What does it mean...?

I was inspired to write this post by a conversation I had with co-workers and community members during lunch today about the meaning of being Vietnamese - specifically in America.

While I'm pretty sure that this topic has been well discussed - probably overly discussed, by such individuals such as ethnic studies intellectuals, I think it is safe to say that I want to live in a world where everyone's opinions matter, regardless of the glitter on your degree placard.

Onwards!

The root question is: what does it mean to be Vietnamese? What makes you Vietnamese (that which separates you from other identities)? Is it language? Is it culture? Is it both? These are questions we asked - especially crucial: are you still Vietnamese if you can't speak the language?

I remember reading a quote by Monique that said something along the lines of: When asked, what does it mean to grow up Asian-American, I respond by asking, what is it like to grow up looking Asian while being raised as an American in America?

I personally think that to be Vietnamese in America is the experience. For example, when asked, what does it mean to be Vietnamese-American, I say that it is to be regarded as gook, chink, slant-eyes, yellow, oriental, etc. It is being the target of racial hatred, regardless of class status, by not only whites (neo-nazi's and KKK), but by other minorities in the USA as well. And regardless, (and this may be controversial to some), as a community, we choose to hate our own brothers and sisters in Viet Nam more than we choose to address the injustices we face in America. I don't care if you can read Truyện Kiều or can't even order a bowl of phở - I've never met a Vietnamese person in America who hasn't been called a racial slur. One can reject their identity all they want - we can pretend to be the best Americans we can be - learn the Star Spangled Banner, Pledge of Allegiance, vote Republican - but at the end of the day, that won't change the fact that the police won't think twice about shooting someone like Cau Bich Tran or beating the shit out of someone like Phuong Ho. It doesn't change the fact that while we can learn to hate ourselves, and learn not to know who we are, American society knows exactly what we are and treats us accordingly. It's never been about 'The White Man', it's the 'White Man's' System that we have to be against. White people don't have to go out of their way to call us gooks or kick our asses - they've taught everyone, including us, how to do that to ourselves.

So what does it mean to be 'Vietnamese-American'? Is it an issue of power? Or rather, the lack of power? Because we can sit around and discuss at length these issues, but if we remain powerless to change the real phenomena, that is, the way society sees us and labels us, we'll always be remain,at best, 'Asian', 'Asian-American', 'Asian-Pacific Islander', 'Vietnamese-American', or whatever fancy, 'politically correct' verbal sincerity for the word gook.

I don't have a solution, just my two-cents to spark discussion or thoughts.