The Open Challenge

1 comment

September 26, 1:53 PM

by Ryan Pangilinan, Seattle Asian Community Examiner

 

 

Public Enemy #1

“Garner Palomata, the 36-year-old Filipino working behind the counter, recognized Rossi from the candidate’s TV ads…. Palomata said he planned to vote for Rossi. “I’m a Republican. I like the Palin thing.” He was glad that Rossi thought the night had gone well.”

Josh Feit, who wrote the post, goes on to tell Palomata about Rossi’s genius plan to lower the state’s minimum wage.

The reason why I’m revisiting this before it was interrupted by my desire to eat French fries is because my family, like Palomata, are Filipino Republicans and just as misinformed.

You see, my family (at least my dad’s side) are born again Baptists and as is such, they pledge allegiance to the GOP because their church does.  Whether they do this because church goers, in general, vote Republican remains to be seen, although I have a sinking suspicion that that’s probably their reason.  If you’re a Republican, that’s your own business, but the only thing I would hope for is that you at least you know what you're aligning yourself with. 

Do I think I’m any better than my family because I’m a registered Democrat?  Hell no, but at least I keep up on the news and I want to choose the people who lead my state and my country based on what changes they’ll make and how they will benefit the country as a whole. 

I think that’s why I never get people of color who vote Republican.  We are in positions where we are oppressed and we’re ruled by people who want to kill minority or gender based scholarships and opportunities to “balance the scales.”  But hey, you don’t want to point out the fact that the rich white man has been leading us for the past 200 years and straight into slavery, social and economic turmoil.

But those are the same reasons why other Asian-Americans vote Republican. 

Unlike many other ethnic Americans, Asian-American culture (again, this is a blanket generalization) is based on looking like you have money and things.  Whether you do or not, is a whole different matter, as appearance trumps anything else.  Because of this, Asian-Americans vote to keep the status quo.  As long as we are made to look rich, we’ll vote for McCain, Palin, Rossi – all people who would’ve been accused of atrocities had they been from other countries – and smile while doing so, under the guise that we’re doing it blindly for God.

But make no mistake: none of it is for God.  It’s to keep your plasma screen TV, your BMW, and all the superficial things that make you feel good.  Who cares that because of people like Rossi, the divide between the poor and rich widens almost daily?  Who cares?

So, my fellow Asian-Americans (and especially my family), I issue you this challenge: if you think that I’m just the kid who lives in the city and I’m full of it, I want you to make a list of 10 things of why you’re voting for McCain or Rossi and you absolutely cannot mention your church or God.  Take a look at that list and find me three things that benefit the lower class in Washington.

I want you to prove me wrong.
 

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