Asian-Americans racist? The irony of this coming from you after having witnessed some pretty racist behavior even here in greater DC by white people toward Asians is almost funny.

Furthermore, Netizen Kim, I was not “stomping my foot” nor was I having a tantrum as I was instead patiently (but with a sigh of exasperation) writing my reply to dogbert whose views, I know, won’t be changing anytime soon. And the word is not “whitebread, Norman Rockwell definition of an American”; the word is his “racist” definition of an American. Besides, ever thought that Norman Rockwell would be offended by your usage of his name to defend dogbert’s view of the way America should be? Rockwell was quite the progressive who supported the idea of an equal and diverse America (and who supported Civil Rights as indicated by some of his paintings).

You wrote:
“Personally, I believe that the jaemi-dongpo’s realationship to America is not unlike that of the Apostle Paul with regards to the Roman Empire or of Daniel to the Babylonian Empire. Paul was a Roman citizen. He spoke Greek and was familiar with the Greek way of thinking, which was the predominant culture of the Empire at the time. But he primarily identified himself as a Jew first. His Roman citizenship was a legality.”

No, Netizen Kim, that analogy is completely wrong in describing my situation or that of many of my Korean-American family members and friends. Prior to becoming converted on the way to Damascus, the then-known Saul, before having his name changed to Paul, was a practicing Jewish scholar before anything else, and likely he did NOT want Roman rule over Israel but merely tolerated it while praying for its quick demise. But for convenience’s sake, his family got him Roman citizenship.

Now I know of TOO MANY Korean-Americans, many not even born in the US the way I was, who have literally put their lives on the line to protect the US. Some, unfortunately, are fighting a war in Iraq that should have never taken place (so this takes away from my statement of “protecting the US”). I have Korean-American acquaintances, friends, and even ex-girlfriends who have served not only in the US military but also in the C.I.A., the Dept of Defense, and other places protecting America’s interests with full devotion and enthusiasm. These people, like me, would be highly offended by your assessment of their relationship with America, even if you are a fellow Korean-American.

This is not to say there are not Korean-Americans who got their US citizenship simply for convenience’s sake while still clinging to their loyalty to Korea; I am sure such people exist, I am sorry to say. But I would daresay that the majority of Korean-Americans do NOT feel about America the way they do, or the way Paul the Apostle did about Rome. Paul was first and foremost a Jew (before his conversion) before he was a Roman. The Korean-Americans I know who risk their lives and who love this country are NOT like Paul and first and foremost are Americans.

This may be how YOU view your US citizenship (if you have it) but that’s now how I nor my family nor my Korean-American friends do.

It seems that not only is there this European-Korean descent divide every now and then on this blog but also even among Korean-Americans about how to categorize Korean-Americans. I am sure you have your view. But it certainly does not apply to me or to anyone I know. Please keep that in mind, Netizen Kim.

Again, you do not support anyone in my family - that’s an odd fantasy of yours. One of many.

@275: I’m simply saying that while you and JK may be citizens, you do not have the same depth of “Americanness” as others may. I don’t know why JK keeps insisting otherwise.

Let’s look at it another way; I could’ve become a Korean citizen. But my experience as a Korean citizen would not be as deep as someone with a familial memory of the Korean War, Japanese occupation, etc.