Adding to my post from the 19th, I received another email with an article on the Virginia Tech shootings called "When ethnicity brings an unwelcome focus." Here is the link:

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-me-minorities19apr19,0,2127441.story

It is true that most people's "visceral" reaction, selfish as it may seem, is, "Thank goodness the shooter is not one of our ethnicity/race." I suppose it is hard for historically marginalized minorities not to think this. In all honesty, our country does not need another reason or excuse to cast non-white groups in a bad light.

An interesting point is that the Korean government has issued a formal apology to the victims of the shooting, and many Korean-Americans are taking it upon themselves to apologize for Cho's crime. That radio DJ Kobylt (see the article) would accuse or make fun of Koreans and Korean-Americans of "playing the race card" seems very insensitive to me. Were he a part of an ethnic minority, I am sure he would also want to let others know that no, one (mentally unstable) individual's actions are not indicative of the nature of an entire group of people. This is what I believe is the mindset of those Korean and Korean-Americans who are apologizing for the shootings. I read an online post by Prof. Glenn Omatsu of Cal State Northridge in which he writes:

"I think it's fairly common for immigrant adults to feel guilt for the shooter's actions and to try to assume responsibility. This is probably both a consequence of Korean/Asian cultures but also the racialization of minority groups in America...Most politically conscious Asian American young people would immediately realize the contradiction and the problem in this thinking."

While Prof. Omatsu has a valid point, in this case, I do not think the apologetic Koreans are necessarily blaming themselves for what has happened. Rather, they are making certain that anyone who might think otherwise knows that they as a people do not condone the doings of one man; in fact they think, like everybody else, that such a crime is downright atrocious. Thus the two views - those of 1) the older and 2) the younger, "politically conscious" generations - which Prof. Omatsu presents are quite reconcilable: neither generation wishes to (nor should) be held accountable, but are aware that in this racialized nation, it would be wise for them to say something about the occurrence. Remaining silent and allowing misinformed racial/ethnic talk and speculation to circulate would be a bad idea.

Unfortunately, emphasizing that the Virginia Tech massacre was the doings of an individual does not go without consequence. The article in my previous post ended by saying that at least now the model minority myth can begin to be dispelled:

"After the shootings, my best friend, a Korean-American lawyer in Washington,
D.C., felt in his bones that somehow aKorean was responsible. He didn't know
why. but, "one thing's for sure now," he said, "we can safely lay the model
minority theme to rest."

While many might like to think of this as one positive (if this word can be used in this context) outcome of the recent events, I feel that this is untrue. Since Cho should be seen not as the average Korean-American, but rather a highly disturbed man regardless of his ethnic background, he also cannot help "lay to rest" the issue of the model minority. Non-Asians, having been encouraged to view Cho notas Asian, but instead as an American, will logically continue to view Asian-Americans as a model minority. Furthermore, if members of other Asian communities are going to keep emphasizing that Cho is not one of them, how can they also expect the model minority myth to be dispelled?

As for me, I do not think we should focus too much right now on whether or not Asians are still considered model minorities, or how this reflects on a certain or on any people as a whole. For the victims, families, and survivors struck by the horror of this mass murder, these relatively trivial details do not matter. We should all really be thinking of how we can help ease the pain and suffering of those affected by this tragedy.