links for 2011-03-15

And fat hatred too, it seems. Note to self: pay more attention to where the comment section begins.

I too have seen some of the responses to Wallace’s video and instead of focusing on her words, they focus on her appearance, which is unfortunate. In regards to the video, what concerns me is that she felt the need to record these thoughts on camera and post it to the internet. Thinking racist thoughts is one thing, but expressing them for the word to hear is another. I hope she learns from this.

Ms. Wallace doesn’t deserve to have her life threatened. It’s terrible that she decided to go on a racist rant, and even go so far as begrudge people trying to find out about their family members who may or may not have been affected by the tsunami. Very mean-spirited, even if it’s done with a “casual” tone.

And her insistence in describing “American manners” and what “Americans” do really grated on my nerves. I say American when I mean USian a lot. A LOT. But it hugely bothered me when she said it. Maybe because she was lumping us all together? Maybe because it sounded incredibly ignorant? I dunno – but I’m gonna try to watch my phraseology in that vein more vigilantly from now on.

All in all, it was quite a racist show she put on. I hope that things die down enough that she doesn’t have to fear for her safety anymore tho. I hate it when POC always have to be/tell each other to be the “bigger person” and swallow the ish that white people dish out, but I can’t get behind threatening a woman with violence. Even if she is a big fat racist.

I agree with most of what you’re saying, including the rage from Asians and Asian Americans (and their allies). Watching some of the responses on YouTube so far, I do wonder about the particularly sexist element in the critiques. I’m all for getting pissed and calling out Wallace’s racism and how her white female privilege plays into what she said and is doing.

But this?

“Somewhere from the midwest, judging from that corn-fed fat face of hers.”

I’m calling foul.

I commented on a video that was done particularly well. The guy asked why she was hating on family. But then his joke about her fake Chinese speak was questionable I guess. I would have considered it an in-house joke. But I found it subversive cause he was addressing the way people typically stereotype Asian people with the r/l mix-up.

The top rated comment was about some guy wanting to motorboat her breasts with his “tiny Asian dick.”

What the fuck does that have to do with the content of her video?!

You know Andrea – that’s on me. Sometimes I still don’t think out all my words. This is one of those times that makes it blatantly clear that being a member of a group doesn’t mean you’re always sensitive to the group. (i.e. I’m a big girl that still [apparently] throws “fat” around where it doesn’t belong. I dunno if there’s a pun in there. Anyway.)

So mea culpa on my previous statement. I should’ve said, “even if she is a racist jerk.”

As far as commenting goes, I say let her have it. She got herself into this ridiculous situation and she wouldn’t have if she was more considerate or at least had half a brain. Or if she wasn’t a racist. She knew that she was doing something stupid and offensive, I can’t believe she’s crying and regretting it now as if people are supposed to pity her. If you are going to act all bold and say dumb sh*t then a “boo-hoo, woe is me, I don’t know what I was thinking” apology later just makes you look even more pathetic.

I’m actually disgusted by her quite frankly. Like I said, she’s fair game now, the fun part of that whole “freedom of speech” thing is that it goes both ways. She had her turn now she’s on the receiving end.

What kills Wallace’s fauxpology for me is the whole “I don’t know what possessed me to do it” ish. At some point, even the Devil’s gonna roll up and be like, “That one’s on you, homie.”