As a male WASP, why would you bother with what a homeless person thinks of you? I too ignore the angry hateful ones. They hate me too, though they may lack epithets for me. It's a pointless unwinnable argument, and you'll never look like the good guy, yelling at a homeless person
There's a very good chance I'll get downvoted for this, but what the heck:
> As a male WASP, why would you bother with what a homeless person thinks of you? I too ignore the angry vitrolic ones. They hate me too, though they may lack epithets for me. It's a pointless unwinnable argument, and you'll never look like the good guy, yelling at a homeless person
The answer is in the original comment
>> If Asians sometimes remain silent in the face of racism, and if some seem to work unusually hard in the face of this difficult history, it is not because they want to be part of a “model minority” but because they have often had no other choice.
Asian-Americans are told by others all their life that it's uncouth to speak out about injustices that happen to them. Ironically, the first comment on an article that discusses this point mentions one of these injustices, and the first reply is a comment that suggests that they should remain silent about it instead.
It's one thing to remain silent as a conscious decision not to want to look like the "bad guy", but it's an entirely different thing to remain silent as a conscious (or unconscious) reaction to the societal role that you've been conditioned to.
I guess my point of confusion is that it seems to me like angry homeless people using slurs are not an injustice visited upon Asian Americans, but rather garden variety obnoxious people who in my experience hate everyone, not just Asian Americans.
I understand Asian Americans face systemic racism; it's just that the particular example at hand seems like something else.
My original parent is welcome to say things back if they like. But it just seems pointless, no matter what nationality you are.
Anyway, I know I'm on the "wrong" side of this discussion for HN, but that doesn't make me less confused.
You are absolutely right. It should be easy to brush off homeless people, belligerent drivers, random drunk people, immature teenagers, dumb co-workers, etc.
Minorities tend to be more sensitive because their armor has already been pierced multiple times. That's why "the confidence of a man" or "the confidence of a white man" is a saying.
I know the crap I go through it's not even a fraction of hers but this is a good example.
I think you missed the part where he said he is from middle east, so not a WASP.
It is hard to understand why someone feels bad about racial slurs until you experience it yourself. It is somewhat tolerable when the discrimination comes out of people's ignorance, but it is hard to tolerate systemic discrimination.
