernick

joel hamernick — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:39:51 +0000

Wonderfully put Helen! Thank you for sharing this. The whole episode has helped me immensely and even thought the themes of the events around the DV conversation are not new to me, I am growing in my appreciation for my Asian brothers and sisters. Your patience is grace to me.