Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Nerd News: "Don't Identify Yourself as 'Asian' On College Apps"

Yet another depressing/infuriating story about stupid identity politics, academic stereotyping, and race-based bias in college admissions. It's always nice to be reminded that I'm just one of those "boring academic robots."  Yes, the story uses that actual phrase!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

As the saying was popularized in the 1992 Clinton-Bush presidential race, 'It's the economy, stupid!'.

From a tribal competition standpoint, compare the amnesty policies for illegal immigrants who represent low-cost labor and the educational policies that limit Asian-Americans who represent competition for high-cost labor.

At risk of using a loaded, extreme comparison to make a simpler point, I'm reminded of a middle-school classmate who is a militant Jew who liked to say that if Nazi Germany had mobilized the German Jews rather than attempt to exterminate them, Germany would have won World War 2. A radical view, I thought, but not one without merit.

We Asian Americans should be a powerful competitive advantage for America in our nation's growing competition with the rest of the world, but we can't lead our nation to glory if white and black Americans continue to act on their own tribal interest above the national interest.

In a competition, one must lead, follow, or get out of the way. We Asian Americans have been willing to follow, and indeed, we have followed others exceptionally well, and endured their inequities. If, however, in moving forward, white and black Americans prove to be incapable of upholding the American national interest, then it's up to us to take over the leadership of our nation before they ruin America's preeminence for all of us.