Life Imitates Art

The film Yellow, which follows a group of Korean American teens through one chaotic day, has gained acclaim less for its confused plot and more for pointing out how different Korean American youths-like white youths-are from one another.

That lesson-that we're not all the same-is one we might well heed in these times in which an unprecedented number of Asian American candidates have entered the political fray. In a development that has seemed too long in coming-like Yellow itself-Asian American candidates are joining mainstream political races, evoking mixed feelings among constituents who sometimes feel their choice is between ethnic representation and representation on the issues.

That choice is never easy, nor should it be an either-or. Race is a factor: While we don't agree with those that claim ethnicity is irrelevant, we don't agree either with those who say it's always the most important issue.

To see the folly in taking to such extremes, you need look no further than San Francisco, where this month, the ugly face of ethnic politics reared its head at a recent rally for U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer. As the incumbent spoke inside Chinatown's Six Companies headquarters, a fracas broke out between Supervisor Michael Yaki, a Boxer supporter, and Julie Lee of the San Francisco Neighbors Association, a backer of GOP rival Matt Fong. Observers said Lee accused Yaki of being an intruder at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association because he is "only half Chinese." Lee later said Yaki brought up the reference first and shook his finger threateningly at Fong supporters.

Whoever said it first; it's a disturbing thing to say-and one that does nothing to advance the lives of the 10 million Americans who have descended from a diversity of places in Asia. Any hope we have of advancing the things we do all agree on-preventing future Vincent Chin bludgeonings, for example-is dependent first on not cutting other groups down.

The shenanigans don't end there. This week, Supervisor Leland Yee essentially vetoed the board's order to make the Department of Elections reprint thousands of ballots to include the Chinese names of eight candidates, the most notable being that of Supervisor Mabel Teng. That brought this comment from enraged Board President Barbara Kaufman-"I can't believe that someone from the Chinese community would do such a thing!"

Whether you believe Yee (who says he voted no because he didn't want to stick taxpayers with a remailing and reprinting cost that resulted from individual campaigns' error), or Teng's supporters (who point out the well known friction between Yee and Teng), please do not believe that Chinese Americans must always stick together or risk being race traitors.

As thousands of Asian Americans rise in political power, we'd all do well to remember the fact that a candidate's race is only one of many, many things that make up his persona. Each presents views on issues that affect us all and therefore must be judged by a single standard-each voter's beliefs.

Though APA politicians may be more sensitive to race, they are duty-bound to do what they feel is right for Asian Americans and all their constituents. Those who vote their consciences and resist being influenced by other considerations are doing the right thing.

Good-Bye, Bill Wong

After years, Yellow Pearls columnist Bill Wong is leaving AsianWeek to pursue other opportunities. We will miss his weekly contributions, which have lent insight on a diverse range of issues that affect Asians and Asian Americans and those of Chinese descent in particular-the lives of Chinese Cubans and those of Jews in China; the complex history of Chinese immigration and how it ties in to the fight to keep archival records in this state; how bilingual education helps new immigrants.

We're committed to continue thoughtful commentary on the hot topics of our time, and right now, we're looking at the best way of doing that. We wish Wong well.

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