www.baltimoresun.com/…
I’m pleased to say that the Baltimore Sun has endorsed Hillary Clinton, particularly when it comes to praising her grace and her toughness. And I am as proud as MRAs will be angry that it delves into the sexism that Clinton, and women, have to face on a daily basis. I won’t get into that because I have tried before, and failed, to engage non-feminists into the topic of feminism. I’m done trying.
I am pleased to see this endorsement as someone who has lived in Baltimore for two years, which brings me to a personal issue that I’ve had to deal with since joining this website.
I am pleased to see this endorsement as someone who has lived in Maryland for eight years—two in MoCo, four in PG County, and two in Baltimore. I will continue to proudly tout my background in a state that I have grown to love and identify with over these last eight years, and I talk of this now because I would like to address accusations that are now constantly hurled at me.
I have been attacked by perhaps a dozen people for two aspects: that I am not American, and that I am new to DailyKos. These people are quick to reassure me and other Kossacks who respond to this aberrant behavior that they’re not xenophobic, no—they’re just “pointing out” that I’m not American. Huh. My bad, bro. I’m sure there’s no agenda going on behind your informative comments.
People here have claimed that since I am not American, I should not be allowed to write diaries at DailyKos. They have also claimed that I have no skin in the 2016 election (apparently these people don’t know that America is the leader of the free world and plays an active part in international politics). A Kossack from New York claims that I have no right to speak as a Marylander, ignoring the fact that considering I’ve lived 8 years longer in Maryland than he has or probably ever will, I’m infinitely more qualified to speak of Maryland than he ever can hope for. I’ve witnessed protests and rallies in Baltimore. I’ve taken water and soil samples for my environmental studies in the Anacostia. I’ve volunteered for the Audubon Naturalist Society in Chevy Chase. I’ve received my education at Johns Hopkins and at the University of Maryland. Have you?
Not a single Marylander who I’ve met in my 8 years here have derided me and told me that I’m not a Marylander and I don’t belong. You’ll excuse me for taking their word on what makes someone a Marylander over the word of a New Yorker who has never lived here.
In a related way, people have often said “Welcome!” “You must be new here!” “So many new users that might be paid by Clinton!” or other condescending remarks thinly veiling the fact that they don’t think much of me due to my relatively short time here. They are quick to reassure me that they’re not being exclusionary—they’re just “pointing out” that I’m relatively new. Yeah, sure. The Kossack who has attacked me based on my one month length of time here, by the way, has been here for six months.
Here’s something funny. Whenever you sneer about how I’m new or how I’m un-American or not a Marylander, all I hear is “I have nothing substantive to say and so I’ll conceal my lack of acumen with the time-honored tactic of resorting to ad hominem name calling!”. You may think that your attacks are innovative, shed new light, or are righteous. They are not. I’m not even surprised. After all, attacks on black voters for “voting against their best interests”, older voters for “not being true progressives” or women for being “sexist” in their preference for Clinton is now routine. But that doesn’t mean I’m not disgusted.
I am of Asian descent—I made that clear in my very first diary, and I refuse to be ashamed of it. Fellow Asians who are American or have lived in America know of the perpetual foreigner stereotype. If A Polish, German, British, or Swedish person came to America and had a child here, this child would be unconditionally called an American, no questions asked. If a Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, or Korean person came to America, his descendants will be burdened for generations with the question: “No, where are you REALLY from?” I’ve seen second-generation German Americans treat fifth generation Chinese Americans as if they were fresh off the boat. Many in America may see us as Americans, and every bit of recognition counts and helps. But there will always be Americans that will NEVER see us as anything other than outsiders. Despite this burden my children will face after me, I live in America and plan on continuing to live here because of its democracy and the knowledge that not ALL of you are that bad.
I’ve dealt with this xenophobia and casual racism for a decade in America. For years, these questions overwhelmingly came from conservatives and Republicans. Fine, I get it. There’s a reason why almost every minority is heavily Democrat. But xenophobia on DailyKos? A site that was built with Democrats and promoting progressive and inclusive values in mind? Here’s the thing: no matter what you do to sugarcoat it,
Calling for someone to be excluded because they’re not American
Is xenophobic.
Calling for someone’s opinion or diary to be discounted because they’re newer
is exclusionary.
Calling for someone to be barred from posting diaries because they are not American
is censorship.
Now I get it: you are Sanders supporters, I’m a Clinton supporter, it’s natural that I will write stuff that you don’t like. And that’s fine, that’s America. It’s the free speech we all hold in such high regard. Feel free to criticize my diaries and their content, particularly if you do so in a substantive manner. But dispense with the xenophobia and cliquish attitude. Had conservatives exhibited such behavior, you’d be rightfully disgusted. Don’t stoop to their level. Don’t be a shit head. I know supporters of all five remaining candidates, and two candidates’ followers attack me for my nationality. The first candidate is Trump, obviously. The second is Bernie Sanders.
I support Clinton because she embodies some of the struggles I’ve had to deal with. Like me, she’s had to deal with people who have raised questions about something that’s built into her before quickly claiming that they’re not actually bigoted (gender, in case that wasn’t clear). Unlike me, Clinton has dealt with nearly all of the attacks she’s been subjected to with tremendous grace and patience. I have the luxury of being a man. I have the luxury of losing my temper or shouting. She doesn’t. Not as a female politician. I am glad to support the candidate who has dealt with that her whole life; I’m glad that I am part of a state that so heavily supports her; I’m glad that other minorities, blacks and latinos, prefer supporting her. I am unamused with subsequent attacks on such minorities, particularly black voters, particularly on how they are “uninformed” or live in the “Deep South”. If the polls are any indication, by the end of today Sanders and his team will find out just how far north the “Deep South” extends. And I’ll be cheering for MY STATE, MARYLAND, every step of the way.