Margaret Cho on Virginia Tech Shooting

this is simply not true—race, just like gender and age, are always the general demographics that reporters will state when reporting. it’s basic reporting. cho is the one making it a racial issue by blogging about how it’s not a racial issue. why waste time blogging about a race thing, when lives have been lost.

well said Margaret, Pandora and Panda6.

Let me tell you what would’ve happened if this had happened in India. Say, a white shooter had killed 32 college students. First of all, would’nt have a been a big deal because Indians are desensitized to human deaths because everyday people keep dying from hunger, abuse, terrorist attacks and so on. Secondly, the news would be ‘ American kills 32 people’, not white or black or race mentioned. Ofcourse, the nationality would be mentioned because people otherwise would’nt pay attention. Trust me, that’s how important human lives are in India. People dont care. Iam not exaggerating. And the incident would have probably only worsened the already existing dislike towards the americans. That’s all.
So, my point is, there will always be resentment among people of different races and nationalities. If it was’nt for those differences, world would be just one world, no countries, no boundaries and peace everywhere. And everyone in this world knows that that’s not going to happen. As long as their are different races, countries and ethnicities, these resentments will continue no matter what. The only thing is americans call themselves “non-racists” when it is not true. That’s all.

Brava Margaret! *clapping loudly* What a beautifully put statement.

I have to say that while I really didn’t think of Cho in terms of his race (I have a brother that is a paranoid schizophrenic and that is first and foremost in my mind where Cho is concerned) I have to admit that I didn’t notice that the headlines included his race (”Asian Shooter”). She is right for pointing out that this should not be acceptable in the media - we never saw the Columbine shooters portrayed as “White shooters”. There is no need to label Cho in terms of his race - it had no influence on his crime.

“Whenever anything really bad happens around Korean people, that is when I would like to hide, go to Hawaii and eat spam sushi until it blows over.

The thought of Margaret Cho existing makes me want to go to hide in Hawaii - she is a far worse embarrasment to us Asian Americans than Hui-Sung Cho ever will be… at least his actions can be explained by mental illness. Margaret Cho on the other hand lives for the sole purpose to PROVOKE and then hides behind the guise of “artistic expression”. Her blog postings, her quotes, her commentaries, her stage acts, all have stirred more hatred towards Asians than one disturbed “Asian gunman”. Don’t blame the media you stupid b***** - you’ve alreday, single handedly sterotyped Asian women as bitter, butt-ugly, fat, and unfunny lesbians with a major chip on their shoulders.

I am ashamed for feeling ashamed when i first heard the shooter was asian. I am just as ashamed for feeling relieved that the shooter was not my ethnicity. More than anything, I am ashamed that Margaret Cho shares my asianess.

Nicely written, RainbowBrite.

As for Patty who wrote : “In most cases you can’t look at a white person and know what nationality that person is. But with Asian people it’s pretty apparent”

Can you define what “white” is? Is it the color of the skin? If that’s the case, then I’m prolly more “white” than you… but I will proudly say that I’m Asian. When I was in college way back when in the states, most of my classmates thought that I was *gasp* white… but when I came back home, I blended in right into the crowd. So, please don’t categorize a person’s ethnicity by how they look.

For those who wrote about how if an American went to South Korea and started shooting, it’ll all be screamed out in the headlines, please remember South Korea isn’t as multiracial as the US is. In fact, other than the “white” expats who live there, it’s virtually all Koreans.

Post No. 85, seems to me your comments show its more of a personal issue of against Margaret Cho’s lifestyle and publicness. Of course, within the Asian culture, women are supposed to act more demurely and subservient (oh hush up, I’m female, Asian and I’m speaking out based on my culture’s mentality, men and women alike). It’s cultivated from our culture and religious/spiritual upbringing. So when someone like Margaret Cho comes out, most get offended. I’ve read her postings and I’ve seen her comedy sketches - a lot of jokes actually hits close to home. She tells it like it is, albeit with humor. It’s comedy for goodness sakes. And she’s unique. I don’t see the stereotype being upheld anywhere, except in your mind.

*shrug*

Stop referring to the murderer as a South Korean! He lived in the US since he’s 8. Sounds like an American to me! Shocked? You should be.

Having read some of the comments to this post, I have to say that I feel very sad about the people who point out that race IS in fact a factor.
Even Cho himself seems to have made no references to nationality or ethnicity, and yet this debate rages on. It began simply with the media reporting on Cho’s background. Perhaps the media should have waited to assess whether it was even relevant to release such information; it is obvious from his name that he is of some Korean descent, but who would have known what else? If his status hadn’t been addressed, it might not have become so full-blown an issue.
As well, it does not help that the Korean community in South Korea and the U.S. continue to gather in groups & apologize. Then, for those here to point out how Koreans would have reacted if a caucasian person were to have committed such a heinous crime in Korea? That is of no relevance; not only is it not the same, I have to argue as someone who HAS lived there that people would NEVER react in a hostile manner to other caucasians as a result. Caucasians in Korea are revered (and very much respected), especially when they have settled in Korea; it demonstrates a desire to learn about Korean culture, and Korean people are very warm towards that. They would easily acknowledge that the one person is a deviant. Besides, WHY SHOULD WE STOOP TO A LOWER LEVEL? Would those who posted here thinking Koreans would respond that way want to acknowledge racism just because they believe Koreans would in the same situation? That is pathetic.
My only concern is that something COULD happen because we have yet to put this issue to rest. Of course, I strongly wish to believe (and usually do) that the average American is above retaliation toward an innocent group. However, the fact is that there will always be ignorant people. Even before this incident, I have been harrassed and emotionally hurt as an Asian American by these few. Since then, there have already been racial remarks hurled my way. I no longer feel solely anger toward these; there is a bit of fear infused. This emphasis on race may not have an affect on most of us, but what about the few who are already prone to racism? Will they be worsened?

She’s got a good point there and put into exactly the right words. So true.

ok guys, pack it in. the grief police (#63 - Belle) are here. she’s reminded us all to go back to our basements and mourn for days. and absolutely no discussion of current events are allowed - especially on an internet messageboard.

thanks belle for looking out the victims! i’m sure they really appreciate it.

Let’s get real, the massacre is a product of racial discrimmination, too bad the killer overreacted and took the responsibility. THERE IS A GREAT LESSON TO BE LEARNED HERE, wake up people! THE TRUTH REALLY IS PAINFUL.

Lol, I’m sure all the Muslims and Middleeasterners in the US breathed a huge sigh of relief when they saw the photo of the killer.