As the MC’s of Mabuhay 2004 we thought it was necessary to respond to Jesse Brenner’s Wespeak (April 20) about our conduct. Before I rant, I would like to compliment Mr. Brenner’s display for his lack of comprehension of what happened at that show.
Wow that really sucks that you felt alienated from you Asian/Asian American brothers and sisters—oh wait, you should cause you’re not one of us.
Dear Jesse,
We are so glad you were impressed with the Mabuhay 2004, it’s so great that the show pleased you, thank God! All except for us, damn. (Can we speak now? How about now? Wait is this going to be too political? Are you okay with this?)
So, also thank you soo much for telling us what kind of show Mabuhay should have been. But really what’s going on here, are you upset because you didn’t get to host the show? We mean, we know you do write columns about the world music collective, so you obviously are an authority on the matter, so we know it just really sucks that we couldn’t have been what you assumed we’re here to do, entertain you. Damn, note-to-self make sure Jesse is okay with Mabuhay’s content next year. Better yet, you actually should MC the show. You’re a white man, but what does it really matter right? You apparently know more about what and who we are as Asian people (did you learn it all in a class? Or did you do your own reading? Great work!) and could obviously represent us better then we can. If you’re interested in Asian people and culture you should be able to identify as Asian, right? After all race is just socially constructed. (Only thing is, it’s only white people who get to choose what race they want to be just because they’re interested in it.) Okay but so for argument sake you’re Asian now (throw up you’re A) congratulations, you’ve taken enough classes and seen enough Kung-Fu movies to know what it’s like, doesn’t it feel great! Isn’t it so fun how everyone asks if you speak English and if you’re father Jackie Chan and that we’re excluded from being citizens for decades, but you know about all this and more, or do you only know about music? Oh wait, could you please tell us the time and place to express these issues?
We’ll remain silent and perform cultural shows until then. Remain visible for you to watch, but won’t say anything that would upset you or make you think about your participation in all this—oops, sorry, was that too much is it ok to talk about these issues in a Wespeak?
It’s so good that we have you on our side—what would we do without you, our all knowing Great White Father, to lead us, tell us what to do, when to speak, when to perform, and when to unite. Thank you! (But only thing is you get to choose when you want to be with us and when you don’t.)
And we’re so glad to hear that you take classes on post-colonialism and post-modernism and sign petitions; you really know how to take that knowledge outside the classroom!
Congratulations, you’re really the liberal that you’re striving to be. (What else are we suppose to say?) Are you feeling really good about yourself yet? Have you gotten rid of that white guilt yet? It’s so wonderful and refreshing that our white poster child for Asia feels solidarity with that “suffering brothers and sisters around the world” (like in Palestine, right) and that brings tears to our “slanted eyes” to know this.
Thank you.
Division among people no no that can’t be so we live in a “colorblind society,” we’re so past racial divisions. (Hence, you as our post-child for us Asian people. Phew!)
Anyone can represent us as long as they love us. Everyone unite! We all are one big happy race of liberal people and there are no difference between us but what we create (like us radical divisive MC’s) other than that we’re all the same struggling against “the man” (oh no but wait you’re “the man” we’re struggling against, what do we do? Instead of questioning all that, perhaps we should just go back to being seen and not hear, like we are on all your Asian fetish porn websites.)
What did go wrong here? Oh our damn radical politics, how dare we. Thank sooo much again for pointing all this out, we can’t believe we didn’t realize it, until our Great White Father, has shown us.
You asked: “What happened to all voices being heard?” Well we don’t know, are we allowed to answer you here? Please tell us where and when we can speak and about what, since you know so much more. Thanks again.
NOT!
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