Mihi Ahn in Salon

Well it is about time an article like this appeared. I used to be somewhat a fan of Gwen back in her No Doubt days but that is so over. The harajuku girls are an example of why popular culture in the US has no respect for Asians and Asian Americans as, well as people. Asian culture is a product, something to be experienced like some sort of wine or a brand of clothes. It is a trend. Kung-Fu movies, anime, exotic food, Feng Shui, accupuncture, ancient Chinese secrets etc. Meanwhile Asian and Asian American people are silent, emotionless, inscrutable, submissive semi humans, or really funny steppenfecchit like sub humans (William Hung, hello). Whether it is Kill Bill or Ginseng, any real unstereotypical comprehension of Asian culture is severely lacking. So is any appreciation of Asians as people or Asian Americans as........well as AMERICANS. In the popular mind, their is no difference between the two. Which brings me to the issue that Ms Ahn, only briefly alluded to and hinted at: RACISM. That's right, racism, bigotry, stereotyping, exclusion, whatever you want to call it, it sucks. Speaking of which Mihi, why did you not mention racism specifically? The word racism was not even in the article, it was hinted at instead, I mean we don't want to pepetuate the stereotype of Asians as too reserved and polite. How many Asian AMERICANS have been asked where they were from, and when they say oh I'm from New York or San Francisco, people respond with "No where are you really from? China? Japan?" etc. How many Asian AMERICANS have had ignorant white liberals (usually artsy types) tell them how much they like Asian food or where in Asia to visit etc. As if the culture and people are just one in the mind of non Asians (Gee this will really suck if we go to war with China, can you say concentration camp boys and girls? I knew you could).

As for the Harajuku girls, gee where do I begin. Number one, they are not allowed to speak English in the prescence of Gwen. They are all fluent, or so I am told. I wonder if they are all even Japanese. Furthermore, Gwen considers them figments of her imagination. This type of dehumanization is incredibly insulting. But I guess I should not expect a spoiled girl from Orange County to be too concerned with the demeaning perceptions and stereotypes she creates, oh well. I find Gwen's speaking voice very grating fyi. As for the girls, I cannot believe they agreed to play such a demeaning role. I wonder how much they were paid for it.