By now mostly everyone in America has seen or heard of the reprehensible and racist video a female UCLA student made recently in which she disparaged and mocked Asians.
The video, which was released on YouTube and targeted against Asian students following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, not only has angered millions of people the world over, but it's raised the typical First Amendment questions, even prompting a NY Times editorial last week which both condemned it and defended it on free speech grounds. The student, Alexandra Wallace, has since issued an apology for her "inappropriate" behavior. "I cannot explain what possessed me to approach the subject as I did, and if I could undo it, I would," she said.
Wallace, who has since decided she will leave UCLA despite the school's decision not to discipline her, said she's leaving because of the "the harassment of my family, the publishing of my personal information, death threats and being ostracized from an entire community." All because she was trying to be "humorous," she said regretfully.
But Wallace's infamous video points to the bigger problem in our country today, and one which explains why she and countless others do irreparable damage to themselves and others with their humiliating, virally-spread diatribes. The answer is simple: young people today are so seduced by the power of social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in giving them an outlet through which to share every dumb thought, ignorant rant and embarrassing photo. Give them a webcam and all hell can and will break loose. They're desperate-for-attention show-offs who want to be perceived as funny, cool and relevant. Instead, they appear stupid, foolish and irresponsible.
What's most troubling is that the Internet has created a generation of reckless cowboys and cowgirls. They post constantly, nonsensically and without any concern for the future. They never stop to think about those who might one day see their moronic rantings, photos and videos, i.e college admissions counselors, potential employers, future business associates. These days, when we can search Google and get an instant window into a person's entire public profile, this sort of behavior is very dangerous and can have lasting impact.
To be sure, Wallace has likely screwed herself out of further college opportunities, future jobs and probably lost some friends, her dignity and brought shame on herself and her family. All because that cigar-chompin' webcam was bellowing, 'Kid, I'm gonna make you a star!'
To be sure, kids will be kids, and they will do dumb things and actually need to be a little reckless and irresponsible. It's a part of growing up and learning how to eventually behave like adults. But the problem today is that, unlike a generation ago, when we could make our mistakes in relative private with only our close pals and family knowing it, the Internet creates a 24/7 worldwide stage where every misstep can be viewed by millions in a matter of seconds. Young people today live in a goldfish bowl, and when they fall, as Wallace has, it spirals out of control and there's no place to hide. The Internet is a very unforgiving place. Once you land there, there's no going back.
So I say to our nation's youth, be very careful about what you say, write and post on these sites. And that includes pictures. No future college admissions department or future employer will be impressed with your drunken pics and your filthy language. Rather, they'll want to see you as smart, mature and responsible. But if you must exercise your freedom of immature expression without having to worry about self-censorship, then at least minimize your risk by being less public. Change your Facebook and Twitter names so that your last name is not included, and therefore won't appear in Google searches. Also, don't use your Facebook email address on resumes or school and work applications. You can be searched that way as well. Create a separate email address just for "official" business. And for God's sake, the next time you to find the urge to act out foolishly on YouTube, grab a few friends and play Charades instead.
Follow Andy Ostroy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndyOstroy
The SINGULAR difference between this and the original is this guy has a lot more experience (and potentially innate ability, too)
Also, because he speaks faster, he gets a lot more insults in. He ridicules SO MANY stereotypical things about this poor girl, AND about Asians.
The ONLY difference is that he obviously has a lot more experience!
And he's Asian.
Nigahiga (who I'm sure you're far too uncool to know) constantly makes fun of Asians. He does ling lang ding dang dialogue much better than her - but he does it. In fact, he does lots of Asian stereotypes. Also, he does a blonde girl stereotype.
Oh, sorry, but he's Asian, so he's allowed.
The racists are the "mafia" of Asians at UCLA who threatened to kill her, and who made coordinated attacks on her fundamental right of free speech. Individual liberties are something they don't understand, because their culture does not value individual freedom.
This is why the Chancellor - or whatever the head of UCLA is called - should have instantly expelled the leaders of the pan-Asian group who bullied this poor girl who, admittedly, was just a novice comedienne, but has the same rights as Nigahiga, if not the same talent.
This poor girl? Please. She is an adult knowing fully what her actions would have gotten her.
Andy's comments that the desire to publicize every thought on the internet can be focused on social media, but may be equally motivated by reality TV...kids in their 20's have watched for the past decade spoiled obnoxious women cash in on the "I'm just saying what I think" mentality..Paris Hilton anyone? Hard work in college isn't part of the equation in American Pop Culture.
I'd also like to offer a possible reason of what motivated the video. The disaster in Japan and all the accompanying human suffering is unbearable to contemplate. There have been religious leaders/pundits(mostly adults) who said it was divine punishment, people who made a point to remind us of Pearl Harbor, and other responses that are, I think, worse than anything Wallace said. I think all this is a manifestation of the pain from feeling we may be living in a world that has no logic or sense and any of us in an instant could be wiped from the earth. Attributing things to God or bringing up reasons to hate the Japanese(Pearl Harbor) or Asians(talking in the library, over-running campus) is just a way of deflecting thoughts about our tenuous mortality
One final note. Some have said that saying white guys can't jump or dance is just as racist as the N-word or "ching chong", etc. This isn't true. The latter 2 have a malicious intent behind them. At its worst, the N-Word is used to dehumanize who it's directed toward and "Ching chong" translates into, "You're an outsider (You need to learn English, American manners), and your accented clumsy English means I can ignore anything you have to say." These are ways people diminish you and is why Asians react so strongly to it.
First, I agree with Andy Ostroy's main point that the youth of today are unlucky to have such easy tools to broadcast whatever thoughts that cross their minds. In my youth, I had said and done many ignorant, cruel, careless things to others including friends and family which thankfully, only live on in my private thoughts. I am very grateful now of the understanding, forgiveness, and gentle hints that the adults I knew gave me at the time. Because they knew me, they responded by encouraging better behavior rather than unleashing an avalanche of condemnation that Wallace is getting. If you've been the recipient of such compassion, I think one of the best ways to honor it is by extending it to others when you can.
Wallace has apologized. I accept it and hope others can as well. I wish it were possible for the Asian community at UCLA to invite her back as a student and denounce whomever is making the death threats.
Get a clue and stop generalizing.
There's nothing ok about stereotyping people but I have no problem with telling people on their cell phones to turn them off.
I actually think this is good. It's absolutely critical that America looks at itself in the mirror. When they do, they'll see Alexandra Wallace. And they ought to ask themselves -- is this what the world sees when it looks our way? Umm, yes. And it's embarrassing to many of us.
"To be sure, Wallace has likely screwed herself out of further college opportunities, future jobs and probably lost some friends, her dignity and brought shame on herself and her family."
Ah, but here's the rub. There's a reality-free zone in America. I'm willing to bet that Ms. Wallace has probably received a phone call from her new friends in Wasilla, and headhunters from Fox News and Clear Channel radio.
If we can hold a mirror up to THAT, then the healing of America might possibly be able to start.
""It's the Internet's fault""
I'm the first person to criticize what she did, but the fault is the Internet?
Never mind that our culture breeds selfish, arrogant, self absorbed, and over confident kids that abhor and ridicule intellect. That isn't the source of this at all !! -sarcasm
This has been building up for a while and we saw it coming. Now we are doing superficial light weight analysis of this social problem? This won't fix anything but make it worse.
A few years ago I had a job that gave me the opportunity to become friends with people years younger than me. Facebook wasn't out yet and so Social Networking and its predecessors were still only done by a minority of young people.
The exact same type of people existed a dozen years ago that exist today. Self-absorbed spoiled over confident 20 somethings were very common. I knew many of them. They spent all day on their cell phones and SMS text messaging was their lifeline of communication. It could have been a comedy show if it wasn't so sad.
Look at our culture, never in history has ""partying"'" and other types of constant celebration, vacationing, festivities and luxury been so stated as everyone's desire in life. There are literally people in college (soon to fail out probably) and young people with jobs in their twenties that all they do every day is go out to bars and clubs and everything else EVERY SINGLE DAY OF THE WEEK.
I know tons of people now that literally go out to someplace every single day of the week, every week.
This has nothing to do with the Internet. This is our culture. The Internet and its various applications are what they are today because our culture and our people wanted it and provided and incentive for someone to invent it - not the other way around.
The USA has fewer holidays and days off from work than many countries. We produce more per worker than almost any nation on earth. All of us cannot afford homes so we congregate in public spaces such as coffee shops, restaurants and bars.
One of the points the girl makes is the commotion that the families create in the apartment house getting ready for the next week, and that seemed a little selfish on the families part. It also seems like a wonderful family time that everyone shares on the weekend, but maybe it is a little over the top for the apartment complex.
I'm sorry that she has ruined her educational life. That is overboard punishment and in actuality she may now have a better understanding than someone who was not so foolish.
Maybe these supportive Asian families can teach her dad a thing or two about the long-term power of a good education, versus looking for instant fame via social media.
Dear Alexandra, if you cannot explain what possessed you to a approach the subject as you did, then you have not yet thought about it enough. When you have, then think about this: You may not be able to undo it, but you could certainly re-do it. By sharing what you have discovered, through the same means you used to express your displeasure. Have a happy life.
I would say that sums it up pretty well. What Ms. Wallace did is not new by any stretch (which does not make it excusable). Ignorance and prejudice have been around since the beginning but the Internet and Youtube (or similar) has taken that ignorance to a new level, a very public level. Should she be getting death threats? No, that's a bit exteme but the rest well, for every action there is a reaction and I think Ms. Wallace is experiencing that now. Maybe she and a hand full of others will learn something. I doubt we will ever know how this all turns out or how her next few years will go but it would be interesting to she what she does with all this.