Comments for NIKKEI VIEW: The Asian American Blog

Comment on Really? ESPN uses “chink” about Jeremy Lin in headline after loss against Hornets. Really. by Should ESPN’s latest controversey leave us with a loss of words? « enduringcuriosity

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:15:30 +0000

[...] This past week however, two ESPN employees have landed themselves in hot water after using a questionable phrase to discuss the recent struggles of the Taiwanese American star. One employee was fired; the other [...]

Comment on Japanese American entrepreneur launches MEGUMI-O sunglasses made for Asian faces by Gil Asakawa

Gil Asakawa — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 02:26:35 +0000

Good for you for ordering the glasses — but I bet Megumi would really love it if you could donate money to her Kickstarter campaign — check out the link in my blog, because for a certain level of donation you’ll get a pair of the glasses as a thank-you premium! Thanks for your comment….

Comment on Japanese American entrepreneur launches MEGUMI-O sunglasses made for Asian faces by Synthya:)

Synthya:) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 01:59:34 +0000

I have ordered the glasses and I cannot wait to recieve them. I think the idea is great, I like the shape and the tint of the glasses, and I loved the video. Rock Mega Lashes!

Comment on Really? ESPN uses “chink” about Jeremy Lin in headline after loss against Hornets. Really. by Gil Asakawa

Gil Asakawa — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:56:50 +0000

Hi Chris, thanks for your comment. I understand that the march of political correctness can be frustrating, but it’s important to keep in mind that for people of color, these words have meanings beyond the “normal” use, and that after hearing “chink” all our lives, the context doesn’t matter, our stomachs clench just when we see the word. I’m assuming you’re not Asian. It’s hard to imagine the experience of hearing and seeing these words in hateful contexts if a person is privileged to not have to worry about it. To those people, being careful with words might be an imposition. To Asians (and other people of color), it’s merely a show of respect. Sure, there are lots of instances when many of the words you mention are fine — it is in the context after all. But even then I’m careful and cognizant when I use them. I know they carry not-so-subtle double meanings. I don’t advocate banning all words with double meanings. But I do think “chink” is a seldom used word that few would miss if we became sensitized enough not to use it. BTW regarding context, that’s why I think it’s fair to fire the editor who wrote the headline but only suspend the anchor who said the phrase on ESPN. Both say they didn’t mean any racial comment by the use of the phrase, and I believe them. But the context of the anchor’s use is conversation and you can tell by watching him he didn’t think about the meaning. In a bold-faced headline that happens to be under an image of Lin, even if the editor wasn’t meaning to be racist, the context is hard to deny. At best, it’s a colossal lack of judgment on the editor’s part, and sloppy journalism to rely on a cliche he claims to have used hundreds of times. The context on the headline is what got him fired,. not his intent.

Comment on Really? ESPN uses “chink” about Jeremy Lin in headline after loss against Hornets. Really. by Chris K

Chris K — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:48:52 +0000

This is ridiculous. The use of the phrase “chink in the armor” is no more racist or derogatory than using the words “niggardly”, “spook”, “spade”, “greaser”, “zippers”, “cracker”, and dozen’s of other normal use words that have real meanings in everyday language and warped usage in slang. Eventually, this hyper-identification of linguistic based correctness will create a ridiculous prohibition on how we speak and communicate. The PC crowd says it’s about weeding out hate but it’s really about control. Anyone can modify their language to conceal a hate filled heart. It’s a stupid and childish battlefront in the crusade for equality and justice in society.