Ga-man
"...a code of silent suffering and ability to stand pain."
It's a prized virtue in Japanese culture, and arguable shared with many Asian cultures.
Asians brought this value with them to America
From the Manilamen of St. Malo
To the first Cantonese immigrants chasing gold and laying track
To the sugar cane workers of Hawaii
The refugees of countless American wars
Through racism, prejudice, segregation,
Internment camps
The repeal of Filipino veteran's rights
The murder of Vincent Chin
We stayed quiet.
More accurately, our parents did.
They felt obliged to take these obstacles in stride because they felt they owed this country at least their silence.
It was still better than the old country.
But we know better.
We have had the world equality beat into our psyches from grade school.
And yet we watched our parents suffer countless injustices.
It's time to reclaim this generation's rights.
As Helen Zia proclaimed, "It's time to stop being so fucking polite!"
Let's rally.
Throw our firsts up.
Stop bowing, stop covering our mouths when we laugh
There's nothing funny going on here.
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