Comments (8)
First off, I will say that the Aggie shouldn't be taking so much heat for this article. I am not defending the article at all, but if they set a precedent of censoring this column... can't it only get worse? Tiffany Lew will believe this regardless of whether or not she writes it. I would rather it spurs discussion than to be buried within her for the rest of her life. Now, on to the actual message. There are many things wrong with your way of thinking. Yes, it is your opinion. Yes, your opinion can be wrong due to misinformation. You see so many Asian guys with what you call a genetic disposition to show traditionally feminine characteristics. You are singling out Asian men for what reason? Are there more? Or is it you who do not notice the numerous men of other races who also take forever to choose their shoes, an hour to "get ready"? If you are Asian (let's assume so, for the sake of this comment), could it be that these “girly Asian guys” are catching your attention more? I mean, as an Asian man I see a lot of “girly” men of other races too. Am I seeing something you don’t, or are you just being “harder” on your own race? A special comment about your mention of John Park at the end. If you can’t find “masculine” Asian celebrities in the media then you are not trying hard enough. And if you haven’t tried at all, I do not see why you might think you have any credibility when writing an article like this. Surely you have heard of Far East Movement? John Cho? Ken Leung? David Choi? Dumbfoundead? JIN? How do any of these people fit your descriptions? Anyone with any interest in Asian depictions in the media (or our representation in the media) would have found these names rather quickly. You do know how to use Google, don’t you? Oh, and dancing to what song, in your opinion, would be masculine? Does every man have to mosh to GWAR or some cheaply-produced hip hop club track about ejaculating on women? Great. Now everyone has to be aware of what they dance to. As other comments are sure to have mentioned, another big issue here is your intolerance. It is so unfortunate when someone has the power to reach out to so many people, and a writer like you decides it is a good idea to discourage individuality and diversity. I do not fit your idea of a “girly man”. I really can’t care less about my shoes, I spend an average of ten seconds on my hair, I can’t stand pink, and I do not want myself to be “girly”. This does not mean those who I do consider girly are doing anything wrong. They don’t need to stop what they’re doing. You don’t have to like them. Why change them? If you are Asian, you are in a special position. You have the power to help change stereotypes about Asians. You can bring us one step to realistic media representation. Asians can speak real English. We can make music. We can be smart, strong, funny, masculine, girly, whatever. If you disagree, you just aren’t trying. LAWRENCE LUI was going to get a good night’s rest when someone shared this link with him. He thought UC Davis writers were better than this. Tell him off or congratulate him at sllui@ucdavis.edu
First off, I will say that the Aggie shouldn't be taking so much heat for this article. I am not defending the article at all, but if they set a precedent of censoring this column... can't it only get worse? Tiffany Lew will believe this regardless of whether or not she writes it. I would rather it spurs discussion than to be buried within her for the rest of her life. Now, on to the actual message. There are many things wrong with your way of thinking. Yes, it is your opinion. Yes, your opinion can be wrong due to misinformation. You see so many Asian guys with what you call a genetic disposition to show traditionally feminine characteristics. You are singling out Asian men for what reason? Are there more? Or is it you who do not notice the numerous men of other races who also take forever to choose their shoes, an hour to "get ready"? If you are Asian (let's assume so, for the sake of this comment), could it be that these “girly Asian guys” are catching your attention more? I mean, as an Asian man I see a lot of “girly” men of other races too. Am I seeing something you don’t, or are you just being “harder” on your own race? A special comment about your mention of John Park at the end. If you can’t find “masculine” Asian celebrities in the media then you are not trying hard enough. And if you haven’t tried at all, I do not see why you might think you have any credibility when writing an article like this. Surely you have heard of Far East Movement? John Cho? Ken Leung? David Choi? Dumbfoundead? JIN? How do any of these people fit your descriptions? Anyone with any interest in Asian depictions in the media (or our representation in the media) would have found these names rather quickly. You do know how to use Google, don’t you? Oh, and dancing to what song, in your opinion, would be masculine? Does every man have to mosh to GWAR or some cheaply-produced hip hop club track about ejaculating on women? Great. Now everyone has to be aware of what they dance to. As other comments are sure to have mentioned, another big issue here is your intolerance. It is so unfortunate when someone has the power to reach out to so many people, and a writer like you decides it is a good idea to discourage individuality and diversity. I do not fit your idea of a “girly man”. I really can’t care less about my shoes, I spend an average of ten seconds on my hair, I can’t stand pink, and I do not want myself to be “girly”. This does not mean those who I do consider girly are doing anything wrong. They don’t need to stop what they’re doing. You don’t have to like them. Why change them? If you are Asian, you are in a special position. You have the power to help change stereotypes about Asians. You can bring us one step to realistic media representation. Asians can speak real English. We can make music. We can be smart, strong, funny, masculine, girly, whatever. If you disagree, you just aren’t trying. LAWRENCE LUI was going to get a good night’s rest when someone shared this link with him. He thought UC Davis writers were better than this. Tell him off or congratulate him at sllui@ucdavis.edu
You that are so offended are misquoting me just like you are misinterpreting the article. I never said she was using satire and humor. I did say she was talking not about gay people. She has gay friends (not just acquaintances), and to me, that does mean she is tolerant and accepting them. I assume Justine is gay, being the student leader of his organization (okay, I may be wrong) but assume she is not even talking about him, as she clearly states at the beginning. She is just saying that she has an annoyance with straight guys that act too much in a way that causes them to be indecisive, taking too long, and acting feminine. I don’t believe she is really out to get anyone or change the world—she’s just a student like you, not an activist. Her choice of words should have been better. But I did not see any hatred towards gay people or any hatred at all. And if Tiffany is Asian, doesn’t she have the right to speak about Asians? Just that fact shows that she is just giving a half serious opinion only. On the other hand, how can all of you express so much hatred? I would think that the University of Davis students would have more class and diversity than to express their anger in such a demeaning way. I don’t think anyone deserves that kind of condemnation, which itself is intolerance. I don’t mean to offend anyone either. I take the article less seriously and not as an attack on anyone. Maybe she can explain her meaning more. I don’t think I can go on any longer, because this is too much for me.
Easygoing, I don't think Justin or anyone else in te queer community believes that she is attacking gay people at all. You are right, she clearly states that in her article. However, her article is without a doubt offensive to all people who do not conform to societies view of gender and the gender binary, straight or gay. Why was it okay for her to refer to females as tomboys like it was no big deal, but then turn around and bash males for being, what she felt, feminine? Women fought so hard to be seen as equals with men, so we can wear pants and have boyish haircuts, and equal rights. How come society cannot accept males who want to be a bit more feminine? Why does anyone, gay or straight, needto conform to societies pressure?
Despite the many problems with Lew's column, The Aggie should not have removed it. We inhabit a space (academia) that supposedly allows speech to freely roam, so this act of censorship cannot be tolerated. It is obvious to any sane person that Lew's points are wrong on so many levels, but that does not warrant her censure.
The Aggie was right to remove the column. Obviously some people have issues with her right to freedom of speech, but should The Aggie really allow itself to become a vehicle for racism? Whenever someone has a new racist idea about an ethnicity, should The Aggie publish it? I respect Tiffany Lew's right to have and speak whatever opinions she does. That doesn't mean that The Aggie should print all of them.
EasyGoing, I can't believe that you said that no one is being hurt or offended by the article. Obviously people ARE offended if you read these heartfelt responses. You probably share the seem privileges that Ms. Lew so gallantly abuses which is why you can sit here and ridicule us for speaking OUR opinions. Keep arguing that this article is satire and that it was meant to be humorous if you would like, that does not make it acceptable to the MANY people and communities that have been offended by this horrid article. Not only is this article full of personal hate, but it contains so many assumptions, generalizations, and fallacies that it makes me sick to read this. Again, as a student leader for UC Davis Asian & Pacific-Islander Queers, I will not sit in silence and allow someone to post such offensive material on our campus knowing that it WILL offend many people.