2008 Woodie Awards
Don't race to conclusions
Jennifer Cavagnol
Issue date: 11/14/05 Section: Opinion
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Raised in Indiana all my life, I have to admit that I was not exposed to all of the multiculturalism that I have found myself in since moving to California. I am in a bit of a quandary, since moving to such a diverse state. I am asked at least once a week, "where are you from?" I always answer the same way, "I am from Indiana." This is always met with, "no, I mean 'where' are you from?" I have to admit that it took me a while to figure out that I was being asked what my ethnic background is. Honestly, I have never thought of myself as anything other than a person who needs no classification.
Remembering back to when I was in junior high school, there were only 4 boxes to check when asked about race/ethnicity. Now, I need a separate book to explain all of the choices that are on questionnaires when asking about race/ethnicity. I always check "other" even though, I guess, I am technically an "Asian American."
The politically correct movement has gone so far, that I don't even know what to call myself because I might offend someone else. Enough is enough. I am a human being and I have never understood the need to further classify myself or other people.
I went to Purdue University for my B.S. degree and I am proud to say that I know I got into that fine institution on my merit not my race. I checked "other" for race/ethnicity on the application. I was also called a "sell-out" when I joined a sorority in college and did not join the Asian American Club at Purdue. Whom exactly was I selling out to?
I have never understood the need to classify people by race, gender or sexual preference unless of course you are one of those people who must have a group identity in order to justify your actions.
I am reading David Mamet's play "Oleanna" in Advanced Composition and there is a line in the play that sums up the politically culture that we are now living in. "I find that I am a sexist. That I am elitist. I'm not sure I know what that means, other than it's a derogatory word, meaning 'bad'."
We have so over-used "isms" and "ists" that I have no idea if any of the words have actually retained their meaning in this commodified use of the English language. Is it so important to be classified? Is it so important to be a member of a group other than the human race?
Remembering back to when I was in junior high school, there were only 4 boxes to check when asked about race/ethnicity. Now, I need a separate book to explain all of the choices that are on questionnaires when asking about race/ethnicity. I always check "other" even though, I guess, I am technically an "Asian American."
The politically correct movement has gone so far, that I don't even know what to call myself because I might offend someone else. Enough is enough. I am a human being and I have never understood the need to further classify myself or other people.
I went to Purdue University for my B.S. degree and I am proud to say that I know I got into that fine institution on my merit not my race. I checked "other" for race/ethnicity on the application. I was also called a "sell-out" when I joined a sorority in college and did not join the Asian American Club at Purdue. Whom exactly was I selling out to?
I have never understood the need to classify people by race, gender or sexual preference unless of course you are one of those people who must have a group identity in order to justify your actions.
I am reading David Mamet's play "Oleanna" in Advanced Composition and there is a line in the play that sums up the politically culture that we are now living in. "I find that I am a sexist. That I am elitist. I'm not sure I know what that means, other than it's a derogatory word, meaning 'bad'."
We have so over-used "isms" and "ists" that I have no idea if any of the words have actually retained their meaning in this commodified use of the English language. Is it so important to be classified? Is it so important to be a member of a group other than the human race?