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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Asian Men Deliberately Excluded from Star Wars?
ow that the fifth installment of the Star Wars saga has hit theatres, it's official: Asian men have no place in George Lucas's vision of the future. An Asian female Jedi was glimpsed in the most recent installment, but not one single Asian male has been spotted in any of the five movies.
The absence is all the more remarkable given that Star Wars borrows its themes and fight scenes so obviously from samurai and kung-fu flicks. On a purely demographic level, it's difficult to imagine a distant future in which Asians will not be the preponderance of humanity. Even on a mundane economic level, Asians account for at least a third of today's global box office and video revenues.
The utter absence of Asian men in the latest installment is even more glaring in light of the promises Lucas made in response to Asian protests over the omission of Asian actors coupled with suspicious attachment of Asian cultural traits to unsavory alien grotesqueries in The Phantom Menace. Lucas had even hinted that images of Bruce Lee would be used in the installment now known as The Clone Wars.
In The Phantom Menace Lucas used Asian martial artists both to choreograph and perform the kendo-inspired light-saber sequences. But as if wishing to take back the decision, in The Clone Wars Lucas's PR machine made a point of showing that the fight sequences were choreographed by a white man and performed by the actors themselves. That explains why they were so leaden and lackluster, but raises the question why?
Could it be that George Lucas wants to avoid calling attention to his large debt to Asian action films?
Is Lucas afraid that including an Asian man will invite critical focus on the new movie's sub-par swordfight sequences?
Is Lucus slyly inviting viewers to see wizened little Master Yoda as a winking representation of Asian men?
Despite his avowed interest in Chinese and Japanese martial arts, culture, literature and films, is Lucas a closet racist after all?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
TO: Political Observer
First and foremost, you're a gentleman and a scholar. Thanks for your input. It's really comfortating to know that there are white people who deeply, truly care about minority rights. Again, thanks for being fair minded.
TO: huu76
"If having a generally negative image of one group is racist, then fine, call me a racist."
It's actually what's called being unfair, uncivilized and racist. If all Americans were to apply your reasoning to Asian Americans, then we'd celebrate December 7 more poignantly and with even greater fanfare.
"Asians had it bad here too (Canada). From internment camps in WWII to bans on Asian immigration because we were too succesful"
Canadian? If you're a Canadian, then I am an Eskimo. And, since I can't seem to locate my igloo anywhere, I strongly doubt that you're Canadian. You sound like an Asian who lives in the United States. I've heard enough of your type of speeches from too many different people right here in the U.S.
With your attitude, I'm not surprised people of your calliber had it so bad back then. Although, I do feel sorry for the hard-working, well-intentioned Asians who were wrongly mistreated.
"Yet we still worked hard and were able to succeed, even when at some points Asian families lost everything and had to start over again"
huu76, nobody - and I mean nobody, irrespective of race - is going to give you the time of day and listen to any argument you make, no matter how credible it is, once you make inflammatory remarks about another ethnic group. You actually lose credibility.
You just got through bashing - and I mean bashing - the entire black race, then proceed to say how Asians had it bad, lost everything and had to start over again. You come talking like that in California and you'll get laughed all the way up into one of our giant redwood trees. You'll be just another squirrel trying to get a nut.
"Also, Asians had to deal with a language barrier."
Oh, so now you're an apologist. I thought you said a few days ago that Asians didn't need to make any excuses. I thought you said your hard work speaks for itself.
huu76, be consistent. You're incapable of making an argument that is not contradictory and inflammatory. Those are critical defects you need to correct.
"Why is it when 2 groups gets screwed, one can get by while the other blames everyone else?"
huu76, my good friend...whew!... don't you realize that's how racism works. You're comparing apples to oranges. People who exclude and who are unfair to Asians don't do so because African Americans need to be appeased; people who want to hurt and exclude you do so because you are Asian. It's ethnic racism. Can't you see that?
There are white people who like Asians; white people who like Asians and Hispanics, too; white people who like blacks; white people who like other white people only. And, yes, you have minority vs. minority racism. Racism has neither rhyme nor reason. It's plain old fashioned racism. You of all people should be able to sympathize, huu76, because you're a racist.
"It's a lot different in Canada. When the police do their job here, they often get investigated like crazy because the police want to make sure what ever it is the cops did, it wasn't race related"
Yep, I guess you are a Canadian after all.
Here in the U.S. it's slightly different. You see, politics plays a great role in the police profession. However, I won't get into that. It's a completely different subject. I thought you were wrong for going there anyway.
"Where did this "profile" come from? How is it reinforced? I think you'd be wrong if you blames whites for this"
Well, huu76, let's see. I know who to blame for negative black stereotypes: gangbangers, pimps/prostitutes, black people who don't act right, and black people who blame whites and Asians for everything wrong in their lives.
Now, your turn: Asian Americans have long been stereotyped as disloyal, sneaky, cold, money-hungry and nerdy.
Where did this profile come from? How is it reinforced?
Are these fair questions, huu76? You should think they're fair because you asked them of me.
"I think George should have excluded Asians altogether. I'd rather have no representation than just a negative one. Our real life image/rep is well regarded by all (whether they like it or not)"
What's that saying about poetic justice? huu76, better be careful. You might get what you wish for.
I'd like to recommend that you research the American civil rights movement to better understand our situation here. Better yet, on second thought, maybe not. There's quite a few pictures of African Americans and Jewish people embedded in those sad, dark, tragic stories. I'm not sure if you'd like to see their faces, read about their turmoils and hear their cries. More likely, I'm not sure if you'd care.
Geoff DB
GeoffDB02@aol.com
Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 22:08:49 (PDT)
huu 76,
you wrote "I think George should have excluded Asians altogether. I'd rather have no representation than just a negative one. Our real life image/rep is well regarded by all (whether they like it or not)"
Actually I disagree with you. I'd much rather see the negative depictions. As long as it pisses off people who act and think like you, then fine. I know I'll sleep better at night just knowing that you get pissed off.
Geoff...dude, you're too nice a guy to deal with people like huu 76. He's slamming your folks. By being too considerate you stand the risk of losing all the positive movements made by your leaders in this country. huu 76 hates you. Make no mistake about it. I'm not trying to race bait. All I'm saying is don't be nice to someone who wants to see you extinguished. You have to fight when someone hates you.
Political Observer
Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 16:02:29 (PDT)
huu 76,
you wrote
"If having a generally negative image of one group is racist, then fine, call me a racist"
Fine, thanks for the invitation. Yes, that makes you a racist prick.
you wrote "Asians had it bad here too (Canada). From internment camps in WWII to bans on Asian immigration because we were too succesful"
Well, with the logic you provide for african americans, then to hell with you. You obviously deserve that reputation "earned".
you wrote "Also, Asians had to deal with a language barrier"
hey buddy, don't blame me for your language barrier. You should have tried to learn English harder :)
you wrote "Why is it when 2 groups gets screwed, one can get by while the other blames everyone else?"
Why? Because people who act and think like you have a big mouth. You deserve to get screwed.
Hey huu 76, thanks for the permission to call you a racist. You and I don't see eye-to-eye, so to hell with you.
huu 76, you need to seek professional counseling. If you think we need to increase immigration to get more guys who behave like you, then you'd better think again.
Political Observer
Thursday, July 18, 2002 at 15:53:18 (PDT)
Observer,
If having a generally negative image of one group is racist, then fine, call me a racist.
Asians had it bad here too (Canada). From internment camps in WWII to bans on Asian immigration because we were too succesful. Yet we still worked hard and were able to succeed, even when at some points Asian families lost everything and had to start over again. Also, Asians had to deal with a language barrier.
Why is it when 2 groups gets screwed, one can get by while the other blames everyone else?
Geoff,
It's a lot different in Canada. When the police do their job here, they often get investigated like crazy because the police want to make sure what ever it is the cops did, it wasn't race related.
Where did this "profile" come from? How is it reinforced? I think you'd be wrong if you blames whites for this.
Back to the proper topic.
I think George should have excluded Asians altogether. I'd rather have no representation than just a negative one. Our real life image/rep is well regarded by all (whether they like it or not).
huu76
Wednesday, July 17, 2002 at 22:32:03 (PDT)
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