Email from a Korean-American immigrant about the prevalent anti-Muslim mood.

[pampango]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/09/asian-americans-the-mosque-furor-and-immigrant-idealism/62808/

This message, from a Korean-American, is sent in support of the original dispatch from a young Chinese-American student who was puzzled and shocked by the anti-Muslim mood:

"Perhaps my stomach curdles because through this debate, I've seen a shadow of that type of hysterics I've always associated with history. I suppose it's still around, and seeing it gives me a great shock. "

Your Chinese-American e-mailer described my feelings pretty well with these statements. I'm a first generation immigrant to this country as well - I was born in Korea and came over for school. I think the shared first generation immigrant experience may be a reason for the similarity of our reactions to the Park51 controversy.

Having had a privileged life thus far as an educated immigrant, the America I know is open to strangers (at least to my "kind"), generous, and free. It's a competitive place but where meritocratic principles are honored. In a word, it's a "fair" society. It's not like Korea or China, Mexico, or America of another age. It's the young, cool, confident, can-do America that I immigrated to. So, when I see echoes of "history" in a nation that is beyond history, I'm gripped by the same shock. Can we regress, even in America?

No one has more honest to goodness faith in American exceptionalism than the immigrant who just got here with big dreams. So we shock easier, I guess.
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Maybe first generation immigrants are more naive about the American "psyche" or the possibilities here, but compared to where they are coming from perhaps it is not so naive.

[AsahinaKimi]

1. I certainly hope things get better

There are a lot of immigrants who feel the same way. Even my dad, who was born in Osaka and came to this country legally tries to keep his spirits up each day. He has often asked me about things he doesn't understand. Sometimes I have to say, "Chichi, shirimasen. Gomen ne!" Sorry dad, I don't know!

[Bobbieo]

2. It is disgusting when one cult pastor in Florida dominates world news.

I blame the media for this whole mess.