To Our Readers

BY JOHN FLANAGAN

Sunday, April 29, 2001

Stereotyping of
Asian Americans stirred
again by world events

WHILE HAWAII was preoccupied by teachers walking picket lines, the rest of the nation was seething over China's refusing to give back our spy plane and its saber rattling over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

Joseph Prueher, U.S. ambassador to China and former Commander in Chief Pacific here in Honolulu, was hauled into the foreign ministry in Beijing and dressed down for the U.S. weapons sale decision.

Having known Adm. Prueher in his days as CINCPAC, I doubt there was much satisfaction in that -- he's one steely guy.

Now comes word of a Yankelovich survey of public attitudes toward Chinese Americans released Wednesday at the National Press Club.

The survey -- conducted before the spy plane collision with a Chinese jet fighter off Hainan island -- showed one in four Americans has "strong negative attitudes" toward fellow citizens of Chinese ancestry. Today, it's likely worse.

Overall, 25 percent had attitudes toward Chinese Americans that were "very negative," 43 percent were "somewhat negative" and only 32 percent positive. Twenty-three percent said they'd be uncomfortable supporting an Asian-American presidential candidate, while 15 percent said the same for an African American and 11 percent for a Jewish candidate.

Although 90 percent said they believed Chinese Americans have strong family values, 24 percent said they were undesirable marriage partners.

A third of the respondents felt that Asian Americans have too much influence in U.S. high technology, that they always want to be at the head of things and that they are more loyal to China than to the U.S. A quarter said they take too many jobs away from Americans.

The findings are disturbing. They also show the minority of Americans who have negative attitudes towards Chinese Americans don't differentiate between them and other Asian Americans. Identically worded questions asked about Asian American stereotypes resulted in virtually identical answers.

Racism is rooted in ignorance. The survey shows ignorance runs both wide and deep across the land.

Welcome back, teachers.

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John Flanagan is editor and publisher of the Star-Bulletin.
To reach him call 529-4748, fax to 529-4750, send
e-mail to publisher@starbulletin.com or write to
500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 7-500, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.