This was the question I asked myself as I contemplated a topic for my blog post today.
According to a blog post on the Asian Pacific American’s for Progress (APAP) Web site, Obama’s win is a victory for America and Asian America. The article called for Asian Americans to step out of the bitter bipartisan wrangling about who should have won and rally behind the President’s vision for a more peaceful global future.
The writer further explained that historically the health of Asian America has always been particularly sensitive to global situations. During WW2, Japanese Americans were singled out and interned. When Japan challenged America again in the 80s, this time for economic power, a Chinese American was targeted by laid off auto industry workers in Detroit who assumed he was Japanese and killed him.
In recent years, because of America’s precarious situation with economic powerhouse, China, what we’re seeing is anti-Chinese sentiment on the rise. As such, the APAP article highlights cases where prominent Chinese Americans had their loyalties questioned and were accused of conspiring with the Chinese government.
Last but not least, the article talked about Americans who were of Middle Eastern and Indian ancestry who faced a bitter discrimination after 9/11 when they were associated with terrorists.
Indeed, Asian Americans have yet to escape from the perpetual foreign stereotype even if they some have been here for generations. What happens abroad in relation to America matters deeply for Asians Americans. Hence, the writer calls for Asian Americans to unite behind Obama’s vision for a peaceful world, for this goal is for the betterment of America and more notably Asians in America.
On a personal note, I share NYT’s Nicholas Kristof’s views on Obama’s win – I do not feel he deserves it. But whether he deserved was not the question the Norwegian Nobel committee had in mind. What they wanted was to promote a greater goal of global peace, and our President (I voted for Obama too) was their tool.
Have they succeeded in bringing the issue of world peace into the forefront? I think so given all the media buzz surrounding Obama’s win. With that I think their selection as justified as of now. Whether their grand plan for peace comes to fruition now really rests on America.
Nice job in addressing a relevant and timely topic in your post. You give your readers insight into a different perspective on President Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize. I also appreciate that you share your own opinion. Keep up the good work!