Well, the primary elections are over. And what did we learn? For the most part we Asian Americans really aren’t political animals.
Oh, we vote. And we definitely have our party preferences and own some pretty strong opinions. Just talk to any Asian mother and she’ll be more than happy to be the jury on anything and everything.
We just don’t post signs on our lawns telling the cul-de-sac which president, congressperson, mayor, sheriff, judge, water commissioner, proposal and Dancing with the Stars contestant will get our vote. We don’t put bumper stickers on our cars declaring our feelings on abortion or the war in Iraq or to not move firewood. We might “like” something on Facebook but that’s pretty much all you’ll get out of us publicly.
The thing is a lot of Asian Americans do vote Democrat or Republican. They might even consider themselves liberal or conservative. But we don’t let politics be the spokesperson for who we are as individuals. To us it’s something you don’t advertise.
Politics is a private issue like if we prefer being on top or bottom.
Let’s face it. People are quick to form an opinion about a person based on what box he or she fills in on a ballot. Asian Americans prefer to be judgmental in other ways such as what school you went to, your weight, the cuteness of your children\grandchildren and (if you’re a Korean woman) the quality of your kim-chi.
I think this all goes back to the idea of Asian Americans being the “silent” minority. We’re taught to work hard, practice the piano and keep quiet. Don’t draw attention to yourself or rock the boat. Now and then I do see a few rogue Asian Americans share their politics with the world. But they’re like good Asian basketball players: a minority within a minority.
No matter which way you swing politically I encourage everyone this November to exercise your right to vote. Sadly, however, this is the only kind of exercise a lot of Americans will get all year.
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