From koua0002@gold.tc.umn.eduMon May 15 21:11:18 1995
Date: 14 MAY 95 19:56:28 GMT 
From: koua0002@gold.tc.umn.edu
Newsgroups: soc.culture.laos
Subject: Intersection of Identity 

Intersection of Identity 
By Ketmani Kounchao

	There are many assumptions made about us as a group that are many
times off the mark.  These assumptions are humorous "' do you know of
any restaurants that serve good Chow Mein' to, 'are you related to Bruce
Lee?' to, "Show me some Kung Fu'".  But more often, they are offensive,
damaging and demeaning.  Some even go as far as to say that we are all on
welfare, or we're doing so well because we get too many privileges.  But
at the same time, they'll say that we're a supermodel nerd minority so we
must not need minority status.
	All the things being thrown out in the media and the dominant society
really points back to the fact that the dominant culture treats us as guest in
"their country" rather than seeing us as an integral part of the nation; with
the same struggles, hopes, and humanistic concerns.  You rarely see Asian
American engaging in the debate. But you often hear about Asian juvenile
delinquent on the 6 o'clock news.  We are still foreigners to many thus, the
most often heard words from America's lips are: "no, where are you really from?"
	Every person of color has a story of discrimination, but often
times, we don't have words for what we go through because of the subtly,
the masking of comments or actions by perpetrators.  While the intention
of perpetrators is harmless, the way their comments or actions affect us
is undeniable.
	A personal example of what I meant when I said there are no words
to describe what we have to deal with on daily bases... my experience of
getting into my graduate program.  Looking back at my undergraduate
experience, there were many obstacles and barriers because I lacked guidance
and a credible mentor.  As I was internally questioning and doubting my success,
it was only reinforced by external forces (faculty and advisors) which were
not helpful because they would question my success even more strongly.  At one
particular time, I was referred to a reputable source to see about my admission
status into a graduate program.  The person looked over my program proposal,
then asked if I had written my paper on my own.  The reason why he asked was
because he said, "your proposal is too good for an international student."
I don't considered myself an international student!  Imagine hearing this kind
of ignorance statement from a coordinator of the graduate program.  I was
dumbfounded because I didn't expect to hear it from such a credible person.  I
respected him because he was in a position of power... which diminished after
that encountered.  His question not only insinuated that I don't have the
ability and the competency to be a college-bound student, but he also undermined
my moral ethic. This goes to show that, I'm dammed if I do and dammed
if I don't.
	It can be a real disappointment when people can't see you for who
you are, but always falling back on the worst cliches and stereotypes.
That is why I strongly believed that we need to have community; a place
where we go to in order to be accepted as who we are and not be bombarded by
judgment or ignorance statement.  The support offered by our family and
community often comes in the form of expectation.  You are expected to go to
school and complete it; whether or not you like it, whether or not you are
good at it.  You are expected to be at family and community functions.  But
family and community is where you often go when you just want to be understood
without having to explain yourself to others. You need to have that moment
of intersubjectivity with others without having to verbally communicate it.
	But, regardless of what that person said, I was determined to succeed
so that I can tell other students of color about my experience.  As first
generation Asian American student scholars, we need more role models, mentors
as well as the support of our community to lead and guide us through the
bureaucracy and provide us with invaluable knowledge and experience.
BEING LAO-AMERICAN BY DEFINITION, IS AT LEAST, BI-CULTURAL.  BE EMPOWER AND
BE TRUE TO YOURSELF.

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